The usual and best adapted material for patterns is wood, although a great many foundries which make large quantities of one article use patterns made of brass or other metals, to avoid excessive wear on them.

A suitable wood for patterns must have the following-named requisites:

(1) It must be well seasoned and must not warp.

(2) It must be straight grained and free from large or small knots which will interfere with ready working or prevent a smooth finish.

(3) It must not be subject to shrinkage with age.

The three woods much used for patterns are white pine, mahogany, and cherry, although other woods are more or less used in many localities. Red wood is much used on the Pacific coast. Mahogany is the best of these woods, but it is expensive and its use is therefore limited to small and medium-sized patterns requiring durability and permanence of shape.

Pine is much used for large patterns and for the ordinary run of small patterns.