Wood for Furniture.—Bass, white pine, poplar, or other soft wood. Box tops, if of soft wood, may be made to serve nearly all needs. If possible, provide thin wood (about ¼ in. thick) in various widths, from one inch to six inches, so that only one dimension need be measured. Provide also thick pieces 1½ in. or 2 in. square for beds and chairs; ½ in. square for table legs.
Nails of various sizes, chiefly inch brads, are needed.
Fig. 12.—House arranged on a table. Side view. Built by second grade. Columbia, Missouri.
Tools.—The tools actually necessary are few. A class can get along with one saw and still do good work, though there will be times when several saws will facilitate progress. Some tools are needed only for a short time and sometimes may be borrowed from the homes. It is more satisfactory to have the school provided with the essential tools whenever possible. The essential tools include:
Brace and auger bit, for boring holes in doors and windows. Needed for a short time only.
Compass saw, for sawing out doors and windows.
Crosscut saw, for sawing off lumber. School should own at least one.
Miter box, for holding lumber and guiding saw. An old one, good enough for children's use, will frequently be contributed by a carpenter. The miter box should be fastened firmly to a low table or box.