PLA] ( 98 ) 



Plain Tiles are simple parallelograms, generally about 10 J in. x 

 6J in. x f in., and weigh about 2 lb. 5 oz. Each tile 

 has a hole at one end to receive the wooden pins to secure 

 it to the lath. In England they are usually termed flat- 

 tiles or Staffordshire tiles, and have " nibs " or " tips " 

 to hang them on the roof laths they are two colours, " red " 

 and "brindled." 



Planchettes. Narrow boards under 6 in. in width, and from 1 

 to 1| in. in thickness. 



Plane. A joiner's and carpenter's hand-tool. Of prime import- 

 ance, the working of which reduces rough or uneven surfaces 

 to plain, level or smooth faces ; planes are of different 

 lengths, forms and sizes, their number, especially " mould- 

 ing planes " and " match planes," has of late years been 

 reduced by the intrusion of machinery. See " Shot," 

 " Shooting Plane," " Trenching Plane " and " Toothing 

 Plane." Planes of iron or steel are now finding favour in 

 working high-class woods. 



Plane or Plane-tree. A tree of the genus Platanus, two of the 

 best known of which are the " oriental " and the " occiden- 

 tal." The former is known as an introduced tree into 

 England, that can thrive in the heart of London town, and 

 is a favourite tree in our streets, but is strange in shedding 

 its bark in patches. The wood is white, like that of its 

 false offspring, the sycamore. The wood of the Western 

 or American plane has a browner cast, partly produced by 

 the medullary rays or silver grain, somewhat prominently 

 displayed, being darker than the ground or field of the wood. 

 See " Lacewood " and " Figure in Woods." 



Plane-stocks. Beechwood blocks, quarter sawn, the radial 

 face being the near side of the plane when in work, the wear- 

 ing face, unlike that of pitchpine flooring boards, being the 

 unfigured or tangential one. The blocks are usually steamed 

 to aid seasoning, a process that gives the wood a warmer 

 tint in colour. 



Plank, or Planks. In London and the South implying sawn 

 wood 10 inches and over in breadth. In the North " deal," 

 as distinguished from "batten," covers 9 inches and up. 

 This word has many front names to distinguish it in various 

 trades, as "gang-plank," " running- plank," "deck-planks," 

 " scaffold-planks " (ivliich see). 



Plank-, Deal- or Board-stower. Usually a member of a gang 

 employed to " stow " goods in a ship, or in stocking a 

 timber-yard ; a man who is something of an artist, if not 

 an expert, for his finished work in piling deals, etc., with 



