15. There are some of their Tools which since my former Engraven ones I have procured, which you may please to add to the former mentioned at numb. 50. &c.
Plumber's pincers
CXLIII. He beareth a Plummers Pincers
or Sheming Pincers.
By these Pincers two edges or Skirts of Lead
are turned one over the other, without cutting or bruising the Lead; this kind of Rolling of Lead one within
another, is termed a Shem.
Shave hook
CXLIV. In this quarter are three Plummers Instruments, the Shave Hook, the Dresser, and the
Strickle; of which all in their places.
First for the Shave Hook, it is that that scrapeth and
cuts off the Surface of the Lead, either old or new cast, to
make it clean and bright, that it may thereby hold the
Sodder that is melted upon it; by means whereof two
edges of Lead are sodered together and made one; and
this is called the Soddering of a Joynt: Yet there
is another way of joining the two edges together in one,
and yet not sodder them but melt the edges by running
hot Lead along it; which is termed the Burning of a
Joynt. this is set down before numb. 50. but not so
exactly as this.
Dresser
The second is a Dresser, by which instrument a
Sheet of Lead is either beaten streight or crooked, or into any form of work without bruising it; it being only
a Bat of Wood made with a handle, flat at the bottom, and rounded off at the top-side.
Strickle
The third is the Strickle; it is a slender Sparr, rabated in the ends answerable to the breadth of the
Casting Frame, whereon the Plummer runs his Lead
when it is new Cast; by this means he beats down the Sand in
the Frame, and keeps it of an even height; and when
the Lead is cast over to run in the Frame, the Plummer
followeth the Lead with this Instrument, to drive it forwards, and keep it that the Sheet be all of a thickness:
Each breadth of a Sheet must have a Strickle answerable to it.
Ladle
CXLV. In this two useful Tools or things belonging to the Plummer; as the Ladle and the Plaine.
The Ladle is made of Iron thick and strong, with a long
Iron Stale, and an Handle of Wood fastned upon
it; with this the Melted Lead is taken out of the Furnnace, and put into the Pan for Casting.
Plain
The Plaine, is a flat peece of Brass or Copper with
an handle of the same; with this Instrument the Sand in
the Frame is smoothed, that the Lead running on it,
may have no Pimples, or roughness on the sheet.
Shimming mallet
CXLVI. In this quarter is three Instruments of the
Plummers, viz. a Sheming Mallet, a Graver, and
a Level.
The Sheming Mallet is made of light Wood, not very hard, having a square face on one end, and worked off taper to the other end; with this Sheets of Lead are beaten or Battered, without any danger of Bruising the same.
Graver
The second in the dexter Base, is termed a Graver,
with it they usually Engrave Letters or Devises upon
the Lead to Adorn their Work; it is also used for many uses about the Plummers Profession, but it is not for
me to Teach their Art, but to inform you of their
Terms.
Level
The third is the Level; with it the Frame of the
Casting Board is set streight and level; by the help
of this Instrument also, being made a Water Level,
that is, having a Rigget running streight through the
bottom part of it (as in this Figure cut in the Plate you
may see) by it, the level of a place at a distance from
you may be known, whether higher or lower than the
place where you stand; and that is by turning the bottom of the Level up, and setting a Triangle upon it,
and looking to the place designed through the Rigget
of the Level; and the Triangle will presently manifest
whether the place be higher or lower than your Eye.
Pitchforks
Image from published plateIn the Sinister Chief of this long square is 2 Pitch-Forks. Some call these 2 Forked Staves with crooked Stailes or Handles.
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