Wood For Exercises. (A.) The following exercises may be made of any soft, easily worked wood. White pine is the most desirable in localities where it is not too" expensive; poplar, or whitewood, as it is called in many sections of the country, bass wood, and white walnut, the latter often known as butternut, are also very satisfactory woods for practice.

In general, it is not good practice to cut the pieces to their exact length until after the joint, or one end, has been fitted, as any deviation from absolute accuracy may make it impossible to work to the required dimensions, and the fraction of an inch of wood left for "working," will often save wasting all the material and a great deal of time.

(B.) General directions. - All exercises may be glued together after the joint is made, if desired; but it is not necessary, as the pieces may be marked so that they can be laid together as they were fitted.

It is of the utmost importance that neither files, rasps, nor sandpaper be used in making the joints included in the exercises of this chapter, as the student should depend entirely upon his cutting tools in fitting of all kinds. A file, or sandpaper, will invariably destroy a joint instead of improving it.

The face sides of models, which are held together by their construction, should not be smoothed or sandpapered separately, but after they are in their places.

In every case where it is possible, all of the marking, or laying out, should be done for the entire model before a cut is made upon any piece.

Exercises