Laboratory Arts 



4^" pieces in the bench vice, hold one of the 6J" pieces above it in 

 the position it has eventually to occupy, and mark by means of a 



chisel or other sharp instrument 

 the positions of the dovetails. 

 With the trysquare carry these 

 down on each side to the scribing 

 line, and finally saw down the 

 lines marked, on the outsides, 

 leaving the dovetail large enough 

 to fit accurately into the place 

 already cut for it. Remove the 

 surplus wood as before, taking 

 great care of the dovetail this 

 time. Treat all the corners 

 similarly. 



When these are finished the 

 dovetails may be dipped in glue 

 and fitted, the two ends to one 



FIG. 20. 



side first, and lastly the fourth 

 side. They should not require 

 much hammering to bring them 

 home, gentle tapping being all 

 that is necessary in a well-cut joint. 



After glueing, the whole may be tied tightly round with string, 

 and the top and bottom fixed. These should already have been 

 planed up true, and cut roughly to size. It is best to leave the 

 top about jY' " full " (/>. J" longer and wider than the actual top), 

 while the bottom should be planed up until it is exactly J" longer 

 and wider than the box, and the upper edges rounded. The box 

 being now placed upon the base, the inside and outside are marked 

 upon the base, and six screw holes drilled in the positions shown in 

 Fig. 21, countersunk at the bottom. Top and bottom edges of the 

 box are now well glued, fixed in position, and the six bottom screws 

 put in. The top holds quite well with glue only, but, if thought 

 advisable, six small \" brads may be used on the top in similar 

 positions to those of the screws in the base. When quite " dry," 

 the box should be cleaned up, a chisel removing surplus glue, and 

 the top planed down level with the sides. The upper surface may 

 be rounded to match the base if no brads have been used in 

 affixing it, otherwise it must be left square. 



After cleaning and glass-papering, mark round the box in the 

 middle of the largest dovetail, and with a fine tenon saw cut 

 round this line. The lid will now be separate from the box, and 



