Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1873-09-10
Boys Tools and How to Use Them.

The FIRST thing is to have good tools,
even If you don't have 50 many Of them.
80 Tar as | know, these "boys' tools" so
called, are poor things. Get one or two
things az a time, aud you will have quite a
stock before long. lfyou can afford it, or
your father can give il, have a good bench,
suited TO your height. A cabinet makers
bench is most convenient for an amateurs
work, but il is more expensive than a COM
mon bench.
Having your tools, take good care Of
them. II you do this, most Of them will
last you a lifetime. If you keep your tools
in box be sure to put them away when
done using them. If you have no box,
have some place for each tool, and keep it
in its place. Hang up your saws, put
chisels aud gouges and avis in their respec.
tive racks, and let your planes rest on
little ledge to keep the irons from touching.
Get into the good graces Of some oarpen-
ter, aud watch him at his work. IF you
manage it right, most likely he will give
you a good many hints aud even, perhaps,
help you a little He can tell you about
the different kinds Of wood best suited to
various purposes When your tools need
grinding you had better hire him to do it
for you--there is more in right grinding
than perhaps you imagine.
But, after ALL you will learn the most
by practice. Remember to work slowly.
You cannot dash of good work If you
got 10 hurry you will be almost sure to
mar, or even spoil, what you are making
Many time have forgotten myself and
sawed too wide, or cut too deep, aud my
work was Injured or spoiled And remem-
bcr, too, to think what you are about. |
used to have the run of sash and blind
factory once for any work wanted to DO
There was a man there whose business it
was to do the saving he would have some
times hundreds Of pieces Of given length
TO get out If he had not taken care he
would have wasted great deal Of material.
But bis rule was, Measure twice before
you cut once This is a good rule for you
would advise you to attempt only sim
pie things at first 10 that way you can
work up to more elaborate things after
ward But simple things don't mean little
things You will fud it much easier to
work on things of fair size than on little,
bothersome nothings. But whatever you
begin, little or big, complete it, Don't
have half dozen unfinished things about
your shop. As rule, don't begin some
thing new while you have another piece OF
work on your hands. And finish what you
make in the other sense Of the word, T. e.,
let it be smooth the joints close, the cor.
uers true. \ little palms. sand paper, oil,
shellac, and yarnish, are great beautifiers.
Perhaps, now, you would like me to give
you list Of necessary tools before | close
my letter You will want two planes, a
jack aud a smoothing plane a cut off, a
a rip, and a tendon saw; chisels and gouges
Of various sizes a brace and a set Of bits ;
a gimlet or two two or three avis : a
hammer and a mallot, a screw driver, q
square, a try square (you will need to use
this constantly if you want to make good
work. a foot rule, pair of compasses, a
gauge, file or two, a pair Of pliers and an
oil-stone. 1t is well to have ointing
plane, too, but not absolutely necessary, ex-
cept for large work. You can work. with
fewer tools than have mentioned here,
but not very conveniently There are 9th.
er things it will be handy to have as you can
get them, but this will make very fair
working stock.-Christian Weekly.