The Cook County herald. [volume] (Grand Marais, Minn.) 1893-1909, 1906-05-12

hch and quarter long, tapered very
hin to the point, where all the cut
ling is done. The handle is of great
Importance; it should be about four
and half inches long of a gradual
taper and free from varnish. The
varnish causes the hand to perspire,
which is very Objectionable, and pre-
vents good grip upon the tool. If
the handle is vanished when purchas
ed it must be scraped off with piece
Of window glass.
The method of using the knife
should readily become familiar to the
hand, for it resembles very much the
ordinary jack or pruning knife and
these may be used when the other
knife cannot be procured.
1t will be necessary to wrap the
handle and part of the blade with
tape, to prevent cutting the fingers.
The work is held firmly in one hand,
resting against the chest. The knife
is grasped in the other hand, the el-
bow well away from the side, the
thumb resting upon the work to guide
the tool while cutting the pockets
tnctches), which is done by pulling
the knife with the fingers without
moving the hand.
We will now take a piece of waste
wood and rule off two lines parallel
to each other, of any length, cut
through the surface, toward the center
linz Of crtn c10
ing the cuts toward each other. At
whatever angle these cuts are made
they are sure to meet, making a v
shaped groove, that being the angle
of the wall formed by the two Sides
These lines are cut first from one
side and then the work is turned
around, and cut as Indicated by the
arrows. This is all there is to notch
carving. The effect of the design de
pends upon the size, curve and gen.
eral arrangements Of the pockets. The
angle of the depth must necessarily be
uniform. With a little practice the
knife will be naturally held at the
same angle for the whole of the de-
sign.
The size of the notches will depend
upon the article decorated. If it is
picture frame the notches can be
tolerably large. but if it is a jewel,
puff box or paper cutter the notches
must be small and smoothly cut AS
these shall articles are liable to be
handled, they should be exceedingly
well done.
The first inquiry by the tyro is,
What can I decorate? There are hun
dreds of articles that can be bought
ready made. Those intended for
topographic work will be found
equally suitable for notch carving.
The article having been specially pre-
pared by sandpapering the surface, it
being very desirable that it should be
perfectly smooth, it is drawback for
the purpose, as the fine particles of
sand having worked into the grain
of the wood, causes no end of trouble
to cutting tools; therefore, before
carving these articles it is necessary
that they be scraped either with
cabinet makers scraper or pieces of
broken window glass. The woods
best suited for chip carving are as
follows: For turned and small fiat
work apple, pear or lime are the best.
Here it may be said that turned work
to ORDER can be got at very reasonable
prices.
For large work sweet gum is the
ideal wood. For furniture clear
maple, sycamore, straight grained
oak and walnut are the most desir-
able. 1t must be remembered that
all cutting instruments should be
kept in thorough order, or success
full clean work cannot be done, Any
time spent upon sharpening the tools