Taking dimensions from Fig. 16, we see that we shall need for our box two pieces of | inch stuff 6" X 8" for the ends, and two pieces 6"xl3 1/2" for the front and back. Later we shall need two pieces each 9 1/2" x 13 1/2" for the top and bottom, but for the present we will leave them out of consideration, to simplify the drawings and the laying out of our work.

Take the piece of board used in Lesson IV (The Cross-Cut-Saw). If the work of that lesson was well done, the piece is now square on one end, and a little longer than is necessary for the four pieces. Furthermore, if it has been properly exposed to the air, it has dried well without warping.

If it is not square on one end, make it so with the least possible waste of material, remembering that, if you get it less than about 44 inches long it will be spoiled.

Now, with your rule, lay off 8 inches from the squared end, along the best edge of the board. Mark this edge with your lead-pencil, with a cross or other mark, to distinguish it as the edge from which you will work. Place the wooden handle of your square against this edge, and draw a pencil-mark square across the board, exactly 8 inches from the squared end. You have now marked off one of the ends of the box, and might proceed to cut it off; but it is best to perform all operations of one kind at once, and we will therefore "lay out" all the pieces before commencing to cut them off.

If you should draw another pencil-line just 8 inches from the first, and then proceed to cut out the pieces, they would turn out too short by the amount of the thickness of the saw; and though in comparison with some dimensions this thickness is very small, in comparison with some others it is very considerable, and it should, therefore, never be neglected. Allowance must always be made for the "waste" of a saw in cutting to a mark. As you do not know yet how much this waste is, you may, after having marked off your first piece 8 inches long, begin a cut with the saw just outside of the mark, but quite close to it, so as to leave the piece exactly 8 inches long.

Exercise 8. Laying Out A Box

As soon as you have cut a little way into the piece, say an inch, make another mark with pencil and square, parallel to the first, and so near to it that the two marks just contain the cut between them, and no more, as in Fig. 19.

From these you can learn, by measuring the distance between them, or by observing carefully and remembering, how much the saw wastes. You will soon be able to make the proper allowance for this waste by the eye without measuring.

Now lay off 8 inches from the second mark, draw a third mark and a fourth parallel to it for the waste. Then lay off 13 1/2 inches, mark off the waste again, lay off 13 1/2 inches again and mark off the waste again, and the work is completely laid out. Your piece of wood will now be marked as in Fig. 20, in which 1 and 2 are the ends, 3 and 4 are the front and back, and 5 is the waste.

Exercise 9. Cross-Cutting With Saw

Fig.19.

Fig, 20.

After this lesson you will not make double marks for your saw-cuts, but will make the necessary allowance for the waste by the eye.

In making pencil-marks, as in this exercise you must be careful to apply the square always to the same edge of your board, distinguishing this edge, as already pointed out, by a cross or other mark.. Indeed, this is an important principle in all laying out of work. The reason of it is that, unless the opposite edges are parallel, lines drawn perpendicular to them with the square will not be parallel; but lines drawn perpendicular to the same edge, provided that edge is straight, will always be parallel. Try this with your waste-piece, whose opposite sides are not quite parallel, drawing your two perpendiculars pretty close together.

In laying out your work you must see that each piece is, if possible, free from knots and cracks, particularly at the ends, where the nails will have to be driven. If there should be a knot at any one of these places, at the boundary between 3 and 4 for instance, you must try to throw the knot out, by shifting 4 to the right, and making the waste piece fall in the middle, where the knot is.

Now place the board in the vise, as in Exercise 7, and cut off the four pieces, being very careful to keep the saw between the double marks, to cut square, and to go gently towards the end of the cut, so as to avoid splintering. When the four pieces are cut off they should be compared with each other two and two, measured, and tested with the square.