Page:Home labor saving devices (1917).djvu/137

 Groove.—A groove is a furrow or a long hollow. The depth of the furrow depends on the rail it is to hold.

Taper.—A taper is a graduated point. All parts of the surface must have the same amount of taper to make it equally tight at all points when driven into place. Draw lines on the end of the wood and across the center at equal distances from the corners and with the surface straight on both sides. Care must be taken not to split the corners while making a taper.

Plugs.—Plugs are pieces of tapered wood used as a stopper, such as in the illustration of Jelly Strainer No. 2. When plugs are to be used, the holes must be made in the wood before the pieces are put together.

"Penny."—This term is a corruption of "pound" and used in speaking of different kinds of nails. For example, eight-penny nails means that one thousand of them weigh eight pounds.

Radius Bar.—A bar pivoted at one end, about which it swings, and having its other end attached to a piece which it causes to move in a circular arc as in the corrugated roller made to work the butter.

Finishing.—There are two things to be considered in finishing woodwork; the preservation of the wood, and the artistic finish. Three steps are necessary in putting on the finishing touches. First, the surfaces made smooth by the use of sandpaper; the second, staining or varnishing, and the third, polishing.

Sandpaper.—Sandpaper is not expected to do the work of edged tools. Tool work must be completed before using sandpaper, or particles of dust will get into the pores of the wood which will dull the tools while working with them. Never sandpaper across the grain of the wood. While dressing flat surfaces, use a piece of sandpaper put over a block of wood.

Stains.—Water, oil, and alcoholic stains are used for staining woodwork. All have their advantages and disadvantages, but for general purposes the alcoholic stains are highly recommended, Johnson's wood dye being one of the best. A good water stain is made by boiling an extract of logwood, the size of a walnut, with four ounces of water. This is applied to the wood while