CASES FOR SPECIMENS. 



233 



top and bottom to size required, plane and square them 

 up together to ensure tlieir being exactly alike ; then, with 

 a " plough " plane, set to fin., *' plough out " all around the front 

 and sides o£ each to half its thickness. Take the back and nail 

 it to the top and bottom with brads ; having done which, 

 next take two pieces of wood for the uprights of sufficient 

 thickness to suit the case — too great thickness being guarded 

 against. Let us, however, assume that each of these pieces 

 is fin. square, the height immaterial, " plough " these out on 

 two sides, the " plough " still set at fin. for depth. For the 

 front, "plough" out fin. from the edge, and fin. deep, this 

 still leaves fin. out of the fin. untouched; turn the upright 

 now on its side and repeat the " ploughing," allowing for 

 just missing the point of intersection. Fig. 39 shows a 

 section ; the dark part is the wood left, the 

 dotted squares show where the wood has 

 been removed; the corner A, outside the 

 dotted line, is afterwards rounded off. Each 

 upright is " ploughed " alike ; they are then 

 glued and nailed to the top and bottom by 

 brads running through; the rounded edges 

 falling outside. 



The case is now finished, as will be seen, 

 for the reception of glass at its front and 

 sides. First, however, it will have to be 

 blacked or ebonised. Mix, therefore, some 

 ^'lamp" or "drop" black in powder, with thin glue-water, boil, 

 and lay the mixture on with a stiff brush over the case whilst 

 warm. When quite dry, rub it down with fine sand paper. 

 The subjects being mounted in the case, paper the glass 

 in with brown paper and strong paste, and then go over the 

 previously blackened case with a very thin coat of Brunswick 

 black. When this is dry put a slip of |^in. or fin. gilt 

 moulding (procured at the picture frame maker's) all around 

 the front of the case on top of the prepared glass, and just 

 within the edges of the wood " ploughed " out to receive 

 it, nicely mitring the corners with a mitre and shooting block. 

 The foundation of this latter is a sound lin. board, 2ft. Gin. 

 long by 18in. wide, or of any other convenient dimensions. 



q2 



Fig. 39.— Section of 

 " Uprights " or 

 Pillars of Square 

 Case. 



