he sharp edge severs the fibres of the wood and
gives a finer line than the pencil. It is not always necessary to exactly
square and trim the end of piece A; it may with advantage in many cases
be left at least 1/4 in. longer than necessary and levelled off with the
saw, plane and chisel after the joint is put together. (See Method of
Cutting in Fig. 92, page 47.)

When the piece A has to have a bridle joint fitted at each end, it is
customary to cut the timber about 3/8 in. longer than necessary, and mark
the shoulder lines C to the exact length, after which the joints are cut.
This leaves the ends standing over the horizontal rails, and, after
fixing the complete frame together, the small projecting ends are
levelled off flush with the cross rails.

GAUGING.--After squaring all the shoulder lines round the timber with the
knife and try square, the mortise gauge should be set so as to strike the
two gauge lines marked G, Figs. 83 and 84, at one operation. If the
worker does not possess a mortise gauge the lines may be marked at two
distinct operations with the aid of the marking gauge (Fig. 82). The
gauge should be adjusted so as to mark the wood into thirds, and the
stock of the gauge (the portion of the gauge containing the thumb screw
in Fig. 82) must be used from the face side of the timber when gauging up
the whole of the pieces forming a frame. The face mark on the work is
indicated by a glorified comma, and the edge mark is shown by X, as in
the various illustrations. Fig. 82 shows the method of holding the gauge
in the right hand whilst gauging the lines on the work.

[Illustration: Fig. 81.--Bridle Joint, open and closed.]

[Illustration: Fig. 82.--Gauging the Timber.]

The joint, when marked out, will appear as at Figs. 83 and 84, and the
portions which are to be cut away may be shaded with a pencil as
indicated; this will prevent mistakes arising whilst cutting the work,
especially by one who is not thoroughly familiar with the joint.

The distance A B, in Fig. 84, must not be less than the distance A B in
Fig. 83.

[Illustration: Fig. 83., Fig. 84. The Two Parts of the Joint
Marked.]

BORING AWAY WASTE.--Examine Fig. 84; the shaded portion in the centre has
to be cut away, and it will greatly facilitate the removal of this waste
piece by boring a hole with a twist bit at the position shown. The twist
bit should be about 1/8 in. less in diameter than the width between the
gauge lines G. The easiest