lley or wheel. Suppose it is two feet in
diameter; then, as your small pulley is 2 inches in diameter, each
revolution of the large wheel makes twelve revolutions in the mandrel,
and you can readily turn the wheel eighty times a minute. In that case
your mandrel will revolve 960 revolutions per minute, which is ample
speed for your purposes.

The wheel should be mounted on a piece of 3/4-inch steel tubing, one end
having a crank 3 inches long. This crank is connected up by a pitman
rod, with the triangularly shaped treadle frame.

Such a lathe is easily made, as it requires but little metal or machine
work, and it is here described because it will be a pleasure for a boy
to make such a useful tool. What he needs is the proper plan and the
right dimensions to carry out the work, and his own ingenuity will make
the modifications suitable to his purpose.

The illustration (Fig. 245) shows such a lathe assembled ready for work.

THE TOOLS REQUIRED.--A few simple tools will complete an outfit capable
of doing a great variety of work. The illustration (Fig. 246) shows five
chisels, of which all other chisels are modifications.

A and B are both oblique firmer chisels, A being ground with a bevel on
one side only, and B with a bevel on each side.

C is a broad gage, with a hollow blade, and a curved cutting edge,
ground with a taper on the rounded side only.

D is a narrow gage similarly ground, and E is a V-shaped gage.

[Illustration: _Fig. 245._]

[Illustration: _Fig. 246._]

It may be observed that in wood-turning sharp tools are absolutely
necessary, hence a good oil stone, or several small, round and V-shaped
stones should be used.

CHAPTER XV

ON THE USE OF STAINS

As this subject properly belongs to the painter and decorator, it is not
necessary to go into details concerning the methods used to finish off
your work. As you may not be able to afford the luxury of having your
productions painted or stained, enough information will be given to
enable you, if the character of the wood justifies it, to do the work
yourself to a limited extent.

SOFT WOOD.--As, presumably, most of your first work will be done with
pine, poplar, or other light-colored material, and, as many people
prefer the furniture to be dark in color, you should be prepared to
accommodate them.

USE OF STAINS.--Our subject has nothing to do with the technique of
staining, but has reference, solely, to the use of stains. I recomm