Paring Tools, or tools which are used for cleaning away the rough, ragged surface left by the teeth of the saw and rendering wood smooth and even, or otherwise for cutting wood into various forms and shapes, are frequently called edge tools, as they present a sharp, keen edge. Indeed, if they are blunt in the least degree they are not fit for use. Watch an artisan at his work, and you will see him frequently rub his plane-iron or chisel on the oil-stone in order to sharpen it. An amateur, especially a beginner, in nine cases out of ten either does not think of doing so, or altogether forgets that there is any necessity for it, and this is one of the chief reasons why amateur's work is often so badly done.

It is important for the amateur to buy none but good tools, and to keep them under lock and key. He must supplement this by keeping them clean and free from rust, and learning to whet the edges of all cutting tools when they show signs of dullness.

The tools that are comprised in the first group of paring tools are Planes. Of these there is a great variety, as formerly, before molding was made by machinery, every different pattern required a different plane or plane-iron. The planes that are most necessary to an amateur are a jack-plane and a smoothing-plane.

The Jack-Plans is from 15 to 18 inches long and 2½ inches broad, and about the same in depth. Near one end is a handle projecting upwards, and near the other a hole for the reception of the plane-iron, which is held in its place by a wedge. Planes of this description, and smoothingplanes also, are usually made with double irons; that is to say, with two irons held together by a short screw.

The Smoothing-Plane is different from the jack-plane in shape, being about 8 inches long and 2½ inches to 3 inches broad, in the widest part where the iron issues from the wood, tapering to a width of about 2 inches in front and 1¾ inches behind, so that it may be more easily held in the hand. The jack-plane is used for taking the rough surface from the sawn timber, and when this has been removed the smoothing-plane is used to make the surface of the wood perfectly smooth and even.

The Spokeshave and the Drawing-Knife are the tools that are comprised in the second division of paring tools. The drawing-knife is useful for reducing the size of any piece of wood that it may be inconvenient to cut down in any other way. The spokeshave, as its name implies, may be used for imparting a smooth surface to the spokes of wheels, but it is also useful for smoothing down any surface that is not required to be perfectly flat. Thus, a beveled edge may be given to a round hole of any large size cut in a piece of wood. The drawing-knife is always worked towards the operator, but the spokeshave may be used in a direction either towards or from the person who is using it.

The third and last division of paring tools comprises Chisels and Gouges. In reality the plane in its simplest form, as seen in the jack-plane and smoothing-plane, is nothing more than a chisel of considerable width set in a block of wood, which serves as a guide, and by means of which the operator is enabled to work the tool with greater ease and accuracy. A chisel is a flat and thick piece of steel, of which the cutting end is ground to a bevel, in order to obtain a keen edge, while the other is fashioned into a tang, with a projecting shoulder, which fits close against the wooden handle into which the tang is inserted. The gouge differs from the chisel in being hollow instead of flat. Chisels are distinguished as firmer chisels, paring chisels, mortising chisels, and turning chisels. It must be said, however, that the last-named variety differs from the other kinds of chisels in being ground to a bevel on both sides instead of one side only.

It may be mentioned that the tool called a cold chisel is a long piece of steel, beveled on both sides at one end to a blunt edge, used by carpenters and others to knock out a hole in a wall of stone or brick for the insertion of a wedge, the end of a piece of timber, etc.

About half-a-dozen chisels and the same number of gouges will be the utmost number that the amateur will require; and, for both chisels and gouges, the widths to be selected may be placed at 3/8 in., ½ in., ¾ in., 1 in., 1¼ in., and 1½ in. The ordinary carpenter's chisels should be purchased first of all. A few paring chisels can be added to the stock at any time if required.