Hobby Hows

Use canning rings to cook eggs

Use canning rings to cook eggs for sandwiches made with English muffins or hamburger buns.

-- Submitted by Shelby H., Sophia, N.C.
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Dent in a plastic part

If you put a dent in a plastic part of a model, mix wood glue and sawdust together, place in the dent and sand down. When you paint it, it will look as good as new.

-- Submitted by Stephen P., Estill Springs, Tenn.
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To keep your neckerchief slide from falling off

To keep your neckerchief slide from falling off on the go, wrap a rubber band around the middle of the neckerchief below the slide. The rubber band will stop it from coming off.

-- Submitted by Christian D., Eagle, Idaho
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Tired of playing a super-slow game of air hockey?

Tired of playing a super-slow game of air hockey? Use some boat wax to coat the surface of the table to get the game flowing at top speed!

-- Submitted by Ryan C., Fairfax Station, Va.
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Use old wooden clothespins

Use old wooden clothespins to clamp the small pieces of your wood-frame model when glueing. The clothespins have just the right amount of pressure.

-- Submitted by Josh S., Nevada City, Calif.
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Bringing trekking poles on a plane

If you are going on a plane and bringing trekking poles, put them in a PVC or map tube.

-- Submitted by Aaron L., North Haven, Conn.
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Whenever you skin a walking stick or carve something, save the shavings for campfire tinder. Put the shavings in a plastic bag and put it with your Scout gear for your next camp-out. Save a lot because you will need it.

-- Submitted by Philip G., Ukiah, Calif.
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All wired up

ALL WIRED UP Antennas, small gun barrels, flagstaffs and other fine details look clumsy on plastic models. Substitute thin wire to make your project look better. Beading or jewelry wire works well. Find it in craft stores. This wire comes in gauges from 22 (the size of a pencil lead) to 32 (hair). Snip it [...]

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Always forgetting things to take?

Always forgetting to take stuff to school? Just put it smack in front of your bedroom door before going to bed so you’ll trip over it in the morning as a reminder!

-- Submitted by Christie C., Plano, Tex.
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Storing LEGO pieces

Use clear plastic storage containers with dividers to store small Lego pieces. It’s much easier to find them when I’m building something, instead of searching for them in my larger storage containers.

-- Submitted by David B., Two Rivers, Wis.
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Baby powder and model rockets

Add baby powder to the inside of the parachute of your model rocket. This will help you see whether or not the parachute deployed.

-- Submitted by Roberto G., Sunny Isles Beach, Fla.
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Pine needles for campfires

Before camping trips, my troop collects pine needles for our campfires. We let them dry for a week, and they work perfectly.

-- Submitted by Howard H., Muscatine, Iowa
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Waterproofing matches

Put wax over the heads of matches to keep them waterproof. All you have to do to use them is crack and pull the wax off.

-- Submitted by Ariel W., Corvallis, Ore.
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Keeping your feet warm while camping

During a camping trip, make sure to change your socks before going to bed. If you wear the socks you wore all day, the sweat in them will make you much colder.

-- Submitted by Maxwell B., Long Beach, Calif.
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Removing a broken light bulb without getting hurt

How do you take out a broken light bulb from a lamp socket without cutting yourself? Just put a potato through the two metal pieces inside the bulb and twist counterclockwise!

-- Submitted by Frank P., Torrance, Calif.
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MAGIC IN A MINUTE

Fun magic tricks and jokes to amaze your friends

If you enjoy disapproving looks from those around you, then this trick is for you!

This week, Mac King demonstrates an easy way to gross out your friends and family.

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HOBBY HOWS

Hobby ideas and tips contributed by readers

From photography to fishing to coin collecting, Boys' Life readers share their hobby secrets. Here are the most recent:

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YOUR PHOTOS

Post your Pinewood Derby pictures

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COLLECTING

Readers tell us about their collections

If it exists, Boys' Life readers probably collect it. Here are some of the interesting, unusual and just plain cool collections that you've sent us.

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