PREFACE. FOR such a book as "EVERY MAN HIS OWN MECHANIC" but few words in the form of an apology can be needed. In its pages it has been sought to furnish the Amateur Artisan with hints and suggestions regarding all that he may undertake in Constructive and Decorative Work at home, and to show him clearly and in a thoroughly practical manner how each kind of manual labour is to be carried out, and with what appliances, tools, and materials it is to be done. If any think that simple operations are too fully and minutely described, it must be remembered that this book is not put forth as a text-book for skilled artisans, but rather as a guide for those who are altogether inexperienced in handicraft, or very nearly so, and therefore need to know something about the very A B C of the work that they propose to take in hand. The information presented in its pages is practical and reliable. It has been gathered chiefly from observation and actual experience, and the book is therefore offered to those who have a liking for Carpentry and Joinery, and the various departments of the Building Trade, in the hope that they may find in it a vade-mecum, which the writer has often desired to have when engaged in the various kinds of handiwork that are described therein. Much that is said in it cannot be found in any recognised text-book, because the authors of such works take for granted that those for whom they write know all about the elements of their craft, and that it is therefore needless to say anything about them. In this they are right enough, but, on the other hand, it is in this very respect that their books fail to meet the requirements of amateurs. It is just possible that some may think that too much has been said about tools and appliances of various kinds to be purchased, their prices, and the persons of whom, and the places where, they may be obtained. This, however, has been done purposely, for it is next to useless to speak of any article in a work that is intended to be of as much service as possible to its readers, without mentioning where it may be bought, both good and at a price which is sufficient to insure its goodness. If it be thought to have the appearance of advertising, the writer can say without the slightest reservation, that neither he nor the publishers have benefited directly or indirectly to the value of even so much as a penny-piece, by the mention of persons, places, and things that has been made; and more than this, the writer is personally known to only two of those persons whose names are mentioned. In every case attention has been called to their wares for the guidance and benefit of the readers only; and, surely, in these days when things are not always what they ought to be, or what their makers profess them to be, it cannot be amiss to say-Caveat emptor. F. Y. CONTENTS. INTRODUCTORY: KNOWLEDGE OF THE MECHANICAL ARTS USEFUL FELLING AND SEASONING OF TIMBER: DESIGNATIONS AND MARKS OF VARIOUS METHODS EMPLOYED IN JOINING TIMBER 182 |