  For some generations there has been cultivated in Sweden, and amongst Scandinavian and kindred peoples, a course of training in personal ingenuity, unknown in most other countries. It does not seem to have ever been persevered in after the manner of trading industry, but as a means of promoting throughout the community a taste and skill for the performance of highly-finished productions in mechanical art, proceeding from the simple to the complex, and resulting in a widely-diffused facility for all kinds of constructive occupations. Such course or system of training is called Sloyd, and written SlÖjd. For the majority of English people such a word cannot have a meaning, and cannot appeal with adequate force to popular appreciation. The nearest equivalent in English to the Swedish word SlÖjd would seem to be Hand-Craft, or mechanical training for the hand, undertaken voluntarily for the satisfaction of acquiring manual skill in general, as distinguished from a handicraft of limited application, pursued of necessity from day to day, rather by routine than by skill. Hand-Craft is therefore adopted as synonymous in England with the word SlÖjd in Sweden. As cultivated in Sweden, it involves all kinds of manual It must always be borne in mind that Hand-Craft is mainly educational, and is valuable, not for what it produces, but for the training which the production involves; just as the letters of the alphabet, and their accurate use, are the essential preliminaries to literary attainments. It imparts and cultivates mechanical dexterity, just as learning to read and write spontaneously developes mental capacity. Therefore, whoever masters a course of Hand-Craft acquires an aptitude for all kinds of material processes. Such an aptitude, while useful and gratifying to the individual, is of the greatest consequence amongst people so deeply interested as the English are in manufacturing pursuits. Hand-Craft also has strong claims to be cultivated as a recreation, and experience proves that it may be so regarded, with every prospect of becoming popular as such. Touching this matter of recreation, and those who have not the faculty for viewing the subject in that light, reference may be made to familiar facts with reference to chess. Perhaps there is nothing that, to the uninitiated, appears more stupid, insipid, and purposeless than the progress of that game. Yet there are thousands, who have so regarded it, who, after being well initiated, have become interested and absorbed by it, to an extent exceeding the possibilities of their original belief. Training of this kind has, in recent years, been much stimulated by the establishment of an Institute or Seminary for its teaching and cultivation at NÄÄs in Sweden, where very generous accommodation and facilities are provided for the instruction of teachers from all parts of Sweden and the rest of the world. The subsequent mission of each of those teachers is to diffuse the taste and knowledge he has thus acquired amongst his own people on his return to them, or amongst other people where he may find encouragement to settle for that purpose. Thus have the foundations been laid for this genial drawing out and exercise of latent mechanical genius amongst the people of England. With the object of widening those foundations, these pages have been prepared; primarily as forming a Text Book for Teachers, but also as an incentive to parents, educationists, and statesmen to fortify the rising generation of England against the An earnest determination to promote amendment in these respects cannot be better carried into effect than by insisting that Hand-Craft shall be regarded as an essential branch of the Technical Education that is now struggling to assert itself usefully. If such a branch be left out, the mere teaching of routine trade processes will inevitably fail. Such routine processes are many of them in heavy-handed, rough disregard of the nicety, accuracy, finish, and judgment which intelligent exercise in Hand-Craft can alone impart; which is the only reliable basis for the superior mechanical results so much needed. Hand-Craft in wood is distinguished from carpentry or joinery in many important respects. There is no division of labour. Everything produced is the entire work of one operator, for the defects of which he is solely responsible. This directness of responsibility is one of the great merits of Hand-Craft, being calculated to promote wholesome pride in the excellence of complete work; a sentiment that is apt to be very weak, or totally wanting, where division of labour is much relied upon. The intellectual faculties are brought into unison with the Genuine respect and sympathy are developed for manual toil by familiarity with its application. Love of work in general is developed, and a taste for it instilled by practical experience of its utility. Habits of attention, perseverance, industry, and discipline are formed, cultivated, and unconsciously grafted upon the pupil, by the application necessary to excel. Independence, order, and cleanliness spontaneously grow and become part of the nature of the operator. Manual dexterity being thoroughly established, the operator is endowed with the consequent acquired ability for dealing with the practical business of life. Education being the object that should be constantly kept in view, in the teaching and practice of Hand-Craft, it should be thoroughly appreciated that it is adapted for forming and shaping the entire bent of all the faculties. The objects recommended to work upon are all small, and are therefore within the capacity of the very young, and of both sexes. For the same reason, the eye, the hand, and the judgment are trained to precise form and finish in the minutest details. This is important, for, though it is generally easier to make something large and rough than small and smooth, no one who is incapable of making a small model well can make a large one any better. BASIS OF TEACHING.Practical teaching of Hand-Craft is based upon models for imitation. These models, distinguished by numbering from 1A and 1B to 25, are represented by the drawings accompanying these pages, and the instructions hereafter subjoined are explained by reference to the drawings. The following is a LIST OF THE MODELS.*** The second column indicates the kind of wood required—B. signifying Beech or Birch, and F. signifying Fir, commonly called Deal or Pine; the class of wood usually distinguished as Pine being preferable to the rougher-grained wood generally classed as Deal.
TOOLS AND APPLIANCES.The following is a List of Tools and Appliances necessary for producing the models before enumerated, with the cost of each, both Swedish and English.
Although the prices of the English tools are so much higher than the Swedish (with few exceptions), they are cheaper in the end. They are more carefully made; the wood is drier and better selected; and Swedish steel is not to be compared with English. At the same time, the Swedish tools are good enough to put into the hands of school boys and girls, and they have also the advantage of being considerably lighter in weight. THE BENCH.A drawing of the Bench is annexed, to show the difference between one adapted for Sloyd or Hand-Craft and the kind in common use by carpenters. The Sloyd Bench is usually about 7 ft. long, 2 ft. wide, and 3 ft. 3 in. high. As shown in the drawing, it has an extra Bench Screw at the end, which enables the student to fix a piece of level wood rigidly on the top of the Bench, by placing the end against a Stop, as shown in the drawing, and bringing the pressure of the End Screw to bear on the other end. The numerous holes (shown in the drawing) on the Bench Top, are so arranged that the Stop can be fixed in any of them. For school work the Benches are often made double—that is, with a Screw on each side and on each end of the Bench. This arrangement economises space, and answers all practical purposes; enabling two students to work at one bench. The Sloyder will find it an advantage to fix a small drawer under the bench top. In this he should keep his sand-paper and files, as nothing is so detrimental to the edges of the sharp tools as these two articles.
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| 1. | Long Cut (with grain). | 26. | Perpendicular Chiselling. |
| 2. | End Cut (across grain). | 27. | Concave Chiselling or Gouging. |
| 3. | Oblique Cut. | 28. | Gouging with Spoon-Iron. |
| 4. | Bevel Cut. | 29. | Oblique Chiselling. |
| 5. | Sawing off. | 30. | Smoothing with Spokeshave. |
| 6. | Convex Cut. | 31. | Shaping with Spokeshave. |
| 7. | Long Sawing. | 32. | Oblique Sawing. |
| 8. | Edge Planing. | 33. | Oblique Planing. |
| 9. | Squaring with Set Square. | 34. | End Planing. |
| 10. | Gauging. | 35. | Exercises with Smoothing Plane. |
| 11. | Drilling with Brace and Shell-Bit. | 36. | Work in Hard Wood. |
| 12. | Flat Planing. | 37. | Dowelling or Round Mortising. |
| 13. | Filing. | 38. | Bevelling Edge with Plane Oblique. |
| 14. | Drilling with Brace and Centre-Bit. | 39. | Gluing. |
| 15. | Curved Sawing. | 40. | Sinking in of Iron Plates. |
| 16. | Concave Cut. | 41. | Nailing. |
| 17. | Bevelled Planing. | 42. | Sinking of Nails. |
| 18. | Shaping with Plane. | 43. | Bevelling with Shaping Knife. |
| 19. | Chopping. | 44. | Perpendicular Gouging. |
| 20. | Cross-Sawing. | 45. | Point Planing. |
| 21. | Mortising with Knife. | 46. | Oblique Grooving. |
| 22. | Wave-Sawing. | 47. | Circular Sawing. |
| 23. | Plane Surface-Cut with Knife. | 48. | Fixing with Screws. |
| 24. | Scraping. | 49. | Modelling with Knife. |
| 25. | Obstacle-Planing. |
The following are the descriptions of how to apply the Exercises to the making of the Models.
(Requiring Exercises 1 and 2.)
Commence with a piece of Beech, rather more than 5 in. long, and not less than 3/4 in. thick. It is all the better, for this and other exercises, if it is split from a larger piece, and has no side either square or straight. With the knife, make one side level and smooth, to a width rather exceeding 3/8 in. When that is done perfectly, make another straight side at right angles to the first. Trim the ends; then mark with the pencil at each end a 3/8-in.
The Long Cut having, thus far, been solely resorted to, measure from the point, and make a mark at 4 in.; then cut off at the mark, thus exercising the Cross Cut. Then, by judiciously applying sand-paper, the pointer may be made perfectly smooth and almost perfectly round, as it should be throughout.
(Requiring Exercises 1, 2, and 3.)
Proceed as for the previous model until the round pointer is produced. Then apply Exercise 3 to the two Oblique Cuts shown
(Requiring Exercises 1, 2, and 4.)
Commence with a piece of Beech rather more than 3 in. long and 5/8 in. thick. Reduce it in like manner as previously described to a stem 3 in. long and 3/8 in. square throughout. Then apply Exercise 4, and so bevel the sides and ends as to make chamfers, as shown in Figs. 1, 2, and 3 of drawings No. 2. Then draw a line across the centre of one side, and there cut a V-shaped notch as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, so as to provide for a string. Then finish with a piece of sand-paper laid upon a flat surface, upon which first rub the sides, then the chamfers, and lastly the ends.
(Requiring Exercises 5, 1, 2, and 6.)
This is the first model made in soft wood, and introduces Exercise 5, Sawing Off. From the edge of a 3/4-in. board saw off a piece the same width as the thickness, and about 14 in. long. Proceed as for No. 1a until a rod is produced 1/2 in. square throughout. Then, by a cross made from corner to corner Cross find the centre of one end. Then take off the corners throughout until an octagonal rod is produced; then take off the eight corners so as to make the rod round and the same thickness throughout. Then apply Exercise 6, the Convex Cut, and point the end where the centre is marked. Then measure from the point and mark at 12 in., and there cut off at right angles. Then apply sand-paper, and the result will be a tapered symmetrical round rod, pointed at one end, as shown in drawings No. 3.
(Requiring Exercises 5, 1, 2, and 6.)
Saw from Beech, a piece about 8 in. long, 3/4 in. wide and 1/2 in. thick. With the knife, make one of the flat sides perfectly level and smooth throughout, and cut one end across at right angles. With a fine pencil, draw on the level side the outline of Fig 1 of drawings No. 4, and also, with compasses, describe on the end the semicircle shown by Fig 3 of drawings No. 4, with the flat edge for the base. Apply the long cut to the edges at right angles to the flat side. Then, on each of the edges thus flattened, draw a line showing the course of the tapering illustration on the first side of Fig. 2 of drawings No. 4. Apply the long cut to each of those lines, at right angles to the edges. This will produce a rod, flat on one side, and presenting a tapered half square on the other. Then shave off the corners of that square, so as to produce half a
(Requiring Exercises 5, 7, 8, 9, 6, and 3.)
In this model the Jack Plane and the Try Square are used for the first time. Saw off from Pine a piece about 16 in. long and 3/4 in. square. Plane one side straight and true, and one of the other sides at right angles. Cut each end across at right angles, and on each end, using the planed edges as basis, mark Fig. 2 of drawings No. 5. Then plane the other two sides at right angles, so as to produce a square rod, which, at every part throughout its length, should fit the try square. Then, with the plane, take about two shavings off each corner, in unison with the figures at the ends. Then, with the knife, cut the point from a to a as shown in Fig. 1 of drawings No. 5. Then measure from the long-pointed end, mark the exact length, cut across at the mark, and cut the other end to a point with eight sides as shown in Figs. 1 and 2. Finish with sand-paper at the long-pointed end only.
(Requiring Exercises 5, 1, 11, 6, and 2.)
This model for the first time introduces the Brace and Bit. Saw off from Pine a piece 10 in. long, and 3/4 in. square. With the knife, cut one end across at right angles, and make it smooth. Find the centre of the end as for model No. 1. Fix the stem vertically in the Bench Screw, with the smooth end upwards. Fit a 3/16-Shell-Bit into the Brace, and bore a centre hole in the end of the stem as shown in Fig. 2 of drawings No. 6, and to the depth dotted in Fig. 1. Great care must be taken in drilling, so that the hole may be clean and perpendicular. With the knife, pare down each side so as to leave a 1/2-in. square, with the drilled hole in the centre. Find the centre in the opposite end. Mark a line about 21/4 in. from the drilled end, as shown in Fig. 1. From that line, shave each side down to the centre last found. Then take off the corners so as to make a tapered octagon. Then take off the corners of the octagon, so as to produce a round tapered rod. Measure from the thick end and mark the exact length, and, at the mark, cut across. Then round the end as shown in Fig. 1, and finish with sand-paper.
Note.—This is a repetition to a considerable extent of Model 1 on a larger scale. The student may be tempted to proceed without going through the processes described, but the temptation
(Requiring Exercises 5, 12, 8, 9, 10, 11, 6, 2, and 13.)
This is mainly intended for an exercise in planing, and it is better to get out a piece of Pine sufficient for two models—that is, about 9 in. long, 13/4 in. wide, and 1 in. thick.
Plane one side, and then one edge, perfectly straight and square to each other. Then set the gauge to 11/2 in. to fit Fig. 1 of drawings No. 7. Apply the gauge to the straightened edge and mark off the width along the smooth side. Then plane that edge down to the line so made, using the try-square to keep the edge at right angles with the straightened side. Next find the centre 3/4 in. from the top end, as shown in Fig. 1. From that centre describe with the compasses a semicircle. Then fit a 3/16-Shell-bit into the Brace, and bore a hole, at the centre of the semicircle, right through. Then set the gauge to 5/16 in. for the thickness, as shown by Fig. 2. Apply the gauge to the straightened side, and mark the line for thickness along each edge. Then plane the rough side down to those lines. Then, with the knife, cut round precisely to the semicircle, using the try-square frequently.
[If a double length is commenced with, as before recommended,
Measure from the rounded end, and rule with the square, the length of 41/4 in. Then, with Tenon or Dovetail Saw, cut off just outside the line. Then, with the knife, pare down to the line, and with a file, smooth that end as well as the rounded end, finishing throughout with sand-paper.
(Requiring Exercises 5, 7, 12, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 1, 6, 16, and 13.)
Beech is required, about 7 in. long, 3 in. wide, and 1/2 in. thick. Plane one side and one edge. Draw the centre line A to B in Fig. 1 of drawings No. 8. With square and compasses draw all the other lines shown in the same Fig. Then fit a 3/4 in. Centre-bit to the Brace, and bore two holes, one at A and the other at B. Then, with the smaller turning saw, cut the two outside curved edges as shown in Fig. 1. With the knife, trim to the lines, making the edges square, as shown in Fig. 3. Then shave and slightly round each semicircle, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2, smoothing the edges with the file. Then set the Marking Gauge to 1/4 in., and, with the smooth side for a base, mark gauge lines on each edge for thickness, and plane the rough side down to those lines. Then set the plane very fine and take a shaving off the face side so as to remove the pencil and compass marks. Then finish with sand-paper.
(Requiring Exercises 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 17, 18, 6, 2, and 13.)
Saw out from Fir a piece 14 in. long and 11/4 in. square. Plane one side straight and another side at right angles. Set the Marking Gauge to 1 in., and with the planed side as base, mark lines for thickness along each planed side. Then plane the rough sides down to those lines, using the Try Square frequently. Then, at each end find the centre thus Marker with additional lines showing octagons thus Octagon. With the Marking Gauge draw lines from end to end of each side corresponding with the corners of each octagon. Plane the corners of the square down to those octagon lines, thus producing an octagonal rod, and completing the first exercise in bevel planing. Plane off the corners of the octagon throughout, thus producing a rod approximately round, shown in Fig. 2 of drawings No. 9, and so completing the first exercise in shaping with plane. Measure from one end for the point as shown in Fig. 1, and, with the knife, cut the point as roundly and symmetrically as possible, referring to the centre marked at the end as a guide for the precise place of the point. Then measure from the point and mark at 12 in. Cut across at that mark, and round the blunt end thus made, as shown at top of Fig. 1. With the file, dress the end and stray angles throughout, and finish with sand-paper.
(Requiring Exercises 5, 8, 9, 10, 20, 1, 2, 18, and 13.)
Cut from Beech a piece 5 in. long, 1 in. wide, and 3/4 in. thick. Plane one side and one edge at right angles, then gauge and plane to thickness and height, as shown in Fig. 2 of drawings No. 10, but flat on all sides. Saw across both ends at right angles, so as to reduce the length to 31/2 in. Select one edge as the top, and, with the square, rule a central line from e to e, and a line across at each of the places marked a, b, c, and d in Fig. 1, continuing each line down both sides. Then, at each end, mark the central place represented by the dot in Fig. 2. From each of those central places describe the semicircle shown at top of Fig. 2. Then mark a line from end to end on each side half way between the top and the bottom.
Then, with the knife, and working to the semicircle at each end, take off the corners of the top, so making half an octagon, and, by taking off the corners of the half octagon, produce a top corresponding to the semicircle at each end, as shown in Fig. 2, taking care that the top of the semicircle throughout centres to the line previously drawn from e to e. Then, with the tenon saw, at each of the places marked a, b, c, and d, saw across a right angle slit 3/16 in. deep. Then, with the knife or a chisel, cut out the space shown in Fig. 1 from a to b and from c to d, taking care that the
(Requiring Exercises 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 2, 1, 6, 13, and 21.)
This consists of two pieces, as shown in Figs. 1 and 2 of drawings No. 11, each piece so made as to cross and fit the other at the centre, hence called a Flower-Pot Cross, the whole being a test of exactness and good work, surpassing any preceding model.
Cut from Pine a piece 12 in. long, 11/4 in. wide, and 1/2 in. thick. Plane one side and one edge at right angles; then gauge for height and thickness, and plane the other side and edge as shown by the section represented in Fig. 3. Saw across the middle so as to make two pieces, and, from the end of each so cut, measure off and saw both to the equal length of 51/4 in. each, taking care that both ends of each are accurate right angles. Then place them on their sides and draw the centre line indicated by A B, continuing the line all round each piece. From the centre, mark off the places indicated by e f and g h. At c and d of each, with the compasses, describe the quarter circle shown at each top corner of the figures, striking the segments from the respective dots shown for the purpose near each top corner. Then, with the bottom edge
(Requiring Exercises 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 20, 18, 26, 1, 2, 27, 13, and 24.)
Cut from Beech a piece about 5 in. long, 1 in. wide, and 7/8 in. thick. Plane one side and one edge at right angles. Then saw across one end at right angles, and, measuring from that end, mark off the length at 41/4 in., and saw off that end at the mark, taking care to maintain right angles. Then gauge and plane the rough side and rough edge to a width of 7/8 in. and a thickness of 5/8 in. Then choose one edge for the top, and,
(Requiring Exercises 5, 7, 12, 8, 9, 10, 22, 16, 6, 23, 13, and 24.)
Cut from Beech a very straight-grained piece, 14 in. long, 2 in. wide, and 3/8 in. thick. Plane one side and one edge at right angles. Then, on the planed side, to the size and shape indicated, draw the whole of Fig. 1 of drawings No. 12, letting the straight edge serve as the line from A to B. With the smaller turning saw cut round all the curved parts, carefully adhering to the drawn figure. Then gauge all round for thickness, as shown in Fig. 2, plane the rough side down to the gauge lines, and with the knife trim the curved edges where required. With the set gauge, mark the centre of the straight edge from A to B, and guided by that centre, pare down each corner of the straight edge, so as to make a straight chamfer on each side about 1/8 in. wide, terminating with a sharp edge at the place where the gauge line was drawn, as shown in Fig. 2. Pare down the corners of both chamfers, and pare each side symmetrically, so as to produce a blade gradually diminishing throughout from a back 3/16 in. thick to a sharp edge. Then pare down the end of the back to a lancet-shaped point, as shown in Fig. 2. Round the corners of both edges of the handle, so as to make them symmetrical throughout, and also pare the corners of the back of the blade so as to round it on both sides very slightly. File judiciously with a light hand where required, and then, for the first time using the scraper, complete the blade with great care by scraping, finishing as usual with sand-paper.
(Requiring Exercises 5, 7, 12, 8, 9, 10, 15, 26, 13, 28, 29, 6, and 24.)
This model is shown in the perspective Fig. 1 of drawings No. 14. Commence for it by cutting from Beech a piece about 5 in. long, 3 in. wide, and 11/4 in. thick. Plane one side and one edge at right angles. Then gauge for a thickness of 1 in. and plane the rough side to the gauge lines. Determine by choice which side shall be the bottom of the bowl and which the top. Find the centre of the bottom side by drawing the lines from A to B and from C to D as shown in Fig. 2. Repeat these lines on the edges and top side, using the try square. Then, on the bottom side, with compasses and square, draw the whole of the figures constituting the entire diagram shown by Fig. 2, and on the top side draw freehand the larger oval or ellipse diagram shown by Fig. 3, being guided by the points of the guide-lines first drawn for the purpose.
Then, with the turning saw, cut round by the line of the ellipse on the top side, and finish the edge square with chisel and file. Then, with finger and pencil, mark a line about 1/8 in. inside the outer edge all round the larger ellipse. With a 7/8-in. gouge cut out the centre so as to form the inside of the bowl, the depth and shape being shown by the dotted lines of Fig 4.
To complete the bottom side, leave the ellipse in the centre untouched, and from its outline to the outer edge of the lip of the bowl, shave with the knife so as to produce in all directions a curve corresponding to those at each end of Fig. 4. Take a shaving off the flat bottom with the smoothing plane, so as to remove the compass marks. Then file judiciously and lightly where required, scrape perfectly smooth, and finish with sand-paper.
*** This No. 14 is a very interesting study and a keen test of application, care, and skill, anything like carelessness being sure to leave its tell-tale marks.
(Requiring Exercises 5, 7, 12, 8, 9, 22, 30, 4, 31, 2, 13, and 24.)
This study exercises ability in the mastery of elliptical lines, and in the use of the spokeshave in Exercises 30 and 31.
Cut from Beech a piece about 13 in. long, 11/2 in. wide, and 11/4 in. thick. Plane one side and one edge at right angles. On the smooth side thus produced, with the pencil sketch throughout the whole of Fig. 1 of drawings No. 15. Then, with the turning saw,
(Requiring Exercises 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 33, 18, 6, 2, 13, and 24.)
From Beech cut a piece 6 in. long, 2 in. wide, and 11/4 in. thick. Plane one side and one edge at right angles. Gauge for greatest width shown from A to B in Fig. 1 of drawings No. 16, and also for greatest thickness shown by A to B in Fig. 2. Plane the rough side and edge down to the respective gauge lines, thus producing a piece of equal thickness throughout, with the sides and edges at right angles. Saw across one end at right angles. On the face thus produced on that end sketch Fig. 3 complete. Fit a 1/4-in. Bit to the Brace and bore a hole in the centre of the same end to the depth shown by the dotted lines in the upper part of Fig. 1. Plane from A to C and from B to D, thus slightly tapering the sides and edges, but maintaining right angles throughout. Measure from the thin flat end and mark the length of 5 in. Then, from the centre of the line A to B of Fig. 1, describe a semicircle on each side as shown at bottom of Fig. 1. With turning saw and chisel, shape each side of that end to the semicircle. Then plane off the angles so far as to make the shape in unison throughout with Fig. 3, presenting sides corresponding to Fig. 1, and edges corresponding to Fig. 2. Then complete the shape of the thick end with knife, as shown in Fig. 2, and finish with file, scraper, and sand-paper.
(Requiring Exercises 5, 19, 12, 8, 9, 10, 32, 22, 29, 14, 15, 26, 13, 2, 8, 6, 24, 16, and 1.)
From very carefully selected Beech cut a piece 10 in. long, 21/2 in. wide, and 13/4 in. thick. Plane one side and one edge at right angles. Sketch on the flat edge the complete outline of Fig. 1 of drawings No. 17. With the turning saw, cut to the outline at right angles on the upper side only, completing with chisel and file. On the shaped side thus produced, make a centre line as
The inside of the Spoon being thus completed, proceed with the outside. Mark on the edge the outline d d d d d for the under side of the spoon. With the turning saw, cut out to that outline, and round with the knife, as shown in the sections of Figs. 3, 4, and 5. Take care to keep carefully outside the lines when cutting with the knife, and apply the file, scraper, and sand-paper for finishing.
*** The under part of the spoon is a capital exercise in modelling with the knife, and, if one process is completed before the next is commenced, requires no more than ordinary application and care.
(Requiring Exercises 5, 12, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 26, 34, 13, 25, and 24.)
This especially involves straight and square planing. Cut from Deal a piece 20 in. long, 61/2 in. wide, and 1 in. thick. Plane
*** The object of deferring the planing of the second side until so late a period, is that, at the same time, minute chipping and roughness of edge on that side, almost certain to result from the boring and sawing, are at the same time disposed of.
(In the original Sloyd model this is a half-metre measure.)
(Requiring Exercises 5, 7, 12, 8, 9, 10, 25, 30, 15, 16, 6, 2, 13, and 24.)
Select from Beech an exceptionally straight-grained piece 24 in. long, 11/4 in. wide, and 3/4 in. thick. Plane one side and one edge at right angles, both scrupulously straight and even; then gauge, mark to a nicety for 11/8 in. wide and 1/2 in. thick, and plane to the gauge marks with great exactitude, thus producing a four-cornered rod of uniform size throughout. Saw across one end at right angles. Measure from that cut end, mark the length of 18 in., and saw across at the mark. Then set the gauge precisely at 7/8 in., and, passing it along each edge, mark on both sides for the lines a to b in Fig. 1 of drawings No. 19, continuing the lines from end to end of the entire rod. Then, with the square, mark across the place for a a, and there saw a slit on each side down to the gauge line. Then proceed to the first exercise in Obstacle Planing (No. 25.) Thus, pass the smooth plane along each edge from b to a, as far as the obstacle of the corner will allow. Of course the planing cannot be continued into the corners, but, whatever is left by the plane must be got out by the chisel and file. Then, on each side, sketch for the handle, as shown in Fig. 1, the gauge line, previously there, forming part of the sketch. Then, with the turning-saw, cut out
(Requiring Exercises 5, 19, 12, 9, 14, 7, 15, 26, 32, 33, 29, 28, 13, 18, 6, 16, 2, and 24.)
Cut from Beech a carefully-selected piece 11 in. long, 3 in. wide, and 3 in. thick. Plane one side and one edge at right angles, with exceptional care. Then, on the smooth edge sketch the outline of the upper side a to a of Fig. 1 of drawings No. 20. Saw to the outline at right angles throughout, afterwards correcting inaccuracies with chisel and plane. On the smooth shaped side thus produced, sketch the outline of Fig. 2. With 11/2-in. centre bit drill the holes indicated by b b, right through. Saw to the outline all round, carefully maintaining right angles throughout and, as before, correcting inaccuracies with chisel and plane.
Then, at the upper edge of the invisible end at the bottom of Fig. 2, find the centre represented by c in Fig. 3. Fix compasses to a radius from c to d, and, from the centre before found, describe a semicircle, and from the same centre another semicircle with a radius about 1/8 in. longer. The centre of the inner of those semicircles
Next, with 1/8-in. gouge, make a furrow just inside the outline of the face of the scoop, as previously recommended for Model No. 17. Then, from that furrow as a starting-point, in all directions, with 7/8-gouge, scoop out from back to front, to the depth indicated by the dotted line of Fig. 1, and to the width at front of the semicircle previously drawn on the end, but gradually diminishing the inner capacity so as to make it smallest near the handle, in about the same proportion as indicated for the bottom by the dotted line in Fig. 1. Then file and scrape inside where required, and finish so far with sand-paper.
Then, upon each edge, draw the outline of the bottom of the Scoop, shown in Fig. 1. Saw throughout that outline at right angles. Then from e to f plane all round to the semicircle indicated by the outer line of Fig. 3 previously described on the end. Then, with the knife, cut the handle to the section indicated by Fig. 4, and continue the shaping to e as indicated by the shaded lines of Fig. 1. File the handle and outside of Scoop where required, and finish with sand-paper.
*** The most difficult part of this model is that shaded in Fig. 1, which requires special attention and care.
(Requiring Exercises 5, 7, 12, 8, 9, 10, 14, 15, 26, 13, 18, 4, 26, 37, 29, 35, 39, 40, and 42.)
From Deal cut out two pieces, one 18 in. long, 31/2 in. wide, and 7/8 in. thick; the other 15 in. long, 1 in. wide, and 7/8 in. thick.
Commencing with the larger piece, plane one side and one edge at right angles. Then gauge-mark to a width of 3 in., and plane the rough edge down to that mark. At the centre of the width draw a line from end, as shown in Fig. 1, f to f. On that line, with compasses, mark the points indicated by a, b, c, of Fig. 1 of the drawings No. 21. At each point drill a 5/8 in. hole right through, taking great care to drill vertically. With the square, draw the cross lines at d d, the intersections with the central line forming additional central points. Set compasses to a radius of 7/8 in., and, from each of those central points, describe a semicircle as shown in the Fig.; then from each of the same central points describe an outer semicircle as also shown in the Fig. With tenon saw make a nick at each of the four points g, in each case reaching to the outer of the semicircles, each nick being strictly at right angles. Then, with turning saw, follow the line of each of the outer semicircles. Then dress the edges all round with chisel and file as required. Then gauge-mark all round for a thickness of 3/4 in., and plane the rough side down to the
The smaller piece of Deal being to make the pegs with, plane it on one side and one edge at right angles, then gauge-mark for a width of 3/4 in. and for a thickness of 5/8 in., as illustrated in section by Fig. 4. Saw across into three lengths of 5 in. each. Place them together on their sides, and sketch one side of each as shown from j to k and l in Fig. 3, leaving the space from j to m untouched. With the try square repeat the lines of this sketch on both sides of each. With saw and knife cut each peg to the sketch, finishing the whole, excepting the circular plug. Then at the inner end, find the centre as denoted in Fig. 4, and, using the same centre-bit as for Fig. 1, describe a circle mark as dotted in Fig. 4. Then, with the tenon saw, cut by the “shoulder” to a depth of 1/8 in., and pare the circle with the knife to the shoulder j, so making a round plug, a little too large to go into the holes of Fig. 1. Then, with the file, carefully reduce the size of each plug so as to very accurately and tightly fit one hole at a time in Fig 1, where wedging must not be tolerated. The perfection of this part of the work is to be tested by ascertaining that the pegs are precisely in a line, and that each one fits all round to the face of the board into which it is inserted.
The pegs being thus made ready for fixing, clean the face of the board (Fig. 1) with the smooth plane, and the edges and chamfers with sand-paper. Then glue in each plug, using the try square to make sure that they project at right angles. Then put the whole away for not less than six hours, to allow the glue to set well. Then, as each plug has been purposely made slightly too long, saw off each projection at the back, and smooth the whole of the back with the plane, so effecting the finishing touches.
To avoid the necessity for nailing to the wall, get two pieces of hoop-iron about 11/2 in. long and 1/2 in. wide. To adapt each piece for its purpose, cut one end round and punch in a nail hole and two smaller screw holes, as shown in Fig. 1. With a chisel cut a neat recess for each iron so that it can be sunk flush with the back, as shown in Fig. 2, and, inserting the screws, the work will be complete.
(Requiring Exercises 5, 7, 12, 8, 9, 10, 34, 20, 2, 1, 13, 41, 42, and 35.)
This is an especially good subject for straight sawing, straight planing, and nailing.
Cut from Deal a piece about 22 in. long, 6 in. wide, and 1 in. thick. With the jack-plane face one side and one edge perfectly straight and true at right angles. Gauge-mark for 13/16 in. thick, and plane the rough side down to the gauge-line. Square one end with the plane, mark to length shown in Fig. 1 of drawings No. 22, cut with tenon saw to mark, and square the end with smooth plane. Then gauge-mark for thickness of lath shown in Fig. 4, and saw off a shade inside the gauge-lines. In like manner cut five laths, and plane each to the gauge line.
The laths being thus made, sufficient wood will be left for the supports. Make the width of the supports the same as that of the laths. After gauging and planing the supports to depth as Fig. 4, saw off to the 6-in. length. Square the ends with a chisel and set out on each the distance a a, Fig. 3. Gauge to b b, Fig. 4, and with the tenon saw, cut to the gauge-line at a a, and with the knife remove the piece between a and a. Then mark on each lath the distance the supports are from each end of the laths, and nail on the laths—the outside laths first, then the centre one, and finally the other two.
(Requiring Exercises 5, 7, 12, 8, 9, 10, 3, 4, 15, 44, 32, 29, 14, 13, 3, 5, 41, and 42.)
Cut from Deal two pieces, one 12 in. long, 6 in. wide, and 11/4 in. thick; the other 18 in. long, 31/4 in. wide, and 1 in. thick.
The former piece is for the laths, and it must be prepared and cut as in No. 22, making each lath to finish 1 in. wide, 1/2 in. thick, and 103/4 in. long.
The wood for the support must now be proceeded with. Plane one side and one edge at right angles, and gauge-mark for width of 3 in. and thickness of 17/8 in. Plane the rough side and edge down to the gauge-marks. Then saw through the centre so as to make two pieces of 7/8 in. thickness each. Place the pieces side by side, and nail them together with two 11/2-in. wrought nails, so that both pieces can be operated upon together. Then draw on one outer side the diagram shown on the unshaded part of Fig. 1 of drawings No. 23, and, with the aid of try-square and compasses, repeat the diagram on the other outer side. Then cut off each end nearly to the end lines of the diagrams, and, with the smoothing plane, finish at perfect right angles. Then, with a 5/8-in. centre-bit, drill at the spots marked a a on each diagram, penetrating on one side a little more than an inch, and finishing by drilling from the other side in precise unison. The drilling throughout must be
The respective parts being now complete, mark on each lath the distance the supports are from the ends shown in Fig. 2. Then nail on the laths, b b first, c next, and the others afterwards. Then, having first taken care to punch down all the nails sufficiently, plane a few shavings off the tops of the laths to make them clean and level.
*** If the laths are well and truly nailed on, their ends should be in perfect line. Any defect in that respect must be remedied by carefully and judiciously planing; but the perfection of work is when no such planing is necessary.
(Requiring Exercises 5, 12, 8, 9, 10, 3, 4, 15, 44, 32, 29, 14, 13, 3, 5, 41, and 42.)
This is made partly in hard and partly in soft wood.
For the handle, cut from Beech a piece 8 in. long, 2 in. wide, and 7/8 in. thick. Plane one side and one edge. Then gauge-mark for 11/2 in. wide and 3/4 in. thick, and plane the rough side and edge down to each gauge-mark. Then draw on one side the diagram of the handle shown in Fig. 1 of drawings No. 24. With
The handle being thus finished, cut from Deal a piece 24 in. long, 61/2 in. wide, and 5/8 in. thick, and plane one side and one edge at right angles. Gauge-mark for 6 in. wide, and 1/2 in. thick, and plane the rough side and edge down to the gauge-marks. Square one end, measuring from that end, saw off at 9 in. On the larger piece remaining, draw the lines a b and a b in the positions shown in Fig. 2; then, with the compasses, set off the spaces from a to c and from a to c, b to c and b to c, a to d and a to d, b to d and b to d. Then set the gauge to half the thickness, and with it mark the edges on the four places indicated in each case from c to d. Set the bevel to the oblique line at each side of the dovetails, and transfer this bevelled line to each side at points c c c c and d d d d. Then, with tenon saw, cut down each line c d to the depth of the gauge line, and, with a small chisel, remove the whole of the pieces between the nicks made by the saw. This will result in two grooves for dovetailed tongues, as shown above, a a in Fig. 1, designed to strengthen and prevent from warping the upper half of the holder.
(Requiring Exercises 5, 19, 12, 9, 10, 32, 15, 33, 29, 14, 26, 28, 22, 49, 31, 1, 6, 16, 13, and 24.)
Cut from Beech a piece 16 in. long, 4 in. wide, and 4 in. thick. The manner of proceeding resembles that required for No. 17. Plane one side and one edge at right angles, and draw on the planed
END.
TURNBULL AND SPEARS, PRINTERS, EDINBURGH.
