8o THE IDYL OF THE SPLIT-BAMBOO 



impossible to make symmetrical hexagonal rod-joints 

 out of finished strips of irregular section. 



It sometimes is convenient to correct this going 

 off from the true equilateral form, by again using 

 your center-gauge as a scraper. Fasten it upright 

 in the vise this time, and draw the defective strip 

 through its notched end, with pressure so regulated 

 that the scraping is done principally against the nar- 

 rowed side of the strip; this widens the narrow side 

 and at the same time narrows the side that is too 

 wide. V-notched truing-scrapers are easily made by 

 notching the edge of any piece of saw steel as a 

 cabinet-makers' scraper, selling for ten cents by 

 means of the common triangular-section saw-sharp- 

 ening file, which has angles of the required sixty de- 

 grees. However, if due attention is had to the 

 warnings already given, such corrective scraping 

 rarely becomes necessary. 



As previously instructed, the planing-iron is set 

 very fine, so as to cut the thinnest possible shaving, 

 for the ultimate planing-down; and a few short, light 

 final strokes are permissible over those places felt 

 to be still high, as tested by drawing the finger deli- 

 cately across the strip and the face of the mold. 

 The smallest Stanley plane, about three inches long, 

 is very nice for this work. Keep the plane well 

 sharpened by frequent resort to the oilstone. A 

 few drops of thin oil placed occasionally on the metal 



