Sir,—I request the insertion of the following statement in your valuable little work. My object is to bring to public notice a most unjust practice among a certain class of men (which, by-the-bye, I am told is law). I withhold names, because it is not persons, but things, which I wish to expose.
I lately bought a piece of squared oak timber of a most respectable merchant, and had it sawed at his yard. The charge for so doing was one pound eight shillings and eleven pence, which appeared to me, at the time I was settling the bill, to be far too much; but being told, in the counting-house, that it was correct, I paid it. (more…)
The labour of the sawyer is applied to the division of large pieces of timber or logs into forms and sizes to suit the purposes of the carpenter and joiner. His working place is called a saw-pit, and his almost only important tool a pit-saw. A cross-cut saw, axes, dogs, files, compasses, lines, lamp-black, black-lead, chalk, and a rule, are all accessories which may be considered necessary to him.
Unlike most other artificers, the sawyer can do absolutely nothing alone: sawyers are therefore always in pairs; one of the two stands on the work, and the other in the pit under it. The log or piece of timber being carefully and firmly fixed on the pit, and lined for the cuts which are to be made in it, the top-man standing on it, and the pit-man below or off from its end, a cut is commenced, the former holding the saw with his two hands by the handle above, and the other in the same manner by the box handle below.
The attention of the top-man is directed to keeping the saw in the direction of and out of winding with the line to be cut upon, and that of the pit-man to cut down in a truly vertical line. The saw being correctly entered, very little more is required than steadiness of hand and eye in keeping it correctly on throughout the whole length. (more…)
Rather than attempt to explain the specific details of French style trestle sawing, I have attempted to translate two the of the best primary French sources on sawing timber. The translations are not polished, but they will begin to help explain the methods used to mount heavy timbers on the chevalet type sawing trestle. (more…)
I recently found myself in immediate need of a couple of simple benches. So, I sat down and sketched up the quasi-Shaker-esque bench that you see here, sizing it so all of the parts could be cut from one 1″ × 12″ × 6′ and one 1″ × 3″ × 6′. I then headed down to Lowe’s for some “select pine.” While constructing the benches it occurred to me that, apart from a pencil and tape measure, I had used no hand tools of any kind. At that point, I got out a block plane to break all of the sharp edges. (I know what you’re thinking: I should have used a trim router with a chamfer bit. Maybe next time.)
So here’s to all the naysayers out there: See, it really is possible to make decent-looking stuff using only power tools.
300. Edward Turner was indicted for stealing, on the 4th of November, 1 saw, value 1l. 7s., the goods of William Beal, and that he had been before convicted of felony.
William Beal. I am a sawyer, and live at Mr. Langton’s timber-yard, Narrow-wall. I lost a saw, on the 4th of November, from that yard—I was at work with it all that evening—I left it under the roof of the sawpit—I returned the next morning, as soon as it was light, and missed it— I found it at the pawnbroker’s—I do not know the prisoner—this is the saw—it cost me 29s. when new.
Henry Garrod. I live at No. 51, Charlotte-terrace, Lambeth. On the 4th of November, I took this saw in pledge from the prisoner, in the name of James Turner—I am sure it was James.
William Turner. I was standing before Mr. Hickinbotham’s shop, on the 4th of November, and saw the prisoner take the saw to pawn—I am no relation of his.
Stephen Warley, (police-constable L 121.) I took the prisoner into custody, and produce the saw.
William Driver. I am a cooper, and was a constable. I produce a certificate of the prisoner’s former conviction, which I got from Mr. Lawson’s, the clerk of the peace for Surrey—the prisoner is the man (read.)
Prisoner’s Defence. I pledged the saw and a copper glue-pot—on the 6th I went to get it out, and I had not got sufficient money—this is the ticket he gave me—he put a wrong name on my ticket—I had not sufficient money to get the things out, and left some articles for them— this is the hand-writing on the ticket.
GUILTY. Aged 22.—Transported for Fourteen Years.
Taken in short-hand by Henry Buckler.
Central Criminal Court. Minutes of Evidence Vol. III – 1836
