Carpenters Tools.
11. The Rules and Tools which Joyners and Carpenters work by, are so near the same, that I need not here again to describe them; only there is this difference, the Carpenters Tools are made somewhat stronger for their use than they need to be for the Joyners: Yet there are many Tools requisite and proper for a Carpenter (especially a Master Carpenter) that a Joyner need to take little notice of. Therefore I shall here describe such Tools belonging to that Trade, which are not expressed among the Joyners.
Carpenter's level
CXLIV. In this quarter are three Instruments used
by the Carpenter, two whereof are never mentioned
to be any ways belonging to Joyners: The first is the
Level, of these there are used several bigness, even
from two to ten foot long, that it may reach over a
considerable length of the Work; its use is to try whether a Floor be exactly streight and even, and that one
part be not higher than another; for if the Plumb-line
hang just upon the Perpendicular line, being set flat upon the Work, then the Work is level, else not.
In the Level there are these parts. The Level. The Plummet. The Plumb Line, and the perpendicular Line, which is marked from the top to the bottom of the Board; all which things are so common, that there needs no further explaining of their parts.
Crow
The second that lies in the Base, is called a Crow,
or an Iron Crow. Some are made of this form,
others directly round in the shank, only with a pike
end, or a flat end: This is used by them as a Lever,
to lift up the ends of great Trees and heavy Timber,
when either a Bauk or a Rowler is to be laid under
it. The parts, as Workmen term them in this form
of Crow, are the Claws, the shank, and the
Spike end.
Joiner's saddle
The third in the Sinister chief is used by both Joyners and Carpenters, and is termed a Joyners Saddle
It is and end of a Spar or Joyce cut into the side with an
Indent or Beviled on each side, so that any square piece
will lye steady in it with one of its edges up.
Hammer
CXLV. The first is the Hammer, whose chief use
is for the driving Nails into work, and drawing Nails
out of work. Of the several parts of the Hammer, see
chap.7. numb.128.
Carpenter's chisel
The second is a Carpenters Chissel, or a socket
Chissel, as most Chissels used by Carpenters are, because of strength; that is to have a Wooden Head put
into it, which some call the part as goes into the socket
the Sprig; of these Socket Chissles they use several
sorts, yet not severally distinguished by names more
than to call them an half inch, three quarter inch Chissels; inch, and inch and half, two inch, to three inch
Chissels.
Jack
The third is termed a Jack; it is an Engine used
for the removing, and commodious placing of great
Timber: by the help of this, the side of a Timber
House shrunk from its Mortesses are raised up again to
their places. It is a Wooden Case with a large Mortess
in it, wherein is placed a Rack, which mounteth up
any thing placed upon it, by the help of a Nut
Wheel on a Spindle, and turned about with a
Windlasse.
Levers
CXLVI. He beareth in this quarter several sorts of
Engines used by Carpenters. The first are two Levers
in the chief; these are square or round Poles, some
call them Wayes, by which the Rowler or the
Crab Engine is turned about, to draw up heavy
Timber to a considerable height.
Ripping chisel
The second Tool, which is set on the dexter side is
termed a Ripping Chissel; it is a Socket Chissel,
about an inch broad with a blunt Edge, not having a
Basil, as almost all other Chissels have, and therefore would more properly be termed a Wedge than
a Chissel; but most commonly Carpenters use an old
cast off Chissel for a Ripping Chissel. Its Office is not
to cut Wood, but to rip or tear 2 pieces of Wood fastned together from one another, by entring the blunt
edge of it between the two pieces, and so forcing them
asunder, by Blows with the Mallet.
Drug
The third, which is in the Fess point, and standeth
Bendways, is termed a Drug; it is an Engine set upon
two Wheels, made somewhat like a low narrow Cart
Bottom. It is used for the Carriage of Timber, and
then it is drawn by the handle by two or more Men,
according as the weight of the Timber may require.
Pulley
The fourth in the Sinister chief, is a Pulley hung
by the Hook in the Noose of a Rope out of the
chief. This being single is termed only a Pully, but
if it have more than one turn or little Wheel in it,
for the Rope to run in, it is termed by most a Snatch
Block, or double Snatch Block; but of the several parts and terms belonging to these Drawing Blocks,
see chap.15. numb.45.
Related text(s) Ten foot rule
Pole for a crab
CXLVII. In this quarter on the dexter side, is an
upright Pole of strong Timber set an end, having many Pins put through it, made of sound Wood, or else
of Iron. This is an appurtenance belonging to the
Crab, mentioned numb.148. and is to hang a Pulley
or Snatch Block thereon, by which heavy Timber
is drawn to a considerable height. Such an Engine as
this with Pins all along it, was in former times used
for to scale or clime up an Enemies Wall, and thereby
to surprise a Town or Fort.
Snatch block
The second is a Snatch Block, or a double
Snatch Block. With this Engine, with the appurtenances belonging to it, as Ropes and Tackles,
great Trees of Timber are drawn up to a considerable
height.
Crab engine
CXLVIII. He beareth a Crab Engine.
This is an
Engine used in Carpentry for the management of their
heavy Timber, and to ease an hard Labour: It is only
a square Frame of strong Timber, with a thick Plank 4
or 5 inches thick, fastned on the top of the frame, and
the like on the bottom, through which goeth a strong
Rowler, which is turned in the holes of the Planks,
by the help of Hand-spikes or Levers.
Plumb line
Image from published plateCXLIX. In the Dexter side is an Hand issuant, holding of a Plumb line, with a Line rowle, at the end of it. This is a way that Carpenters use to try the upright standing of Posts, or other works that are to stand perpendicular to the ground plot; by holding the end of the line between the finger and the thumb, a little distance from the corner of the post, or work, and if the line and corner of the post be parallel to each other, the work is upright, else not.
Great screws
Image from published plateThe Second figure is a paire of Great Screws, of some called House Screws, for by the help of them, an house whose sides stand crooked, or have the Wall Plates sunk, are raised up and set streight by screwing up every peece into the place from whence it is fallen. Se numb.142. are the like for form, but in these the screw goeth through but one Plank, the other plank the Screw ends, only turn in a round hole made Concave.
Jack engine
Image from published plateIn the Sinister side, is an other maner of Engine, and I suppose made for the same use as that mentioned in numb.145. though it be of an other fashion on the top. Such a Jack Engine, with a Bended Head, I find to be an ancient Badg belonging to the Earle of Oxford.
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