With respect to bending or glueing up stuff for sweep work, much judgment is necessary; and as the methods are various, I shall mention a few, that the workman may apply them as occasion requires, one method being preferable to another according to the nature of the work in hand.

The first and most simple method is, that of sawing kerfs or notches on one side of the board, thereby giving it liberty to bend in that direction; but this method though very ready and useful for many purposes, is still very weak where any strain may be on the piece. Still, in this instance, we may in some measure make a tolerably strong sweep, if after sawing the kerfs, and being particular to make them regular and even, and sawing them at equal depths, we rub some strong glue into each kerf, then bend it to the required sweep and glue a piece of strong canvas over the kerfs themselves, leaving the glue to harden in the position which we have bent our stuff to.

The next method is, that of glueing up our stuff in thin thicknesses, in a cawl or mould made with two pieces of thick wood cut into the required sweep; and this method, if done with care - that is, making the several pieces of equal thickness throughout, and free from knots is perhaps, the best that can be devised for strength and accuracy. It is also a practice sometimes to glue up a sweep in three thicknesses, making the middle piece the contrary way of the grain to the outside and inside pieces, which run lengthways. This method, though frequently used for expedition, is much inferior to the above, as it does not allow the different pieces to shrink together, and consequently the joint between them is apt to give way. Again, in many instances, a solid piece, if not too thick, may be bent into the form required; if we soak well the outside of the curve with hot water, and hold the inside to the fire, when having formed the curve to your mind, you retain it in that position till cold and dry, it will retain the curvature given to it.

The last method I shall here mention is, that of forming a curve by means of cutting out solid pieces to the required sweep, and glueing them upon one another till you have attained the thickness required, taking care the joints are alternately in the centre of each piece below it, something in the manner of a course of bricks above each other; in this case it will be necessary, if the work is not to be painted, to veneer the whole with a thin piece after the first has been thoroughly dry and planed level, and also made somewhat rough with either a rasp or toothing plane