1. In the beginning of this Chapter we shall give you all sorts of Instruments and Tools used in Armory pertaining to the several Trades of Joyners, Carpenters, Mill-wrights, Wheelrights, Turners and Coopers &c. or whatsoever other Trade, whose use consisteth, and is exercised in working or framing of Timber, or any sort of Wood.
Woodworking tools Book III, Chapter 9, Section 1a
Hand bit
I. He beareth a Saw (or Hand Saw) the
point dejected, between a Gimblet or Hand Bit,
and a Paring Chissel;
of each of which in particular.
The Hand-Bit, of some called a Gimblet, a Piercer, or Nail Piercer, it hath a Worm at the end of the Bit, or half round with sharp edges like the Auger, some for small holes are square in the Bit; of these there are several Sizes.
Saw
The Saw, called also a Hand-Saw, or a Boardsaw; is used by Joyners and other Wood-men, to cut
or slit small Timber, as Boards, Spars, Rails, &c.
though indeed the Saw cannot properly be said to cut
or slit but rent, break, or tear away such part of the
Wood as the points of the Teeth strike into.
Paring chisel
The Paring Chissel, is a Chissel with a broad flat,
which is not used to be Knockt with a Mallet, but is
taken in the hand by the Shank near the top of the
Flat, and to top of the Haft or Helve is placed against
the right Shoulder, which being pressed hard upon the
Haft causeth the edge to cut and pare away, and smooth
the Irregularites of other working Chissels: These are
much born in Arms, and have several terms for their
several parts, of which see chap.8. numb.154. to which
add these two.
The Flat, is all the broad part of the Chissel, which is ground away by often Whetting.
The Head, the top of the Handle.
Tenon saw
II. Here are again are three other sorts of Saws, which
are used by Wood-men.
The first is a Tennant Saw, this is a thin Saw, and therefore hath a Back of Iron to keep it from bending; it is for one hand use, and cuts forward, as all other Saws do. Some term this sort of Saw a Faneering or Inlaying Saw, being so small and thin that the Plate of the Saw is only a flatted Wyer cut with Teeth, which is termed also a Bow Saw.
Lock saw
The second is a Lock Saw, whose use is to make
Key holes in Doors, and to Saw any hole in the middle
of a Board where other Saws cannot get in: Some are
made thus with a bended or square shouldering; others
are streight to the handle.
This kind of Saw is by some Artificers termed a Compass Saw, because it is used to cut a round or any
other Compass Kerf, and therefore the edge where the
Teeth are is made broad, and the back thin, that the
Back may have a wide Kerf or Nick to turn in.
Pit saw
The third is a Pit Saw, or Sawyers Saw,
with which great Timber is slit or Sawed into Boards,
Rails, Spars, Joyce, or any other sort of Building
Timber. This Saw is managed by two Men who stand
one upon the timber (called the Top-Man,) and the
other under the Timber in a Pit, or laid upon Tressels,
above Mans height (called the Pit-Man,) where with
this large Saw they rent the Tree into what manner of
Stuff the Work-man pleaseth; having an Instrument
fixed at the end of the Saw, to take off, and put on at
pleasure, called a Box, by help whereof he doth with
ease pull the same down, and lift it up in Sawing.
The Frame Saw see chap.8 numb.133.
Frame saw
III. He beareth a Frame Saw, or a Framing Saw. The use of
this Saw is to cut Miter and Bevile squares for Frames
and Cornishes on the top of Wainscot. The use of the
Cheeks to the sides of this Saw, is to keep and strain the
Blade streight, which of it self is thin and slender, and
cannot do its work without such an help. It is also
termed a Bow Saw, and a Tenant Saw.
Joiners mallet
IV. He beareth a Joyners Mallet.
There is much difference between the Masons, and the Joyners or Carpenters Mallets, the first being round and heavy; the others square both in the face and sides; though in this place my graver hath not performed his part; yet elsewhere you may see the true shape of them chap.8. numb. 141.
Hatchet
V. He beareth an Hatchet.
The use of the Hatchet is to hew the Irregularities of
such pieces of Stuff, which may be sooner Hewn then
either cut with Chissels or Sawn; for that end it is used
as an Instrument of Execution for the Beheading of great
Offenders, and Rebellious and Irregular Livers: The
right side of it (in its use of cutting) is ground down
to a Bevil, or edge, which is afterwards set or made
more sharper, with a Whet-stone, as other Working
Tools.
Hatchet head
VI. He beareth an Hatchet Head.
Some term it an Hatchet sans Hawme, or Halve.
Carpenters axe
VII. He beareth an Axe, (or Carpenters
Axe); between a
Ginnet and an Auger of the same. These are three
Tools used principally by the Carpenters of which in
their order.
First, the Axe used by the Carpenter, is the same in form to the Hatchet, only larger in the head, and longer in the Hawme, because it is to be used with both hands, and is for Hewing and Squaring of great Timber, to make it fit for use.
Ginnet
The Ginnet, is used to cut and take off Irregularities in all sorts of work lying under hand or flat, which
the Axe or Hatchet cannot be handled to touch: Some
term it an Addice or Adz.
Of these Ginnets or Addices, there is another sort also used by Carpenters, which hath its Blade made thin and somewhat arching (as this doth) but the other end is faced or headed like to a great Hammer. These Instruments as they have their edge athwart the Handle, so their Grinding to a Basil is on the in-side to the outedge, which is the cause, when it is Blunt, it cannot be ground, unless the Helve be taken out of the Eye of the Addice.
Auger
The Auger, or Augre, or Oger, as some call it,
hath in it, the Handle, which is of Wood, and the
Shank, and the Bit which Boreth; its office is to make
great and round holes suitable to the rotundity of the
Bit; and when it is used, the Stuff worked upon, is
commonly laid below under you, or set equal to your
Breast; that ones strength may be the easier used for
the twisting the Bit about by the force of both hands.
There are several sorts of them from a quarter of an Inch Bore, to 4, 5, or 6 inches in the Diameter, but big or little, their form and make is all one and the same.
Compasses
VIII. He beareth a Pair of Compasses.
The Joynt is the place where the Compasses move and turn.
The Cheeks of the Joynt is where they go in one to the other.
The Shanks,
The Points.
Dividers
IX. He beareth a Pair of Sliding or Circle
Dividers. These are Compasses which open upon
a Brass semi-circle, and by a small Screw is made fast at
any station.
Screw dividers
X. He beareth a Pair of Screw Dividers.
These are Compasses opened and shut with a screw, so that there is noe
danger of their moveing from their station. By all these
foresaid Compasses, are described Circles Ovals &c. and
also Distances are measured and set off from the Rule,
or from any other divided Rod or Staffe, to the thing to
be wrought upon.
Callipers
XI. He beareth a Pair of Callippers.
As common Compasses are for measuring Distances upon a plain
Superficies; so the Callippers measure the distance or Thickness of any Cilindrick
or Orbicall body, either in their extremity, or any part
lesse then the extremity. So that the just Diameter is
known by the distance of the points of the Compasse, be
the same either Feet or Inches.
Bevel square
XII. He beareth a Ioyners Bevil Square.
Callipers
Image from published plateIn the base of this square is a Pair of Callippers with their Points Crossing one another.
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