The carpenters new guide

To a book intended merely for the use of Practical Mechanics, much Preface is not necessary. It is proper, however, to any, that whatever rules by previous authors have on examination proved to be true and well explained, these have been selected and adopted, with such alterations as a very close attention has warranted for the more easily comprehending them, for their greater accuracy or facility of application; added to these, are many examples which are entirely of my own invention and such as will, I am persuaded, conduce very much to the accuracy of the work, and to the ease of the workman.

The arrangement of the subjects in this work is gradual and regular, and such as a student should pursue who wishes to attain a thorough knowledge of his profession: and as it if Geometry that lays down all the first principles of building, measures of lines, angles,  Solids, and gives rules for describing the various kinds of figures used in buildings; therefore, as a necessary introduction to the art treated of, I have first laid down, and explained in the terms of workmen, such problems of Geometry as are absolutely requisite to the well understanding and putting in practice the necessary lines for Carpentry. These problems duly considered, and their results well understood, the learner may proceed to the theoretical part of the subject, in which Soffits claim particular attention; for, by a thorough knowledge of these, the student will be enabled to lay down arches which shall stand exactly perpendicular over their plan, whatever form the plan may be: on this depends the well executing all groins, arches, niches, &c., constructed in circular walls, or which stand upon irregular bases; wherefore the importance of rightly understanding these I cannot too much insist upon, their construction being so various and intricate, and their uses so frequently required. The two plates of cuneoidal or winding soffits are new, and are constructed in a more simple and more accurate manner: yet this method is only a nearer approximation to truth than the former one; the surface of a conchoid cannot be developed; that is, it cannot be ex- tended on a plane: it I therefore absurd to look for perfection on this subject.

Few words are necessary to explain the present revision. When the work originally appeared, it excited great interest among artizans, and at once took the foremost rank among works of the kind. By its intrinsic merit, it has ever since maintained this position, although, latterly, many professedly new and original works have been issued, with the avowed object of taking its place. They have failed to obtain foothold; and the limited sale which some few have been so fortunate as to secure, must he attributed to the extensive and valuable contributions levied on this work of Mr. Nicholson's. Indeed, it has been for many years the great source of supply to pseudo authors, who, having mutilated what they took to avoid recognition, represented their alterations as new and superior designs. Some have, to a limited extent, succeeded; but not among those who were acquainted with this, the original and standard work.

Recently, however, such great advances have been made in the arts of Carpentry and Joinery, that many things in the work are now almost obsolete. Notwithstanding this, the sales of the work were undiminished, showing the esteem in which it was held; but the publishers, unwilling that so valuable a treatise should be in any respect defective, determined upon a revision. The present editors have undertaken it - with what success, the public must judge.

All the plates have been re-engraved, and the matter they contained has been condensed, so that many valuable additions might be introduced, without increasing the bulk of the work. A few plates, those on Practical Carpentry in particular, have been thrown out, because they indicated methods entirely at variance with those in present use. A much huger number has been substituted, comprising every principle of construction which the carpenter will need.

Some years ago, a few plates on Stair-Casing were withdrawn, and improved methods substituted by William Johnston, Architect, whose name appears on the title-page of the last edition. All these methods of his have been retained entire, together with his remarks upon them. Some plates, which were then rejected, have been replaced as too valuable to be lost. To these have been added some original plates of Stair-Lines, in which the principles are greatly simplified and may be applied to every kind of hand-railing. Many other additions may be observed by inspecting the work.

The text also has been entirely re-written. A great part of it was so very obscure, as to be almost unintelligible. This has been altered so as to be perspicuous; and in some parts the original explanations have been rejected entirely, and others introduced. It is not claimed that the work is free from errors in this respect, but that it is free from all practical error; and that the additions, substitutions, and alterations, will greatly improve its value, and render it a complete compendium of Carpentry and Joinery.