THE BOY'S GARDEN REEL
A piece of wood (ash is suitable for this work), 11⅜ x 4½ x ½ in. is needed. Draw pencil lines lengthwise and widthwise through the centre of this piece. From the centre measure out one inch in both directions, placing dots. These give the central points for centre cut.
Measure from the four corners of the piece 3 inches along the length. Connect by line the opposite dots. This gives the line marked 4½ in. in the diagram. It shows the beginning of the cut to the centre line. One inch above these lines draw other lines straight across the wood. Find centre of these. Place a dot one-half inch on both sides of each from centre. This gives the one-inch end cuts. Cut this up to one-half inch of each corner. This makes a large substantial garden reel.
Made of hard wood this reel will last forever.
A PLANT STOOL OR TABOURET
The materials needed are four pieces 18 x 3 x ⅞ in. planed, for legs; one piece 14 x 14 x ⅞ in., planed, top; two pieces 8½ x 1¾ x ⅞ in., planed, lower braces; one piece 8½ x 8½ x ⅞ in., planed, upper brace. Use chestnut, white wood, white oak, mahogany, cherry or birch. You will need also 2-in. blued screws, round head, for fastenings.
This looks like a pretentious piece of woodwork for a lad to make. George did not think so. The construction is simple. Note the good lines.
To construct the stool make with the two 8½ x 1¾ x ⅞ in. pieces the lower braces, a lap joint. Find the mid-line of each piece by measuring 4¼ in. from the ends. From this line lay off two other lines parallel to it and at a distance of ⅞ in. to the right and left. This makes a 1¾ in. square in the centre of each piece. Now transfer these lines down the edges of the lower brace pieces. Saw on the inside of the lines down one-half the thickness or saw and chisel down to one-half. It is necessary to saw on the inside of the lines or a loose joint will result. The joint must be exactly in the middle and all arms must be equal in length when completed. Brads or finishing nails should be used to hold the joint in place. This lower brace is 7 in. up from the floor or bottom of the stool. In the picture the screws, which hold the brace, show plainly.