In a message dated 10/03/02, SFQUAKE06@........... writes:

> Can anyone please describe to me the art of smoking paper? No, I do not mean 
> that kind!  I mean the kind that was used with the old mechanical seismic 
> 

Hi Dave,

       You clamp the paper tightly onto the drum so that it is well in 
contact all over. Then you make up a wick for a paraffin burner, usually in a 
bit of copper / brass tube soldered through the lid of an 8 oz tin. Put 
paraffin in the bottom of the tin and dip in the wick. Light the wick when it 
gets wet. Adjust the length of the wick with pliers to give a good smoky 
flame and rotate the paper on the drum in the smoke till it is black all 
over. You can 'write' on the trace with a pointed scriber or similar.
       To permanantly fix the eventual trace, carefully remove the paper from 
the drum and spray THE BACK with hair lacquer so that it is saturated. If you 
spray the front, you won't have a trace left. You may want to give the front 
a spray coat after the paper has dried thoroughly. Remember that the spray 
lacquer may be highly inflammable - keep well away from any flame. Don't 
forget to put your wife's hair lacquer back exactly where you found it, when 
you have finished with it. (How do I know? We still 'smoke' barograph traces 
this way.)

       Regards,

       Chris Chapman
In a message dated 10/03/02, SFQUAKE06@........... writes:



Can an
yone please describe to me the art of smoking paper? No, I do not mean that kind!  I mean the kind that was used with the 
old mechanical seismic systems.



Hi Dave,



       You clamp the paper tightly onto the drum so that it is well in contact all over. Then
 you make up a wick for a paraffin burner, usually in a bit of copper / brass tube soldered through the lid of an 8 oz tin. Put
 paraffin in the bottom of the tin and dip in the wick. Light the wick when it gets wet. Adjust the length of the wick with pli
ers to give a good smoky flame and rotate the paper on the drum in the smoke till it is black all over. You can 'write' on the 
trace with a pointed scriber or similar.

       To permanantly fix the eventual trace, carefully remove the paper from the drum and sp
ray THE BACK with hair lacquer so that it is saturated. If you spray the front, you won't have a trace left. You may want to gi
ve the front a spray coat after the paper has dried thoroughly. Remember that the spray lacquer may be highly inflammable - kee
p well away from any flame. Don't forget to put your wife's hair lacquer back exactly where you found it, when you have finishe
d with it. (How do I know? We still 'smoke' barograph traces this way.)



       Regards,



       Chris Chapman