If, on account of width, certain pieces of work cannot be obtained from material at hand, two pieces may have to be joined together.

One edge of each piece to be joined should be carefully planed square and straight. Keep trying the two edges together until a satisfactory joint is obtained, one so satisfactory that when the edges are placed together no joint line is visible. When such a joint is obtained we are ready to take the next step—to locate holes for dowels.

This method is shown in Plate 1, Fig. A. Here the two pieces are placed face to face and lines are squared across the two edges, planning enough space to insure a strong job. Two or three dowels are usually sufficient. Locate the centers of all these lines so that the spur of the bit will come equidistant from each edge, as shown.

Bore the holes at least twice as deep as the wood is thick. Thus for half inch stock the holes should be at least an inch deep.

For half inch and three-eighths inch wood the hole should be bored with a quarter inch bit, for wood three-quarter inch to one inch thick a half inch bit should be used.

Take extreme care in boring the holes to see that the bit is at right angles to the edge of the wood, otherwise difficulties will arise when we come to put the work together.

After all holes are bored, the round sticks called dowels should be cut, one-eighth inch shorter than the combined depths of the two holes. This allowance is made so that glue may work under the ends of the dowels and also that the dowels may not be too long and thus prevent the edges of the joint from coming together.

Apply glue to the dowels and insert them in the holes and spread glue on both of the edges, as shown in Fig. B, Plate 1.

Place the work in clamps, if available, protecting the edges of the wood from the iron of the clamps with small pieces or blocks of soft wood.

Fig. C shows the clamps in position. If no clamps are at hand a makeshift clamp may be made, as shown in Fig. D. In using this clamping arrangement a strong piece of wood should be nailed to the floor, where such nailing will do no harm, driving the nails only about three-quarters of the way in. Place the wood to be clamped against this and nail two wedge shaped pieces about an inch and a half away, as shown. Prepare other pieces, also of wedge shape, of a proper size to drive into place, as indicated.

By a careful study of Fig. D the important features of such a method of clamping will be understood.

The cold glue that comes in cans ready for use will be found most convenient for the beginner to use. The clamps should remain on the work overnight, and when removed the two surfaces of the wood must be cleaned of all glue and planed.