90 THE YOUNG 
the prong were filed like a wedge, as in 
days g'one by. It is a rule with some 
makers to have a gap each side of the 
point ; but this is more to save labor than 
for any other purpose. Although the 
point is turned perfectly true, for the pur- 
pose of enabling the turner to place the 
work back, having removed it, it is the 
best plan to mark one side of the chuck, 
and so be certain that your work is run- 
ning exactly as it was before taken from 
the lathe. Having found the centre of 
the wood and made a hole in the same, it 
may be driven into the prong by the aid 
of a hammer or mallet, care being taken 
not to split it. The popet-head centre, or, 
as it is commonly called, the back-centre, 
must be brought into use to support the 
end nearest to it. It is an old saying, 
and true, that position is everything, and 
it applies to turners, as in every other 
case; but a too-carefuUy studied pose 
may cause great discomfort to the opera- 
tor. Therefore, provided it is not abso- 
lutely awkward, the position one feels 
most at home in will be found to be the 
most advantageous. 
Should the wood be a very rough piece, 
or, say square, it will be advisable to take 
the corners off with an axe. The T-rest 
will be set rather higher than the centre. 
The gouge should have a long handle 
about 10 in., and the tool itself 8 in. This 
will be the proportion of what is called a 
three-quarter gouge. In the commence- 
ment, it should be held with a firm grip 
in the right hand, the left being placed on 
the top over the T-rest. If the left hand 
is in its proper position, which with a 
little practice it will assume, it will, by 
working the right hand from right to left, 
form a centre, so to speak. Before at- 
tempting to cut the wood, it w'ould be as 
well to practice this movement for a short 
time. It must not be taken for granted 
that by moving the gouge as I have de- 
scribed, it will describe a curve ; this will 
be obviated by raising the right hand 
gradually as it is worked either side of 
the so-formed centre, and it will, of course, 
only turn as much of the wood as the 
movement will allow; it must be then 
moved along the T-rest. I have turned a 
cylinder without the use of any other tool. 
SCIENTIST. 
It has been suggested by more than one 
author that the tyro's aim should be to 
turn a long cylinder, after the fashion of 
a ruler; but I should rather advise a 
novice not to set his mind upon accom- 
plishing this feat, as not many can do it 
at all ; by this I mean a cylinder perfect 
in every respect. The first day's work 
will be quite satisfactory if the pupil can 
rough-off a piece of wood, turning it fairly 
true, and without its flying out of the 
lathe several times. The second attempt 
should be diversified by the use of the 
chisel; but before taking advantage of 
this latter tool to smooth the work, en- 
deavor to get it as smooth as possible 
with the former. The chisel is a flat tool, 
in some respects similar to others of the 
same name, but ground to a different 
form, being beveled on both edges and 
obliquely to the sides; the angle from 
side to side about 35 degrees. In using 
this tool, it is the centre of the cutting- 
edge that must be made the cutting part, 
except when shaping curves, 6y parting 
off any one part from the other. When 
passing it along a cylinder, it will require 
very great care to keep the corners from 
touching ; if they do, it will run into the 
work after the manner of a quick screw, 
and do considerable damage— in some 
cases irreparable mischief. It must be 
held much after the manner of the gouge, 
and nothing but practice will overcome 
its difflculties. 
Having gone sufficiently far with the 
cylinder to become tired of the same 
thing, we may now essay to turn various 
other forms, for example, an egg-cup. 
The convex part it will be obvious, must 
bring into use the chisel. The concave, 
or foot, will necessitate the gouge; for 
such work smaller tools will be better, and 
it will be advisable to have a selection, 
three or four of each — gouges and chisels, 
choosing those for use which appear ta 
be the handiest. Here, again, there is no 
law as to size of the tool to be used, as 
some would prefer half an inch, others a 
three-eighth tool for the same purpose; 
therefore, as long as it will effect the pur- 
pose, that which is the most convenient 
should be chosen.— J. H. Evans in Eng- 
lish Mechanic. 
(To he continued.) 
