A long felt need on a work to explain carpentry in a brief, practical way has induced me to write this little book, giving rules and illustrations that will be helpful as a guide to the Mechanic, Apprentice or Student in manual training in developing ideas of construction.

It is not our aim to illustrate every possible cut that is to be made with the square, but to give simple rules and illustrations which will, by studying their methods, be a guide in making any cut desired.

By the use of the steel tape-line, square, plumb, level and lines, one may demonstrate all illustrations with the rules herein given.

The student may work them out by square-root or geometry, as all framing is based on horizontal perpendicular and angular lines; but we will treat them in the way they are practically used.

The uses of lines and measurements will be explained, as well as the use of the square. The line is used in locating, laying out, and squaring a building, also in lining walls, forms, partitions, plates, measurements, etc.; hence the importance of lines and their uses.

Practical methods will be given of the square as we have used it in construction for twenty-five years. The method is the same, whether cutting a rafter for a garage, school, church, house or any other building.

The square is familiar to nearly every man, woman and child, and is looked upon as a mysterious tool. There are 3 lines that will give any cut in framing to be made with the square, the base, rise and hypotenuse.

The rules and illustrations given in this booklet will enable you to make any cut desired, and understand the use of the square in obtaining pitch of roof, length and cut of rafters, braces, etc., also in Truss bridging and bracket framing. Our aim in compiling this booklet is to give to others the practical methods that would have been a guide to us as Apprentices and Mechanics.