For small work, a narrow saw, with fine teeth, as at a, 5, Fig. 1, is used; but for ordinary carpenter's scroll-work, a saw like that shown at c and d, held in a frame, as in Fig 4, Plate B, is employed. The back of the saw is beveled to turn easily when cutting small circles, and it will cut better if drawn very tight.

To cut out a circular hole in a board, bore first with a center-bit (a, Fig. 2), close up to the line, then start the saw from this hole, as at b. In cutting narrow angles in scroll-work, the saw is sent all the way into the corner, as at a, Fig. 3, then backed up to cut as shown at b, the piece c is taken out, the saw turned and the piece cut, as at d. Scroll-work is finished with the chisel, spoke-shave, or rasp, and smoothed with sand-paper.

There are many ways of bending wood, but the best is to steam and bend it around a form, as shown in Fig. 4. The form, a, is fastened to a plank or the shop-floor, the piece, b, steamed thoroughly, bent in place, and held until dry by blocks nailed against it, as at d; or, if several pieces are to receive the same shape, by pins driven into holes, as at c. Boat-builders use planks with pins on both sides of the steamed stick in bending the ribs. Pieces to be bent with steam are usually worked to the desired shape first, then bent, and when dry are finished with the spoke-shave.

In bending moldings, if steam is not convenient, they may be sawed, as shown at a, Fig. 5 and Fig. 6. In bending the face-string of stairs, the method shown in Fig. 7 is employed. The string has a series of grooves cut parallel with the axis of the cylinder around which the string is to bend; it is then wet with hot water, and bent over a cylinder, or saddle, and the strips, a, fitted and glued in. When the glue has set, the tops of the strips may be planed down, and a piece of canvas glued over the bent portion. Fig. 8 shows another method of arriving at the same result, in which the string acts as a sort of veneer to the pieces, a. Where a bend and twist are to be given, the wood may be made up of several thin pieces glued together, as in Fig. 9.

In bending wood, compress the fibers on the inside of the curve, to retain its strength.

The curve of the form (a, Fig. 4) should be a little quicker, to allow for a slight spring back of the wood when released.

Ex. 36.

Fig. 1

Fig. 2

Fig. 3

Fig. 4

Fig, 6

Fig. 9