It is our intention to notice many things, however trivial, that may in any way serve to enlighten our readers respecting the joiner's art. Many of the most extensive works are produced by the proper combination of several small, and, when taken singly,. apparently unimportant devices.

Every one who has made an attempt at carpentry is aware that the object on which we wish to use our tools must be firmly fixed, in such a manner that we may apply our tools with convenience to the part to be wrought. The bench, of which fig. 1 is a representation, consists of a strong rough frame, surmounted by a stout top, formed of 2-inch board. The height of the bench should be about 2 feet 6 inches, but this must be regulated to some extent by the stature of the workman. The best way to determine the proper height for your bench is to place a plane on an ordinary table, and grasp it as though in the act of planing.. If the back be straight, and the right elbow a little bent, the height is correct. You should feel that you have entire command over the tool, which you cannot possess if the bench be much too high.

Fig. 1.

As we suppose that our shop is only about to be opened, it will probably be better to purchase a second-hand bench of some carpenter, which may be done for a few shillings. If you can afford to pay for a new bench, do not hesitate, but do so; because, next to good tools, a sound, steady bench is of great importance, as you will discover shortly, when we begin to use the plane. If the bench be about 5 feet long, and 2 feet 4 inches wide, it will be large enough. The upper surface of the bench should be smooth and true. Near the left-hand corner a square hole, or mortise, is cut, into which is fitted a block of hard wood, S, called the stop. The use of the stop is to check the wood that is to be planed, so that it may not be pushed forward when the plane-iron begins to cut. The stop is somewhat longer than the thickness of the top of the bench, so that it may be driven up with a mallet from below, to suit the thickness of the work to be planed; it can also be knocked down to clear thin works, so that the plane may pass over it without sticking.

It is frequently necessary to secure one piece of wood temporarily on another, when using the chisel. For this purpose, a peculiarly-shaped piece of wrought-iron, h, termed a holdfast, is employed. The holdfast acts in a very simple manner. The part you see above the bench is merely bent round, the end being turned up into a foot to press on the work. The lower part is a straight round bar, which, by being set askew in a hole made in the top of the bench, draws itself tighter the harder we strike the head at n, and thus forcibly presses down the work to be held; if struck at h, the work is released.

The screw-chops, C, also shown separately below, are of great service for holding work which may require planing on the edge, such as a long board, etc, and also for many purposes we shall notice hereafter. The chops consist of a face-board, C, which should be made of some hard wood, that is not liable to warp; mahogany is very good. Common benches are fitted with chops made of pine, which is generally the material of which the bench is itself constructed. The face-board is made to advance to the edge of the bench, or to recede therefrom, by a strong wooden screw, P, which works in a wooden nut, fixed to the underside of the bench. The face-board is guided by a square rail, r, which is secured thereto, the other end sliding in a suitable mortise, under the bench. The screw is moved by a round wooden bar, which passes through the head, P, the bar being an easy fit, to enable us to draw it through the head on either side as may be required; it is kept in its place by a head at each end.

We have given a list of the principal tools, etc., that you will require, and also illustrations of the more important amongst them. The prices quoted will be found to agree very nearly with those of the first London houses. Tools can undoubtedly be bought for less than half the sum here stated, but the quality, if they be sold as new, will be very inferior. A good set of joiner's tools, if properly used and taken care of, will last and be serviceable for two average lifetimes.

All the edge-tools should be made of the best cast-steel, otherwise they will not remain sharp for even a short time. Shear-steel is very suitable for many purposes in which elasticity or toughness is required; but it cannot be advantageously employed for edge-tools. If the steel be too hard, the edge breaks away; if too soft, the tool quickly becomes blunt, owing to the edge turning up. There are few things more annoying to a workman than to be obliged to sharpen his chisels and planes much more frequently than would otherwise be necessary if the steel were good.

List Of Tools Required For "Our Workshop."

(Average Prices.)

Depend upon it, there is no policy more shortsighted than to sacrifice quality for cheapness. Those who are unable to afford the stock-in-trade we have proposed, must content themselves with purchasing a tool occasionally. A good deal of work may be done with a hand-saw, tenon-saw, jack-plane, a firmer-chisel, one gouge, marking-gauge, one gimlet, one bradawl, screwdriver, hammer, mallet, square, rule, oil-stone, oil-can, and glue-pot, costing about thirty-six shillings.

The other tools may very well be postponed until your capital will admit of the investment.