CARPENTRY FOR BOYS IN A SIMPLE LANGUAGE, INCLUDING CHAPTERS ON DRAWING, LAYING OUT WORK, DESIGNING AND ARCHITECTURE WITH 250 ORIGINAL ILLUSTRATIONS
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99. _Newel Post._--The upright post at the foot of a stairway, to which
the railing is attached.
100. _Parquetry._--A species of joinery or cabinet work, consisting of
an inlay of geometric or other patterns, generally of different colored
woods, used particularly for floors.
101. _Peen._ also _Pein._--The round, _round_-edged or hemispherical
end, as at A, of a hammer.
102. _Pendant._--A hanging ornament on roofs, ceilings, etc., and much
used in the later styles of Gothic architecture where it is of stone.
Imitated largely in wood and plaster work.
103. _Pentastyle._--A pillar. A portico having five pillars, A, is
called the _Pentastyle_ in temples of classical construction.
104. _Pedestal._--An upright architectural member, A, right-angled in
plan, constructionally a pier, but resembling a column, having a
capital, shaft and base to agree with the columns in the structure.
[Illustration: _Fig. 105.-Fig. 117._]
105. _Pintle._--An upright pivot pin, or the pin of a hinge; A
represents the _pintle_ of a rudder.
106. _Portico._--A colonnade or covered structure, especially in
classical style, of architecture, and usually at the entrance of a
building.
107. _Plate._--A horizontal timber, A, used as a top or header for
supporting timbers, roofs and the like.
108. _Queen Post._--One of two suspending posts in a roof truss, or
other framed truss of simple form. Compare with _King Post._ A, B, tie
beam; C, C, queen posts; D, straining piece; E, principal rafter; F,
rafter.
109. _Quirk Molding._--A small channel, deeply recessed, in proportion
to its width, used to insulate and give relief to a convex rounded
molding. An excellent corner post for furniture.
110. _Re-entering._--The figure shows an irregular polygon (that is,
many-sided figure) and is a re-entering polygon. The recess A is a
re-entering angle.
111. _Rafter._--Originally any rough and heavy piece of timber, but in
modern carpentry used to designate the main roof support, as at A. See
_Queen Post_.
112. _Scarfing._--Cutting timber at an angle along its length, as the
line A. Scarfing joints are variously made. The overlapping joints may
be straight or recessed and provided with a key block B. When fitted
together they are securely held by plates and bolts.
113. _Scotia Molding._--A sunken molding in the base of a pillar, so
called from the dark shadow which it casts.
114. _Sill._--In carpentry the base piece, or pieces, A, on which the
posts of a structure are set.
115. _Skew-Back._--The course of masonry, such as a stone, A, with an
inclined face, which forms the abutment for the voussoirs, B, or
wedge-shaped stones comprising the arch.
116. _Spandrel._--The irregular, triangular space, A, between the curve
of an arch and the enclosing right angle.
117. _Strut._--In general, any piece of a frame, such as a timber A, or
a brace B, which resists pressure or thrust in the direction of its
length.
[Illustration: _Fig. 118.-Fig. 123._]
118. _Stud, Studding._--The vertical timber or scantling, A, which is
one of the small uprights of a building to which the boarding or
plastering lath are nailed.
119. _Stile._--The main uprights of a door, as A, A; B, B, B, rails; C,
C, mullions; D, D, panels.
_Tie Beam._--See _Queen Post_.
120. _Trammel._--A very useful tool for drawing ellipses. It comprises a
cross, A, with grooves and a bar, B, with pins, C, attached to sliding
blocks in the grooves, and a pen or stylus, D, at the projecting end of
the bar to scribe the ellipse.
121. _Turret._--A little tower, frequently only an ornamental structure
at one of the angles of a larger structure.
122. _Transom._--A horizontal cross-bar, A, above a door or window or
between a door and a window above it. Transom is the horizontal member,
and if there is a vertical, like the dotted line B, it is called a
_Mullion_. See _Stile_.
123. _Valley Roof._--A place of meeting of two slopes of a roof which
have their sides running in different directions and formed on the plan
of a re-entrant angle.
CHAPTER VIII
DRAWING AND ITS UTILITY
A knowledge of drawing, at least so far as the fundamentals are
concerned, is of great service to the beginner. All work, after being
conceived in the brain, should be transferred to paper. A habit of this
kind becomes a pleasure, and, if carried out persistently, will prove a
source of profit. The boy with a bow pen can easily draw circles, and
with a drawing or ruling pen he can make straight lines.
REPRESENTING OBJECTS.--But let him try to represent some object, and the
pens become useless. There is a vast difference in the use of drawing
tools and free-hand drawing. While the boy who is able to execute
free-hand sketches may become the better artist, still that art would
not be of much service to him as a carpenter. First, because the use of
tools gives precision, and this is necessary to the builder; and,
second, because the artist deals wholly with perspectives, whereas the
builder must execute from plane surfaces or elevations.
FORMING LINES AND SHADOWS.--It is not my intention to furnish a complete
treatise on this subject, but to do two things, one of which will be to
show, among other features, how simple lines form objects; how shading
becomes an effective aid; how proportions are formed; and, second, how
to make irregular forms, and how they may readily be executed so that
the boy may be able to grasp the ideas for all shapes and structural
devices.
[Illustration: _Fig. 125._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 126._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 127._]
ANALYSIS OF LINE SHADING.--In the demonstration of this work I shall
give an analysis of the simple lines formed, showing the terms used to
designate the lines, curves, and formations, so that when any work is
laid out the beginner will be able, with this glossary before him, to
describe architecturally, as well as mathematically, the angles and
curves with which he is working.
HOW TO CHARACTERIZE SURFACE.--Suppose we commence simply with straight
lines. How shall we determine the character of the surface of the
material between the two straight lines shown in Fig. 125? Is it flat,
rounded, or concaved? Let us see how we may treat the surface by simple
lines so as to indicate the configuration.
[Illustration: _Fig. 128._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 129._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 130._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 131._]
CONCAVE SURFACES.--In Fig. 126 the shading lines commence at the upper
margin, and are heaviest there, the lines gradually growing thinner and
farther apart.
CONVEX SURFACES.--In Fig. 127 the shading is very light along the upper
margin, and heavy at the lower margin. The first shaded figure,
therefore, represents a concaved surface, and the second figure a
convex surface. But why? Simply for the reason that in drawings, as well
as in nature, light is projected downwardly, hence when a beam of light
moves past the margin of an object, the contrast at the upper part,
where the light is most intense, is strongest.
The shading of the S-shaped surface (Fig. 128) is a compound of Figs.
126 and 127.
[Illustration: _Fig. 132._]
SHADOWS FROM A SOLID BODY.--We can understand this better by examining
Fig. 129, which shows a vertical board, and a beam of light (A) passing
downwardly beyond the upper margin of the board. Under these conditions
the upper margin of the board appears darker to the vision, by contrast,
than the lower part. It should also be understood that, in general, the
nearer the object the lighter it is, so that as the upper edge of the
board is farthest from the eye the heavy shading there will at least
give the appearance of distance to that edge.
But suppose that instead of having the surface of the board flat, it
should be concaved, as in Fig. 130, it is obvious that the hollow, or
the concaved, portion of the board must intensify the shadows or the
darkness at the upper edge. This explains why the heavy shading in Fig.
126 is at that upper margin.
FLAT EFFECTS.--If the board is flat it may be shaded, as shown in Fig.
131, in which the lines are all of the same thickness, and are spaced
farther and farther apart at regularly increasing intervals.
[Illustration: _Fig. 133._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 134._]
THE DIRECTION OF LIGHT.--Now, in drawing, we must observe another thing.
Not only does the light always come from above, but it comes also from
the left side. I show in Fig. 132 two squares, one within the other. All
the lines are of the same thickness. Can you determine by means of such
a drawing what the inner square represents? Is it a block, or raised
surface, or is it a depression?
RAISED SURFACES.--Fig. 133 shows it in the form of a block, simply by
thickening the lower and the right-hand lines.
DEPRESSED SURFACES.--If, by chance, you should make the upper and the
left-hand lines heavy, as in Fig. 134, it would, undoubtedly, appear
depressed, and would need no further explanation.
FULL SHADING,--But, in order to furnish an additional example of the
effect of shading, suppose we shade the surface of the large square, as
shown in Fig. 135, and you will at once see that not only is the effect
emphasized, but it all the more clearly expresses what you want to show.
In like manner, in Fig. 136, we shade only the space within the inner
square, and it is only too obvious how shadows give us surface
conformation.
[Illustration: _Fig. 135._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 136._]
ILLUSTRATING CUBE SHADING.--In Fig. 137 I show merely nine lines joined
together, all lines being of equal thickness.
As thus drawn it may represent, for instance, a cube, or it may show
simply a square base (A) with two sides (B, B) of equal dimensions.
SHADING EFFECTS.--Now, to examine it properly so as to observe what the
draughtsman wishes to express, look at Fig. 138, in which the three
diverging lines (A, B, C) are increased in thickness, and the cube
appears plainly. On the other hand, in Fig. 139, the thickening of the
lines (D, E, F) shows an entirely different structure.
[Illustration: _Fig. 137._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 138._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 139._]
It must be remembered, therefore, that to show raised surfaces the
general direction is to shade heavily the lower horizontal and the right
vertical lines. (See Fig. 133.)
HEAVY LINES.--But there is an exception to this rule. See two examples
(Fig. 140). Here two parallel lines appear close together to form the
edge nearest the eye. In such cases the second, or upper, line is
heaviest. On vertical lines, as in Fig. 141, the second line from the
right is heaviest. These examples show plain geometrical lines, and
those from Figs. 138 to 141, inclusive, are in perspective.
[Illustration: _Fig. 140._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 141._]
PERSPECTIVE.--A perspective is a most deceptive figure, and a cube, for
instance, may be drawn so that the various lines will differ in length,
and also be equidistant from each other. Or all the lines may be of the
same length and have the distances between them vary. Supposing we have
two cubes, one located above the other, separated, say, two feet or more
from each other. It is obvious that the lines of the two cubes will not
be the same to a camera, because, if they were photographed, they would
appear exactly as they are, so far as their positions are concerned, and
not as they appear. But the cubes do appear to the eye as having six
equal sides. The camera shows that they do not have six equal sides so
far as measurement is concerned. You will see, therefore, that the
position of the eye, relative to the cube, is what determines the angle,
or $the relative$ angles of all the lines.
[Illustration: _Fig. 142._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 143._]
A TRUE PERSPECTIVE OF A CUBE.--Fig. 142 shows a true perspective--that
is, it is true from the measurement standpoint. It is what is called an
_isometrical_ view, or a figure in which all the lines not only are of
equal length, but the parallel lines are all spaced apart the same
distances from each other.
ISOMETRIC CUBE.--I enclose this cube within a circle, as in Fig. 143. To
form this cube the circle (A) is drawn and bisected with a vertical line
(B). This forms the starting point for stepping off the six points (C)
in the circle, using the dividers without resetting, after you have made
the circle. Then connect each of the points (C) by straight lines (D).
These lines are called chords. From the center draw two lines (E) at an
angle and one line (F) vertically. These are the radial lines. You will
see from the foregoing that the chords (D) form the outline of the
cube--or the lines farthest from the eye, and the radial lines (E, F)
are the nearest to the eye. In this position we are looking at the block
at a true diagonal--that is, from a corner at one side to the extreme
corner on the opposite side.
[Illustration: _Fig. 144._]
Let us contrast this, and particularly Fig. 142, with the cube which is
placed higher up, viewed from the same standpoint.
FLATTENED PERSPECTIVE.--Fig. 144 shows the new perspective, in which the
three vertical lines (A, A, A) are of equal length, and the six
angularly disposed lines (B, C) are of equal length, but shorter than
the lines A. The only change which has been made is to shorten the
distance across the corner from D to D, but the vertical lines (A) are
the same in length as the corresponding lines in Fig. 143.
Notwithstanding this change the cubes in both figures appear to be of
the same size, as, in fact, they really are.
[Illustration: _Fig. 145._]
In forming a perspective, therefore, it would be a good idea for the boy
to have a cube of wood always at hand, which, if laid down on a
horizontal support, alongside, or within range of the object to be
drawn, will serve as a guide to the perspective.
TECHNICAL DESIGNATIONS.--As all geometrical lines have designations, I
have incorporated such figures as will be most serviceable to the boy,
each figure being accompanied by its proper definition.
[Illustration: _Fig. 146._]
[Illustration: _Fig. 147._]
Before passing to that subject I can better show some of the simple
forms by means of suitable diagrams.
Referring to Fig. 145, let us direct our attention to the body (G),
formed by the line (D) across the circle. This body is called a segment.
A chord (D) and a curve comprise a segment.
SECTOR AND SEGMENT.--Now examine the shape of the body formed by two of
the radial lines (E, E) and that part of the circle which extends from
one radial line to the other. The body thus formed is a sector, and it
is made by two radiating lines and a curved line. Learn to distinguish
readily, in your mind, the difference between the two figures.
TERMS OF ANGLES.--The relation of the lines to each other, the manner in
which they are joined together, and their comparative angles, all have
special terms and meanings. Thus, referring to the isometric cube, in
Fig. 145, the angle formed at the center by the lines (B, E) is
different from the angle formed at the margin by the lines (E, F). The
angle formed by B, E is called an exterior angle; and that formed by E,
F is an interior angle. If you will draw a line (G) from the center to
the circle line, so it intersects it at C, the lines B, D, G form an
equilateral or isosceles triangle; if you draw a chord (A) from C to C,
the lines H, E, F will form an obtuse triangle, and B, F, H a
right-angled triangle.
CIRCLES AND CURVES.--Circles, and, in fact, all forms of curved work,
are the most difficult for beginners. The simplest figure is the circle,
which, if it represents a raised surface, is provided with a heavy line
on the lower right-hand side, as in Fig. 146; but the proper artistic
expression is shown in Fig. 147, in which the lower right-hand side is
shaded in rings running only a part of the way around, gradually
diminishing in length, and spaced farther and farther apart as you
approach the center, thus giving the appearance of a sphere.
[Illustration: _Fig. 148._]
IRREGULAR CURVES.--But the irregular curves require the most care to
form properly. Let us try first the elliptical curve (Fig. 148). The
proper thing is, first, to draw a line (A), which is called the "major
axis." On this axis we mark for our guidance two points (B, B). With the
dividers find a point (C) exactly midway, and draw a cross line (D).
This is called the "minor axis." If we choose to do so we may indicate
two points (E, E) on the minor axis, which, in this case, for
convenience, are so spaced that the distance along the major axis,
between B, B, is twice the length across the minor axis (D), along E, E.
Now find one-quarter of the distance from B to C, as at F, and with a
compass pencil make a half circle (G). If, now, you will set the compass
point on the center mark (C), and the pencil point of the compass on B,
and measure along the minor axis (D) on both sides of the major axis,
you will make two points, as at H. These points are your centers for
scribing the long sides of the ellipse. Before proceeding to strike the
curved lines (J), draw a diagonal line (K) from H to each marking point
(F). Do this on both sides of the major axis, and produce these lines so
they cross the curved lines (G). When you ink in your ellipse do not
allow the circle pen to cross the lines (K), and you will have a
mechanical ellipse.
ELLIPSES AND OVALS.--It is not necessary to measure the centering points
(F) at certain specified distances from the intersection of the
horizontal and vertical lines. We may take any point along the major
axis, as shown, for instance, in Fig. 149. Let B be this point, taken at
random. Then describe the half circle (C). We may, also, arbitrarily,
take any point, as, for instance, D on the minor axis E, and by drawing
the diagonal lines (F) we find marks on the circle (C), which are the
meeting lines for the large curve (H), with the small curve (C). In this
case we have formed an ovate or an oval form. Experience will soon make
perfect in following out these directions.
FOCAL POINTS.--The focal point of a circle is its center, and is called
the _focus_. But an ellipse has two focal points, called _foci_,
represented by F, F in Fig. 148, and by B, B in Fig. 149.
A _produced line_ is one which extends out beyond the marking point.
Thus in Fig. 148 that part of the line K between F and G represents the
produced portion of line K.
[Illustration: _Fig. 149._]
SPIRALS.--There is no more difficult figure to make with a bow or a
circle pen than a spiral. In Fig. 150 a horizontal and a vertical line
(A, B), respectively, are drawn, and at their intersection a small
circle (C) is formed. This now provides for four centering points for
the circle pen, on the two lines (A, B). Intermediate these points
indicate a second set of marks halfway between the marks on the lines.
If you will now set the point of the compass at, say, the mark 3, and
the pencil point of the compass at D, and make a curved mark one-eighth
of the way around, say, to the radial line (E), then put the point of
the compass to 4, and extend the pencil point of the compass so it
coincides with the curved line just drawn, and then again make another
curve, one-eighth of a complete circle, and so on around the entire
circle of marking points, successively, you will produce a spiral,
which, although not absolutely accurate, is the nearest approach with a
circle pen. To make this neatly requires care and patience.
[Illustration: _Fig. 150._]
PERPENDICULAR AND VERTICAL.--A few words now as to terms. The boy is
often confused in determining the difference between _perpendicular_ and
_vertical_. There is a pronounced difference. Vertical means up and
down. It is on a line in the direction a ball takes when it falls
straight toward the center of the earth. The word _perpendicular_, as
usually employed in astronomy, means the same thing, but in geometry, or
in drafting, or in its use in the arts it means that a perpendicular
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Carpentry for Boys In a Simple Language, Including Chapters on Drawing, Laying Out Work, Designing and Architecture With 250 Original Illustrations
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