PATTERN MAKING 5 



stock is firmer, stronger, more elastic, and less affected by heat and 

 cold and by moisture and dryness, than kiln-dried lumber. In 

 kiln drying, the outside surfaces and ends of the boards are dried 

 more rapidly than the inside, producing strains that cause the 

 wood to bend and warp while the pattern is in the process of con- 

 struction. For this reason it is better to "build up" the larger 

 pieces of a pattern by gluing together three or more (never two) 

 pieces of thinner stock. When the patterns are of moderate size 

 the stock to be glued may vary from f inch to 1 inch or even 1 J 

 inches in thickness, in proportion to the size required. Stock of 2 

 inches thickness or over can seldom be found sufficiently seasoned; 

 and, if forced by kiln-drying, it will be checked and strained to an 

 extent that will render it useless for pattern work. 



While pine is in general the ideal wood for pattern work, it is 

 soft and weak, so that, if small and strong patterns are desired, a 

 harder wood is usually employed. Mahogany is much used for 

 this purpose. Like pine, it is not liable to warp, and, when straight- 

 grained, it is worked with comparative ease. There are many 

 varieties of this beautiful wood, varying greatly in firmness of 

 texture. The soft bay wood, often sold as genuine mahogany, 

 should be avoided for patterns, being but little harder than pine. 

 Cherry is also extensively used, but is not so easily worked to a 

 smooth surface as mahogany, and is more liable than the latter to 

 warp and to be affected by moisture. Black walnut, beech, and 

 maple are used to some extent. Black walnut is stronger than 

 cherry, but, like beech and maple, is likely to warp. 



It may be stated then, that, in the United States, white pine 

 is the material commonly employed for pattern making. Lumber 

 1 inch, 1| inches, and 1| inches thick will be found convenient in 

 the construction of such patterns as are most commonly called for 

 It will be a great saving of time and labor, after the lumber has 

 been carefully selected, to have it taken to the planing mill and 

 dressed on two sides to the following thicknesses: 



One-inch, dressed on two sides to % inch; 



One and one-quarter-inch, dressed on two sides to 1J^ inch; 



One and one-half-inch, dressed on two sides to 1 3 8 inch; 



and, if such can be found well seasoned, a small quantity of two-inch, dressed 



inches. 



