ingly steady hand to hold a plane firmly for
squaring up a half-inch board. Singular as it may seem, it is almost as
difficult a job with a two-inch plank. In the case of the thin board the
plane will move laterally, unless the utmost care is exercised; in the
truing up the thick plank the constant tendency is to move the plane
along the surface at a slight diagonal, and this is sure to cause
trouble.

It only emphasizes the fact most clearly, that to do a good job the
plane must be firmly held, that it must move along the board with the
utmost precision, and that it should not be forced into the wood.

In smoothing down a board with the short smoothing plane, preparatory to
sandpapering it, the better plan is to move the plane slightly across
the grain. This will enable the bit to take hold better, and when the
sandpaper is applied the course of the movement should be across the
grain opposite the direction taken by the smoothing plane.

It is never satisfactory to draw the sandpaper directly along in the
course of the grain. Such a habit will cause the sandpaper to fill up
very rapidly, particularly with certain woods.

When gluing together joints or tenons, always wipe off the surplus glue
with warm water taken from the glue pot. If you do not follow this
advice the glue will gum up the tools and the sandpaper used to finish
the work.

Never try to work from opposite sides of a piece of material. Have a
_work side_ and a work _edge_, and make all measurements therefrom. Mark
each piece as you go along. Take a note mentally just how each piece is
to be placed, and what must be done with it.

The carpenter, above all others, must be able to carry a mental picture
of his product.

Never saw out the scribing or marking line, either in cutting or in
ripping. The lines should be obliterated by the plane, when it is being
finished, and not before.

Make it a habit to finish off the surfaces and edges true and smooth
before the ends are cut, or the mortises or tenons are made. This is one
of the most frequent mistakes. No job can be a perfect one unless your
material has been worked down to proper dimensions.

Learn to saw across a board squarely. This may be a hard thing for the
novice to do. A long, easy stroke of the saw will prevent it from
running, unless too badly set or filed, and will also enable you to hold
it more nearly square with the board.

If you find that you invariably saw "out of true," then tak