The Technique of FURNITURE MAKING

Squares, bevels, etc

Joiners' try-squares can be either all-metal, metal blade secured in a rosewood stock (43:7) or L-shaped metal blade running through the stock; it hardly matters which so long as the square is accurate and sturdy enough to stand inadvertent dropping. It is useful to have three sizes, say 4 in (101mm), 8 in (203 mm) and 12 in (304 mm); while for highly critical work a 6 in (152 mm) precision-ground engineer's square (43:8) costs very little more than the equivalent joiner's square. A useful accessory is the bright Mason's square or carpenter's standard square with legs 24 in (609 mm) and 18 in (457 mm) long for squaring greater widths, while some craftsmen make up their own large try-square (44:8) with 11 in (279 mm) by 2Vz in (63 mm) by 3/4 in (19 mm) stock and 20 in (508 mm) by 3 in (76 mm) by 1/4 in (6 mm) blade out of good mahogany, rosewood or ebony. A small inset stop (44:8A) is provided to support the heavy stock on the work. For setting out angles, dovetails, etc. the joiner's adjustable level/ T-bevel is used. The slotted screw adjustment shown in 44:1 is preferable to the brass lever locking-nut, which often has a multi-start thread and if displaced and threaded in the wrong position will foul the work. Figure 44:4 shows a wooden template for marking out dovetails, cut out of a hardwood block about 21/2 in (63 mm) by 2 in (50 mm) by 13/4 in (44 mm) overall thickness, with the sides planed to the required angle, in this case 1 in 6 (see Dovetailing, Chapter 19). Other tools in this general section include marking-knives with hardwood handles (44:2A), and striking-knives with awl ends (44:2B) for scribing. If the knife has a single cutting bevel only it can be used as an accurate trimming-knife. The Stanley

trimming-knife is a useful all-purpose knife with a wide range of blades, including a scoring-knife for the clean cutting of decorative laminated plastics (formica, etc.)- Good knives can also be made from old hacksaw blades with the teeth ground off, as shown in 44:3 A, and also an excellent dovetail-marker (44:3B) which is more positive than the tip of the dovetail-saw customarily used. The carpenter's wing - compass with locking-screw is shown in 44:6, as ordinary compasses and dividers tend to catch in the grain and disturb the setting; while instead of the draughtsman's beam-compass, trammel-points (44:5) are used which slide along a suitable wooden beam. One head has a steel point and the other a socket for a pencil end.