Fifty lessons in wood working

Preface

It is not assumed that the following is the best possible course in manual training. According to G-. Stanley Hall, " There are always several equally good ways, and the best probably has not yet been discovered."

Possibly ten years will show as great change in the method of instruction in manual training as it has in the teaching of drawing.

This course is the one the writer has employed, and the results seem to warrant its presentation to others in the hope that it may aid those who desire to enter the field, even partially, as instructors.

Two classes of people advocate manual training, — one class solely for the mental discipline gained, the other for the manual dexterity acquired. The first class claim that the object of the public schools is to train the mental powers of the pupil; that the home, the shop, and the place of business must be relied on to teach the application of this knowledge. The second class believe that not only the mental powers should be trained, but the physical ability to apply these powers should be acquired. As the pupil, after being taught the rules of arithmetic, is set to

PREFACE.

measure a room or a pile of wood, so having conceived some construction he is set to make it in wood or metal.

It is usual to hear the objections: "Why should the school be burdened to teach the boy to drive nails, to saw boards, and do other mechanical tasks ?" For two reasons. First, because every one, rich and poor, high and low, is constantly in need of a little manual dexterity : from the time a man buttons his collar in the morning till he fastens his door or window at night, he is called upon to perform mechanical operations. Second, because of the disappearance from the household of numerous operations once performed there, and that gave manual training, as stitching shoes, braiding hats, plaiting straw, seating chairs, making mats, etc. The introduction of machinery has taken these operations out of the household ; the shops have " No Admittance " written over their doors.

Hence if a youth is to have manual training he must get it through the schools.

It is the purpose of this little manual to outline a course such as is possible in a school for both boys and girls of fourteen years of age or upwards, — to furnish a sort of shorter course in manual training. Forty-five minutes a day, are to be devoted to the . work. This is all the time that can be spared usually; and in fact that is enough if properly employed, especially for girls, — and I wish to insist that girls as well as boys should take the course.

A. A. U.

Whitewater, Wis., 1892.

Contents

Introduction. Practical Suggestions , . . , 7

CHAPTER I. Use of Try-square, Gauge, Hamnier, Saw, Plane, Bit, Chisel, etc. 9

Lesson I. To mark around a piece with

a try-square.

Lesson II. To mark with a gauge.

Lesson III. To drive nails.

Lesson IV. To saw to line along the

grain.

Lesson V. To plane a piece to a certain

thickness.

Lesson VI. To plane a piece 2" X V

with square corners.

Lesson VII. To saw to line across the

grain.

Lesson VIII. To bore holes accurately. Lesson IX. To smooth a piece with a

chisel.

Lesson X. To smooth the end of a

piece with a block-plane.

Lesson XI. To square a piece with a

chisel.

CHAPTER II. Operations on Wood. — Of Rabbets, Octagons, Cylinders, etc

Lesson XII To cut rabbets with a

saw and chisel.

Lesson XIII. To cut rabbets at an

acute angle.

Lesson XIV. To cut a thin piece with

a knife, with the grain, across

the grain.

Lesson XV. To whittle a piece square.

Lesson XVI. To whittle an octagon.

Lesson XVII. To whittle a cylinder.

Lesson XVIII. To plane a cylinder.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER III. Construction of Joints, Dovetails, etc

Lesson XIX. To teach some different kinds of joints.

Lesson XX. To make an end lap-joint.

Lesson XXI. To make a middle lap-joint.

Lesson XXII. To make a middle lap-joint at an acute angle.

Lesson XXIII. To make a box-joint.

Lesson XXIV. To make an open mortise-and-tenon joint.

Lesson XXV. To make an open double mortise-and-tenon joint.

Lesson XXVI. To make a plain closed morti e-and-tenon joint.

Lesson XXVII. To make a closed mortise-and-tenon joint at an acute angle.

Lesson XXVIII. To make a keyed mortise-and-tenon joint.

Lesson XXIX. To make a double closed mortise-and-tenon joint.

Lesson XXX. To make a blind mortise-and-tenon joint.

Lesson XXXI. To make an end dovetail.

Lesson XXXII. To make a half dovetail lap-joint.

Lesson XXXIII. To make an end dovetail with two tongues.

Lesson XXXIV. To make a half -blind dovetail with two tongues.

Lesson XXXV. To make a mitre-joint.

Lesson XXXVI. To make a combined mitre and half joint.

Lesson XXXVII. To make a model for a truss.

Lesson XXXVIII. To make a dowel joint.

Lesson XJXIX. To make a blind dowel with mitre.

Chapter IV

Construction of Mitre-box, Picture-frame, Screens, Shoe-black-ng 56 Stool, etc

Lesson XL. To make a mitre-box.

Lesson XLI. To make a picture-frame.

Lesson XLII. To make frames for a screen.

Lesson XLIII. To make [a frame and panel.

Lesson XLIV. To make a shoe-blacking stool.

Lesson XLV. To make a step-ladder.

Lesson XL VI. To make a plant-stand.

Lesson XLVII. To make a drawer.

Lesson XLVIII. To make a bookcase.

Lesson XLIX. To make a screen-door.

Lesson L. To make a box with hinged cover.