Rod-malting. 



167 



in so doing touch either of the four planed sides only 

 the corners are to be cut. Now, treat the smaller end in 

 the same way. The two ends will then serve as a guide 

 to inform you when you have planed the whole joint to 

 an octagon, which is your next step. 



To do this successfully you should have a grooved 

 strip of pine in which to lay the joint. Any carpenter 

 can make one for you, or you can make it yourself by 

 planing off the corners of two pieces of f-inch stuff, and 

 afterwards nailing, screwing, or gluing them together, 

 as in Fig. 39. 



Fig. 38. 



Fig. 39. 



Or a strip sawn off the grooved edge of a " tongued and 

 grooved " board will answer, though not so well. 



Now, drill two more holes as before, but this time in 

 the middle of the new faces; put a brass pin in the bot- 

 tom of the groove, hook on the joint, and plane off the 

 corners in turn, till the joint is octagonal throughout, 

 and your eye informs you that the taper is uniform. Be 

 careful, be patient, and don't hurry. Now, with your 

 small plane take off each of the eight corners, rounding 

 them a little, and your joint will be nearly circular. 



