LIGHT RUSTIC WORK

Rustic carpentry does not demand great skill in woodworking, but it does require a large amount of artistic perception. The tools needed are but few, and the materials employed are comparatively cheap, although in many districts they are becoming dearer every year.
It may be said that any articles made from the now popular bamboo may be made quite as effectively in light rustic work.
For light rustic work, sticks of hazel, cherry, yew, blackthorn, birch, larch, fir, and the prunings of many varieties of shrubs may be used; but it is necessary that the material should be cut at the proper season, and thoroughly dried before being worked up. The sticks should be cut in mid-winter, as at that time the sap is at rest; if cut in the summer time the bark will peel off. If peeled sticks are required, they should be cut in the spring, when the sap is rising, as at that time the rind will come off easily. In some districts the copses are cleared of undergrowth periodically, and the sticks (generally hazel) sold to hurdle and spar makers. A selection of these sticks would be very suitable for the purpose here described.

RUSTIC TABLES

Fig. 42.—Square Table.

A small rustic table which may, if desired, be used as a flower-pot stand, is illustrated by Fig. 42. The top may be made of ¾-in. stuff, and should have two ledges nailed underneath to prevent twisting. The table may be 1 ft. 10 in. high, with the top 15 in. square, or, if a larger size is required, 2 ft. 1 in. high, with the top 18 in. square. The design is not suitable for tables of a larger size.

Setting Up A Home Woodwork Or Model Shop A Step By Step Guide

Planning is the secret to a successful home workshop. More and more people are setting up a woodworking or model engineering shop, either in their basement or garage.

The first step is to make sure your location is dry. You may need to make repairs to your garage roof, windows or door. If you are planning on using your basement then you will need to waterproof it, so that damp and the corrosion and rot it causes do not become issues.

Your next step is to provide water and electricity supplies. You need to have hand washing facilities if you are going to keep your job clean. An electricity supply suitable for running your machine tools is essential. These tools will be permanently wired in. You will also need lots of switched electric sockets about three feet from the floor. These will be used for plug in tools.

ADVANCED PROJECTS IN WOODWORK (2)

Book Stand.

ADVANCED PROJECTS IN WOODWORK (1)

by Ira S. Griffith

  

ADVANCED PROJECTS IN WOODWORK is a collection of projects designed to meet the needs of classes in high school woodworking. These projects presuppose familiarity with woodworking processes, tools, and the two simple joints required in the making of projects contained in the author's Projects in Beginning Woodwork and Mechanical Drawing.

The drawings are complete only as to their general dimensions. The working out of details, such as the sizes of mortises and tenons and their locations, is left for the pupil in his work in drawing and design.

It is expected that the projects will afford suitable basic material for classes in woodworking design. It remains for the instructor to point out the manner in which this material may be used. For illustration, many beginning students are slow in appreciation of possible modifications in structure or decoration. Circular tops may be used instead of square or octagonal, and vice versa. Modification of the manner of filling side spaces with slats offers variety in initiative. Vertical posts may be made tapering and vice versa. Rails and stretchers may be variously employed. There is almost always a choice in the matter of joints,—keyed or thru or blind tenon. Fig. 1 is suggestive as to possible modifications of a type.

In addition to the possible structural modifications, the plates suggest variation in the matter of decorative ornament such as pierced and carved forms and simple inlay. Such ornament will, of course, be kept subordinate to the structural design.

The upholstering of stool tops and seats for chairs provides another problem in variation.

Little, if any, use is made of dowels as substitutes for the mortise-and-tenon. While it is true that modern commercial practice makes much use of dowels in this way, the author feels that such practice is too often contrary to the principles of good construction. Its genesis lies in economy of material rather than in any superiority as a fastening device.

In the designing of these projects the author has had in mind at all times the thought that most of the students using them would have access only to a band-saw or jig-saw and a miter-box in addition to the regular hand tool equipment. For this reason such projects as hall clocks, mission beds, etc., have been excluded. The exceptional student will find projects of sufficient size to tax his ability and muscle. Easier projects and lighter projects have been provided for the weaker members of the class while the use of slats or their omission will provide additional variation in time of execution.