THE YOUNG 
is elevated by a small step above the first, 
and also gradually rises towards the 
centre. And the inner circle, ornamented 
Fig. 1.— A BOX LID, ORNAMENTED WITH PUNCHES. 
with a double row of minute rings and a 
rosette, is again elevated by a little step 
above the others. 
Seven punches, which are shown in 
Figs. 2 — 8, are used in making this pattern. 
For convenience only about one-half of 
the length of the punches is here shown. 
These are made from ordinary eight- 
penny cut nails, with the exception of 
Fig. 8, which is made from a piece of stout 
wire. Either the head or the point of the 
2 9 4 5 6 7 8 
Figs. 2— 8.— THE PUNCHES. 
nail is used, according to the extent of 
punching surface required. Steel would 
be a better material for such tools. But 
common iron is much easier to work, and, 
even when used on hard wood, will stand 
a great deal of wear before being dulled 
or defaced. 
Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the work- 
ing end of the punch for making the 
SCIENTIST. 131 
bunch of grapes. It may be made in this 
manner : File off the top surface of the 
nail head smooth and true. With a small 
drill bore a number of shallow holes, close 
together, and arranged according to fancy, 
to form the grapes. Then, with a graver, 
or diamond-point tool, shown at Fig. 10, 
cut a moderately deep groove for the 
stem. And finally file away the iron, 
quite close up to ths holes and groove, 
almost to a cutting edge. All the filing of 
this set of punches can be done with a 
three-cornered and a half-round file. The 
graver, of which the cutting end is shown 
at Fig. 10, is merely a small bar of square 
steel, hardened and ground with one face 
sloping towards one of the angles of the 
bar, so as to leave a lozenge or diamond- 
shaped surface, with a sharp cutting 
13oint and two cutting edges ; and fitted 
with a suitable handle. On holding the 
punch to be cut in a vise, face up, and 
Fig. 9.— BEST, FOE HOLDING BOX LID. 
Fig. 10.— A GRAVEE, OE DIAMOND POINT TOOL. 
pushing the point of the graver, steadied 
by holding the tool with both hands, one 
will find that a little practice will enable 
him to engrave any ordinary lines desired 
on iron. 
Figs. 3 and 5 are the punches for the 
two sizes of leaves of the grape vine. In 
making them, get a smooth surface on 
the top of the nail head ; cut the veins 
and stem with the graver, and file away 
the outer portions of the iron to the de- 
sired shape. 
Fig. 4 is the punch for making the vine. 
Engrave a semicircular groove rather 
deeply on the smooth surface of the iron, 
