Finally, one face on each of the six pieces was pronounced finished, and the next step was to "joint" or "dress down" one edge straight, smooth and square with the working face—the first planed surface. This seemed easier after the experience of making the bench hook, and Harry knew how to test for squareness with the try square.
Working on the two long pieces for the body, both edges of each were squared up, a 10-inch piece was marked off on one end of each with pencil and try square, and sawed off with cross cut saw.
It was decided to leave the inner faces rough, as they would be inside the trestle, and out of sight. These four pieces forming the body were now nailed together with 21⁄2-inch wire nails, as shown in a.
The four pieces for the legs were dressed on all four sides, and it only remained to cut the angle at top and bottom.
This brought into use a new tool, the bevel. The angle x was found by laying the bevel on the mechanical drawing, and fixing it at the angle by tightening the set screw provided for the purpose. The line was carried across the face by means of the try square, and the bevel used on the farther edge. When this laying out was finished, the piece looked like c, the triangular piece y being removed by sawing directly on the pencil lines.
After the four legs were laid out in this manner and cut, they were nailed to the body with 3-inch wire nails.
The saw horse was now complete with the exception of the two braces, and the final truing up.
The braces were made by holding a piece of stock 4 inches × 7⁄8 inch in position and marking the slope with a pencil, sawing to pencil lines and nailing in position d.
The final process of truing up was an interesting one to Harry, and he used it many times afterward in finishing pieces of furniture, such as tables, tabourettes, etc.
The horse was placed on the bench, and a pair of dividers set as shown at e.