one plate is let flush into the upper piece and the other plate
into the lower piece.

Battening (Fig. 367).--A good method of joining cross battens to drawing
boards and other wide surfaces is shown here. After boring for the
screws, slots are cut so as to allow the screws to move along the slots
when shrinkage takes place. In Fig. 368 a similar method is applied to
secure the drawer bottom to the drawer back. If shrinkage takes place in
the drawer bottom and it leaves the groove in the drawer front, the
screws are slackened, the drawer bottom is knocked up into the groove,
and the screws again inserted. For drawing boards, etc., specially made
elliptical-shaped slotted brass socket cups are made to receive the screw
heads.

[Illustration: Fig. 367.--Battening.]

[Illustration: Fig. 368.--Drawer Bottom Joint.]

PUZZLE JOINTS

Puzzle Joints are not only interesting in themselves, but are often
excellent studies in craftsmanship. The majority of them, if to be
satisfactory as puzzles, call for very careful setting out and cutting,
entailing the same degree of skill that is demanded for high-class
cabinet work. For this reason several examples may well find a place in a
volume dealing with woodwork joints. As a rule, these puzzles should be
made in hardwood, such as dark walnut or beech, as in whitewood the
joints are soon liable to wear.

[Illustration: Fig. 369.--Sketch of the Completed Chinese Puzzle.]

CHINESE PUZZLE.--The ingenious puzzle of the Chinese type shown in Fig.
369 is probably older than many of us could guess, but as it is one that
can be made by any woodworker we give full directions as to how it may be
constructed. The complete article may be called, in form, a six-pointed
pyramid. It is made up of twenty-one different pieces, each cut from wood
1/2 in. wide and 1/2 in. thick; 3/8 in. wood may be used if preferred.
For the purpose either sycamore or white maple is the most useful.

[Illustration: Fig. 370., Fig. 371., Fig. 372. The Three Cross
Pieces.]

[Illustration: Fig. 373.--Key Piece.]

The pieces required are as follows:--

Fig. 370.--Six pieces, 3-1/2 ins. long, with a half slot cut in the
centre as shown. This slot must be exactly the width of the wood's
thickness, and cut exactly half way through, so that, if two pieces are
placed across by means of the halved joint, their surfaces will be flush.
The slot must also be exactly in the centre.

Fig. 371.--Six pieces, size 2