Having provided oneself with the necessary tools and work bench, or such a selection from the whole as may best meet his requirements, the next thing to be done is to learn how to use them. It is next to impossible to do this from printed instructions; and on the principle that a little showing is better than a great deal of telling, the best advice that can be given to the amateur on this head is that he should arrange with some skilled artisan to give him a few practical lessons in the method of holding, using, managing, and sharpening his tools, and the everyday operations in carpentry and joinery, such as sawing, planing, scarfing timbers, cutting rebates, mortises and tenons, dove-tailing, mitring, etc., etc.