Handwork in Wood Part 13

For measuring distances, the _rule_, Fig. 191, is the one in most common use. It is usually made of boxwood. For convenience it is hinged so as to fold. A rule is called "two-fold" when it is made of two pieces, "four-fold" when made of four pieces, etc. When measuring or marking from it, it can be used more accurately by turning it on edge, so that the lines of the graduations may come directly against the work. The one in most common use in school shops, is a two-foot, two-fold rule. Some instructors prefer to have pupils use a four-fold rule, because that is the form commonly used in the woodworking trades. Steel bench-rules, Fig. 192, are satisfactory in school work because unbreakable and because they do not disappear so rapidly as pocket rules. They need to be burnished occasionally.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 191. Two-Foot Rule. Two Fold.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 192. Steel Bench-Rule.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 193. Back of Steel Square, Brace Measure.]

The _steel square_, Figs. 193, 194, 196, 197, is useful, not only as a straight-edge and try-square, but also for a number of graduations and tables which are stamped on it. There are various forms, but the one in most common use consists of a blade or "body" 24"2" and a "tongue," 16"1-1/2", at right angles to each other. Sargent's trade number for this form is 100. It includes graduations in hundredths, thirty-seconds, sixteenths, twelfths, tenths, and eighths of an inch, also a brace-measure, an eight-square measure, and the Ess.e.x board-measure. Another style, instead of an Ess.e.x board-measure, and the hundredths graduation has a rafter-table. The side upon which the name of the maker is stamped, is called the "face," and the reverse side the "back."

The brace-measure is to be found along the center of the back of the tongue, Fig. 193. It is used thus: the two equal numbers set one above the other represent the sides of a square, and the single number to their right, represents in inches and decimals, the diagonal of that square. E. g., 54/54 76.37 means that a square the sides of which are 54" would have a diagonal of 76.37".

For determining the length of the long side (hypothenuse) of a right angle triangle, when the other two given sides are not equal, the foot rule, or another steel square may be laid diagonally across the blade and arm, and applied directly to the proper graduations thereon, and the distance between them measured on the rule. If the distance to be measured is in feet, use the 1/12" graduations on the back of the square.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 194. Face of Steel Square, Octagon, "Eight-Square," Scale.]

To use the octagonal (or 8-square) scale, Fig. 194, which is along the center of the face of the tongue, with the dividers, take the number of s.p.a.ces in the scale to correspond with the number of inches the piece of wood is square, and lay this distance off from the center point, on each edge of the board. Connect the points thus obtained, diagonally across the corners, and a nearly exact octagon will be had.

E.g., on a board 12" square, Fig. 195, find A.B.C.D., the centers of each edge. Now with the dividers take 12 s.p.a.ces from the 8-square scale. Lay off this distance on each side as A' A" from A, B' B" from B, etc. Now connect A" with B', B" with C', C" with D', D" with A', and the octagon is obtained.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 195. Method of Using the Eight-Square Scale on the Steel-Square.]

In making a square piece of timber octagonal, the same method is used on the b.u.t.t, sawed true. When the distance from one center is laid off, the marking-gage may be set to the distance from the point thus obtained to the corner of the timber, and the piece gaged from all four corners both ways. Cutting off the outside arrises to the gaged lines leaves an octagonal stick.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 196. Back of Steel Square, Ess.e.x Board Measure.]

The board-measure is stamped on the back of the blade of the square, Fig. 196. The figure 12 on the outer edge of the blade is the starting point for all calculations. It represents a 1" board, 12" wide, and the smaller figures under it indicate the length of boards in feet.

Thus a board 12" wide, and 8' long measures 8 square feet and so on down the column. To use it, for boards other than 12" wide:--find the length of the board in feet, under the 12" marked on the outer edge of the blade, then run right or left along that line to the width of the board in inches. The number under the width in inches on the line showing the length in feet, gives the board feet for lumber 1" thick.

For example, to measure a board 14' long, and 11" wide,--under the figure 12, find 14 (length of the board); to the left of this, under 11 is the number 12.10; 12' 10" is the board-measure of the board in question. Since a board 12' long would have as many board feet in it as it is inches wide, the B. M. is omitted for 12' boards. Likewise a board 6' long would have 1/2 the number of board feet that it is inches wide. If the board is shorter than the lowest figure given (8) it can be found by dividing its double by 2.; e. g., to measure a board 5' long and 9" wide, take 10 under the 12, run to the left of the number under 9, which is 7' 6": 1/2 of this would be 3' 9", the number of board feet in the board.

If the board to be measured is longer than any figure given, divide the length into two parts and add the result of the two parts obtained separately. For example, for a board 23' long and 13" wide,--take 12'13" = 13'; add to it, 11'13" = 11' 11"; total, 24'11".

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 197. Steel Square with Rafter Table.]

A good general rule is to think first whether or not the problem can be done in one's head without the a.s.sistance of the square.

The table is made, as its name, Board-Measure (B. M.) implies, for measuring boards, which are commonly 1" thick. For materials more than 1" thick, multiply the B. M. of one surface by the number of inches thick the piece measures.

The rafter-table is found on the back of the body of the square, Fig.

197. Auxiliary to it are the twelfth inch graduations, on the outside edges, which may represent either feet or inches.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 198. The "Run" and "Rise" of a Rafter.]

By the "run" of the rafter is meant the horizontal distance when it is set in place from the end of its foot to a plumb line from the ridge end, i. e., one half the length of the building, Fig. 198. By the "rise" of the rafter is meant the perpendicular distance from the ridge end to the level of the foot of the rafter. By the pitch is meant the ratio of the rise to twice the run, i. e., to the total width of the building. In a 1/2 pitch, the rise equals the run, or 1/2 the width of the building; in a 1/3 pitch the rise is 1/3 the width of the building; in a 3/4 pitch the rise is 3/4 the width of the building.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 199. Lumberman's Board Rule.]

To find the length of a rafter by the use of the table, first find the required pitch, at the left end of the table. Opposite this and under the graduation on the edge representing the run in feet, will be found the length of the rafter; e.g., a rafter having a run of 12' with a 1/4 pitch, is 13' 5" long, one with a run of 11' and a 1/3 pitch, is 13' 2-8/12", one with a run of 7' and a 5/8 pitch, is 11' 2-6/12"

long, etc.

When the run is in inches, the readings are for 1/12 of the run in feet: e.g., a rafter with a run of 12" and a 1/4 pitch is 13-5/12", one with a run of 11" and a 1/3 pitch, is 13-3/12". Where the run is in both feet and inches, find the feet and the inches separately; and add together; e.g., a rafter with a run of 11' 6", and a 1/2 pitch, is 15' 6-8/12" + 8-6/12" = 16' 3-2/12".

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 200. Try-Square. Fig. 201. Miter-Square. Fig. 202.

Sliding-T Bevel.]

The _lumberman's board-rule_, Fig. 199. To measure wood by it, note the length of the board in feet at the end of the measure. The dot nearest the width (measured in inches) gives the B. M. for lumber 1"

thick.

The _try-square_, Fig. 200, which is most commonly used for measuring the accuracy of right angles, is also convenient for testing the width of a board at various places along its length, for making short measurements, and as a guide in laying out lines with a pencil or knife at right angles to a surface or edge. The sizes are various and are indicated by the length of the blade. A convenient size for the individual bench and for ordinary use has a blade 6" long. It is also well to have in the shop one large one with a 12" blade.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 203. Using the Try-Square.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 204. Scribing with Knife by Try-Square.]

In testing the squareness of work with the try-square, care must be taken to see that the head rests firmly against the surface from which the test is made, and then slipped down till the blade touches the edge being tested, Fig. 203. The edge should be tested at a number of places in the same way: that is, it should not be slid along the piece. The try-square is also of great use in scribing lines across boards, Fig. 204. A good method is to put the point of the knife at the beginning of the desired line, slide the square, along until it touches the knife-edge; then, resting the head of the square firmly against the edge, draw the knife along, pressing it lightly against the blade, holding it perpendicularly. To prevent the knife from running away from the blade of the try-square, turn its edge slightly towards the blade.

The _miter-square_, Fig. 201, is a try-square fixed at an angle of 45.

The _sliding T bevel_, Fig. 202, has a blade adjustable to any angle.

It may be set either from a sample line, drawn on the wood, from a given line on a protractor, from drawing triangles, from the graduations on a framing square, or in other ways. It is used similarly to the T-square.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 205. Winding-Sticks, 12 inches Long.]

_Winding-sticks_, Fig. 205, consist of a pair of straight strips of exactly the same width thruout. They are used to find out whether there is any twist or "wind" in a board. This is done by placing them parallel to each other, one at one end of the board, and the other at the other end. By sighting across them, one can readily see whether the board be twisted or not, Fig. 206. The blades of two framing-squares may be used in the same manner.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 206. Method of Using the Winding-Sticks.]

_Compa.s.ses_ or _dividers_, Fig. 207, consist of two legs turning on a joint, and having sharpened points. A convenient form is the wing divider which can be accurately adjusted by set-screws. A pencil can be subst.i.tuted for the removable point. They are used for describing circles and arcs, for s.p.a.cing, for measuring, for subdividing distances, and for scribing. In scribing a line parallel with a given outline, one leg follows the given edge, or outline, and the point of the other, marks the desired line. Used in this way they are very convenient for marking out chamfers, especially on curved edges, a sharp pencil being subst.i.tuted for the steel point.

The _beam-compa.s.s_, Fig. 208, consists of two _trammel-points_ running on a beam which may be made of any convenient length. It is used for describing large circles. A pencil may be attached to one point.

_Calipers_, outside and inside, Figs. 209, 210, are necessary for the accurate gaging of diameters, as in wood-turning.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 207. Winged Dividers.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 208. Beam-Compa.s.s or Trammel Points.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 209. Outside Calipers.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 210. Inside Calipers.]

The _marking-gage_, Fig. 211, consists of a head or block sliding on a beam or bar, to which it is fixed by means of a set-screw. On the face of the head is a bra.s.s shoe to keep the face from wearing. Projecting thru the beam is a steel spur or point, which should be filed to a flat, sharp edge, a little rounded and sharpened on the edge toward which the gage is to be moved, Fig. 212. It should project about 1/8"

from the beam. If the spur be at all out of place, as it is likely to be, the graduations on a beam will be unreliable. Hence it is best to neglect them entirely when setting the gage and always to measure with the rule from the head to the spur, Fig. 213.

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 211. Marking-Gage.]

[Ill.u.s.tration: Fig. 212. Spur of Marking-Gage.]

In use the beam should be tilted forward, so as to slide on its corner, Fig. 214. In this way the depth of the gage line can be regulated. Ordinarily, the finer the line the better. The head must always be kept firmly pressed against the edge of the wood so that the spur will not run or jump away from its desired course. Care should also be taken, except in rough pieces, to run gage lines no farther than is necessary for the sake of the appearance of the finished work.