PREFACE.
LEtter-Cutting is a Handy-Work hitherto kept so conceal’d among the Artificers of it, that I cannot learn any one hath taught it any other; But every one that has used it, Learnt it of his own Genuine Inclination. Therefore, though I cannot (as in other Trades) describe the general Practice of Work-men, yet the Rules I follow I shall shew here, and have as good an Opinion of these Rules, as those have that are shyest of discovering theirs. For, indeed, by the appearance of some Work done, a judicious Eye may doubt whether they go by any Rule at all, though Geometrick Rules, in no Practice whatever, ought to be more nicely or exactly observed than in this.
§. 12. ¶. 1. Of Letter-Cutters Tools.
The making of Steel-Punches is a Branch of the Smith’s Trade: For, as I told you in the Preface to Numb. 1. The Black-Smith’s Trade comprehends all Trades that use either Forge or File, from the Anchor-Smith, to the Watch-maker: They all working by the same Rules, though not with equal exactness; and all using the same Tools, though of different Sizes from those the Common Black-Smith uses; and that according to the various purposes they are applied, &c. Therefore, indeed, a Letter-Cutter should have a Forge set up, as by Numb. 1. But some Letter-Cutters may seem to scorn to use a Forge, as accounting it too hard Labour, and Ungenteel for themselves to officiate at. Yet they all well know, that though they may have a common Black-Smith perform their much and heavy Work, that many times a Forge of their own at Hand would be very commodious for them in several accidental little and light Jobs, which (in a Train of Work) they must meet withal.
But if our Letter-Cutter will have no Forge, yet he must of necessity accommodate himself with a Vice, Hand-Vice, Hammers, Files, Small and Fine Files (commonly called Watch-makers Files) of these he saves all, as they wear out, to smooth and burnish the Sides and Face of his Letter with, as shall be shewed; Gravers, and Sculpters of all sorts, an Anvil, or a Stake, an Oyl-stone, &c. And of these, such as are suitable and sizable to the several Letters he is to Cut. These, or many of these Tools, being described in Numb. 1. I refer my Reader thither, and proceed to give an account of some Tools peculiar to the Letter-Cutter, though not of particular use to the Common Black-Smith.
Plate 10.