Joinery - Joiner's Bench

In practice, a chisel is sharpened to suit the existing state of the angle of its cutting edge, and not to suit the work required from it, and it is used in the manner most suitable for its edge, by using more or less force to make it cut. It is usual to have one chisel, commonly called the bench chisel, about 11 inches wide, for general work, also another chisel, about 2 inch wide, for rough work; these are in addition to other chisels, such as long thin chisels, mortise chisels, etc, which are reserved for particular kinds of work.

The tools having been sharpened, in order to make the box, a piece of deal 2 feet 6 inches long by 7 inches wide and not less than 4 an inch thick must be obtained; this should be dry, well seasoned, and free from knots, because a beginner has always great difficulty in working over knots; later, when he has mastered the art of sharpening his tools, and he has learned how to plane wood smooth, these same knots will add to the beauty of his finished work.

It will be taken for granted that the amateur has a joiner’s bench at which he can work; if he has only an old table, he will have to hold his work with his left hand, and work with his right hand, instead of holding his work in the vice and working with both hands; this can be done, but it is not at all easy at first. If the amateur buys a joiner’s bench, or, better still, if he gets the village joiner to make one for him, he should bear in mind that a heavy bench is much better than a light one, for it will not slip along the floor so easily when pushing hard with a plane. Another important thing is the height of the bench; if it be either too high or too low, working at it will make his back ache, and cause his shoulders to grow round.

The right height for a joiner’s bench is such that the amateur, standing in front of it, with his knees stiff and his heels upon the ground, can bend down from his hips, keeping his back straight, until his body can lie flat upon the bench, which should now support part of the weight of his stomach. Of course this rule does not apply to a very fat man. If the amateur has not done growing, he should have his bench made too high, then a few old boards upon the floor will act as a platform, upon which he will stand when using the bench. Thirty three inches may be taken as a maximum height for a bench, and will be suitable for a tall man; it is probable that round shoulders among workmen are very often caused by their having, when boys, worked at a bench which was too high for them. Before leaving the subject of the bench, it should be stated that care should always be taken not to injure it; if the top becomes rough, dirt and grit will get into the little scratches, and will blunt the tools, and be a constant source of trouble.