(e) When a permanent pattern is desired for class use, place the tracing on a piece of cardboard, and transfer the outline by method c or d, indicated above. With a sharp, pointed knife or shears cut the cardboard accurately to line. Place this template on the wood, and with a sharp pencil, held vertically, draw lines around the edge of the template. This method serves well for class work.
[WOODS]
Save the thin-wood boxes found at home. Ask the store-keeper to save boxes instead of burning them. A rich supply of wood for toy-making may be secured in this way. For class work, it will be necessary to buy wood prepared and surfaced to dimensions. The thicknesses most convenient for school work are 3/16", 1/4", 3/8", 1/2", 7/8".
While three-ply wood is best for the thin stock, the single-ply answers the purpose when due care is given to the direction of the wood fibers—the grain. Such woods as maple, elm, birch, cherry and bay wood are very durable, but rather hard to work. Bass wood, poplar and sugar pine are easy to work, are preferable in school, and give satisfactory results.
[LAYING OUT WORK]
It is important to have the patterns placed correctly on the wood so that the desired result may be reached. One of the things sought is the greatest possible strength in the parts sawed out. The grain of the wood should, therefore, run lengthwise of the wood where the parts are narrow. Another thing desired is the economical use of material. The patterns should, therefore, be so arranged on the wood that the outlines will match closely together and thus use up as nearly as possible all surface space on the board. Generally, it is advisable to place the larger patterns first, beginning near a corner of the board, and then fit in the smaller patterns on the intermediate spaces.
Where the drawings are not full size, the dimensions are shown in inches or fractions of an inch. Guided by the figures, the outlines of the object may be laid out directly on the wood by ruler, pencil and compasses. In laying out the different shapes on the wood, attention should be given to the direction of the grain of the wood, to have it run lengthwise the object, not crosswise.