Polishing Stained Surfaces
: THE CARPENTER AND THE ARCHITECTIf, on the other hand, you wish to go to the labor of polishing the furniture to a high degree, staining becomes an art, and will add to the beauty and durability of any soft or cheap wood, excepting poplar.
When the article is highly polished, so a good, smooth surface is provided, staining does not cheapen, but, on the other hand, serves to embellish the article.
As a rule, therefore, it is well to inculcate this lesson: Do not stain unless you polish; otherwise, it is far better to preserve the natural color of the wood. One of the most beautiful sideboards I ever saw was made of Oregon pine, and the natural wood, well filled and highly polished. That finish gave it an effect which enhanced its value to a price which equaled any cherry or mahogany product.
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Knowledge Of Tools
A knowledge of tools and their uses is the first and most important requirement. The saw, the plane, the hatchet and the hammer are well known to all boys; but how to use them, and where to use the different varieties of each kind of tool, must be l... Lap-and-butt Joint
The lap-and-butt is the form of uniting members which is most generally used to splice together timbers, where they join each other end to end. <div> <img src="/images/fig210.jpg" alt="Fig. 210." title="" height="140" width="400" /> Fig. 210. </div> ... Laying Out The Legs
Fig. 27 shows a leg with square cross marks (A) at each end. These marks indicate the finished length of the leg. You will also see crosses on two sides. These indicate what is called the "work sides." The work sides are selected because they are th... Learning Mechanical Forms
Suppose, for example, we take the words <em>segment</em> and <em>sector</em>. Without a thorough understanding in your own mind you are likely to confuse these terms by taking one for the other. But let us assume you are to be called upon to expla... Lessons From The Doric Column
As an example, suppose we take a plain cabinet, and endeavor to embellish it with the types of molding described, and you will see to what elaboration the operation may be carried. ... Materials
Then procure the following bolts: <div> <table summary="Materials." border="0" cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" width="40%"> <tbody> <tr> <td align="left">4⅜"</td> <td align="left">bolts,</td> <td ali... Mission Style
The Mission style of architecture also lends itself to the making of chairs and other articles of furniture. A chair is, probably, the most difficult piece of household furniture to make, because strength is required. In this type soft wood may be u... Moldings
The use of moldings was early resorted to by the nations of antiquity, and we marvel to-day at many of the beautiful designs which the Phœnecians, the Greeks and the Romans produced. If you analyze the lines used you will be surprised to learn... Natural Effects
If effects are wanted, the skilled workman will properly rely upon the natural grain of the wood; hence, in staining, you should try to imitate nature, because in staining you will depend for contrast on the natural grain of the wood to help you o... Natural Wood Stains
It should be said, in general, however, that a stain is, at best, a poor makeshift. There is nothing so pleasing as the natural wood. It always has an appearance of cleanliness and openness. To stain the wood shows an attempt to cover up cheapness b... Observations About A Box
As simple a little article as a box frequently becomes a burden to a beginner. Try it. Simply keep in mind one thing; each box has six sides. Now, suppose you want a box with six equal sides—that is, a cubical form—it is necessary to mak... Ornamental Bead Finish
These figures show how the bead may be used for finishing corners, edges and projections. Fig. 216 has a bead at each corner of a stile (A), and a finishing strip of half-round material (B) is nailed to the flat edge. Fig. 217 has simply the corners... Perpendicular And Vertical
A few words now as to terms. The boy is often confused in determining the difference between <em>perpendicular</em> and <em>vertical</em>. There is a pronounced difference. Vertical means up and down. It is on a line in the direction a ball takes whe... Perspective
A perspective is a most deceptive figure, and a cube, for instance, may be drawn so that the various lines will differ in length, and also be equidistant from each other. Or all the lines may be of the same length and have the distances between them... Picture Frames
In picture frames the mitered corners may have a saw kerf (C) cut across the corners, as shown in Fig. 44, and a thin blade of hard wood driven in, the whole being glued together. ... Plain Molded Base
The base may be treated in the same manner. The main strip (4) has its upper corner chamfered off, as at I, and on this is nailed a thin, narrow finishing strip (J). The upper part or molded top, in this case, has eleven distinct lines, and the base... Plain Structures
A house with a plain façade, having a roof properly pitched and with a simple cornice, if joined to a wing which is not ungainly or out of proper proportions, is infinitely more beautiful than a rambling structure, in which one part suggests ... Planes
The plane may be called the æsthetic tool in the carpenter's kit. It is the most difficult tool to handle and the most satisfactory when thoroughly mastered. How to care for and handle it will be referred to in a subsequent chapter. We are n... Plastering And Inside Finish
Next in order is the plastering, then the base-boards and the casing; and, finally, the door and windows should be fitted into position. Enough has been said here merely to give a general outline, with some details, how to proceed with the work. ... Polishing Stained Surfaces
If, on the other hand, you wish to go to the labor of polishing the furniture to a high degree, staining becomes an art, and will add to the beauty and durability of any soft or cheap wood, excepting poplar. When the article is highly polished, so a... Preparing A Box Joint
In order to match a box joint for the inner end of a table drawer, the first step is to select two work sides. One work side will be the edge of the board, and the other the side surface of the board, and on those surfaces we will put crosses, as he... Proper Designations
Every part in mechanism, every point, curve and angle has its peculiar designation. A knowledge of terms is an indication of thoroughness in education, and, as heretofore stated, becomes really the basis of art, as well as of the sciences. When you ... Proper Terms
It is the application of the correct terms to things that lays the foundation for accurate thinking and proper expressions in describing work. A wise man once said that the basis of true science consists in correct definitions. ... Proportional Dividers
A useful tool is called the proportional dividers, the legs of which are hinged together intermediate the ends, so that the pivotal joint is adjustable. By means of this tool the scale of work may be changed, although its widest field of usefulness ... Representing Objects
But let him try to represent some object, and the pens become useless. There is a vast difference in the use of drawing tools and free-hand drawing. While the boy who is able to execute free-hand sketches may become the better artist, still that art... Room Measurements
We must now determine the dimensions of each room, and then how we shall build the roof. In Figs. 223 and 224, we have now drawn out in detail the sizes, the locations of the door and windows, the chimneys and the closets, as well as the bathroom... Rule For Mortises
Fig. 206 shows such an example. You will notice this in doors particularly, as an example of work. <div> <img src="/images/fig206.jpg" alt="Fig. 206." title="" height="89" width="156" /> Fig. 206. </div> <div> <img src="/images/fig207.jpg" alt="Fig. ... Saw Clamps
These are necessary adjuncts, and should be made of hard wood, perfectly straight and just wide enough to take in the narrow back saw. The illustration shows their shape and form. ... Saw Clamps
You may easily make a pair of saw clamps as follows: Take two pieces of hard wood, each three inches wide, seven-eighths of an inch thick, and equal in length to the longest saw. Bevel one edge of each as shown in A (Fig. 15), so as to leave an edg... Scarfing
This method of securing members together is the most rigid, and when properly performed makes the joint the strongest part of the timber. Each member (A, Fig. 212) has a step diagonally cut (B), the two steps being on different planes, so they form ... Sector And Segment
Now examine the shape of the body formed by two of the radial lines (E, E) and that part of the circle which extends from one radial line to the other. The body thus formed is a sector, and it is made by two radiating lines and a curved line. Learn ... Self-supporting Roofs
In putting up, for instance, self-supporting roofs, or ceilings with wide spans, and steeples or towers, the bridge principle of trussed members should be understood. The most simple bridge or trussed form is the well-known A-shaped arch. <div> <im... Setting Door And Window Frames
The next step in order is to set the door and window frames preparatory to applying the weather boarding. It is then ready for the roof, which should be put on before the floor is laid. ... Setting Up
First set up the corner posts, plumbing and bracing them. Cut a top plate for each side you are working on. <div> <img src="/images/fig231.jpg" alt="Fig. 231." title="" height="64" width="400" /> Fig. 231. </div> ... Shading Effects
Now, to examine it properly so as to observe what the draughtsman wishes to express, look at Fig. 138, in which the three diverging lines (A, B, C) are increased in thickness, and the cube appears plainly. On the other hand, in Fig. 139, the thicken... Shading With Beads And Rabbets
You will see from the foregoing, that these embellishments are serviceable because they provide the article with a large number of angles and surfaces to cast lights and shadows; and for this reason the boy should strive to produce the effects which... Shadows From A Solid Body
We can understand this better by examining Fig. 129, which shows a vertical board, and a beam of light (A) passing downwardly beyond the upper margin of the board. Under these conditions the upper margin of the board appears darker to the vision, by... Signs To Indicate Measurements
The small circle (°) is always used to designate <em>degree</em>. Thus 10° means ten degrees. Feet are indicated by the single mark '; and two closely allied marks " are for inches. Thus five feet ten inches should be written 5' 10"...