Essentials of Woodworking

Essentials of Woodworking is a textbook for schools by Ira Samuel Griffith, with illustrations by Edwin Victor Lawrence. The preface says the author is convinced that the most effective teaching of woodworking can be accomplished only when its content is made a subject of as diligent study as is that of the other and older branches. The text says that on the back of a piece of sandpaper will be found a number indicating the relative coarseness of the sand, with 00 being finest and 2 relatively coarse.

The text says the plain faced hammer has a flat face and is somewhat easier to learn to use than the bell-faced hammer, which has a slightly rounded face. The text says nails originally were forged by hand and were therefore very expensive. The text says there are three kinds of stains, water, oil and spirit, and that each kind has its advantages and its disadvantages. The text says to rub the chisel back and forth, keeping it at the same angle all the time, and that a rocking motion and frequent change of angle will result in a rounded end instead of a straight bevel.