Lost Art Press

Author: fitz

Woodworker, writer, editor, teacher, ailurophile, Shakespearean. Will write for air-dried walnut.

Fast and Slow Moulding

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moulders

The moulder that produces the most work is not always the one that makes the most motions. The contrary is generally true. The man who does a large day’s work, if observed, will be seen to be attentive, calm, and thoughtful, but never, apparently, in a hurry. You will never see him excited, or making a false move.

If he steps across the shop to find some tool, you will generally see him bring back more than he went for. On his way he sees something that he will want further on in his job. His thoughts are on his work, and he sees ahead of what he is doing, and does not have to wait until he comes to the different parts of his job to know what he wants.

Materials and tools are always waiting for him, not he for them. When he has a new job he sees its requirements before he begins it. He thinks before he acts. His brains are always ahead of his muscle, and he never makes two motions where one will do. This requires thought and study. All men are not capable of this, but many that are do not practice it. They would sooner be in a sweat than bother their brains with thought, or study how to accomplish the most work with the least labor.
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Six Days’ Sawing

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six_days_sawing

Instance of Human Effort.—Six Days’ Sawing

A Pair of sawyers, in the yard of Messrs. Paul, and Co., timber-merchants, Broad-street, Golden-square, executed the following quantity of labour in sixty working-hours, in six days, beginning about eight, a.m., on Monday, the 25th, and ending about four, p.m., on the following Saturday, the 30th of January, in the present year.

They sawed through an area of 3068 square feet of American Pine, along a line whose total length was 1726 feet. In doing this, they raised the saw 124,272 times, and as this tool weighed 30 lbs., they lifted an actual weight of 3,728,160 lbs. But this amount of labour was not more than one-third the actual exertion expended; for to overcome the friction, in pulling up the saw through the kerf, and forcing it down again through the wood, at least two thirds more was necessary; the total labour, therefore, was equal to lifting 11,184,480 lbs. to the height of the stroke, and as this was four feet, there was 44,737,020 lbs.= 19,958 tons. 18 cwt. raised one foot high, in 60 hours, which is 12,427 lbs. = 5 tons, 11 cwt. raised one foot high, per minute, by the two men, and 2 tons, 15½ cwt, per man, 1 foot high per minute.
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Naming All the Tools

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planes_de

There never was yet any perfect Vocabulary, or Nomenclator in any Language; and though this may ſeem a Paradox to ſome, I ſay, there never was, nor is there any that can ſpeak a Language ſo exactly, as to call every thing he meets withal by its name; put caſe the perfecteſt Linguiſt in the Engliſh now living, ſhould go aboard a ſhip, then to a Carpenters ſhop, or ſome other Artiſans, thence go abroad a hawking or hunting, then walk in a botanical Garden, I believe it is impoſſible for him to name all the Tacklings of the firſt, all the Tools of the ſecond, all the terms of the third, and the names of all the flowers, fruits, and herbs he ſhall find in the laſt, and if he chance to go thence to any Apothecary ſhops, ’twill gravel him to name all the Drugs and Simples he finds there.

James Howell

Revised Edition of Randle Cotgrave’s French and English Dictionary – 1650

—Jeff Burks

The Art of Knuckle Grinding

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grinstone_sl

Unless tools are well and keenly sharpened, satisfactory work is impossible. Much of the difference between professional and amateur work arises from the bluntness of the tools of the latter. No mortised and tenoned joint can be made to fit closely if the work is not cleanly cut by a sharp chisel; and planed surfaces, if badly done, are more unsightly than if left rough from the saw.

Various contrivances for holding a tool securely during the operation of grinding have been devised, and I may notice the undeniable fact that I never saw them in use among workmen. It is indeed a mistake to rely upon what are, at best, questionable devices, when, by patient practice, we can gain that skill which will not fail us in the time of need. A simple toolrest—a mere bar of iron parallel to the face of the stone, may be a help in steadying a tool; but even this is seldom to be seen in the carpenter’s shop, its absence proving that it is not a necessity.
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The Principal Stones Used in the Mechanical Arts

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grindstone_rn

The Thanks of the Society were voted to R. Knight, Esq., for a Collection of Hone-Stones and Grind-Stones, presented by him; together with the following Descriptive Catalogue of them.

Sir,                                                                                                                                Foster Lane.
In compliance with your request, I have sent, for the Society’s acceptance, a collection of all the principal stones used in the mechanical arts, and of which the following is the catalogue. I have arranged them under two heads, viz. arenaceous and schistose: the few that do not come under either of these heads are separately described, and I shall be happy to give you any further information I am able on the subject.

                                                                     I am, &c. &c.
                                                                                                    Richard Knight.

1. Grit or Sandstone.— Of this variety the universally known and justly celebrated Newcastle grind-stones are formed. It abounds in the coal-districts of Northumberland, Durham, Yorkshire, and Derbyshire; and is selected of different degrees of density and coarseness, best suited to the various manufactures of Sheffield and Birmingham, for grinding and giving a smooth and polished surface to their different wares.

2. Is a similar description of stone, of great excellence. It is of a lighter colour, much finer, and of a very sharp nature, and at the same time not too hard. It is confined to a very small spot, of limited extent and thickness, in the immediate vicinity of Bilston, in Staffordshire, where is lies above the coal, and is now quarried entirely for the purpose of grind-stones.
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