Agriculture Reference
In-Depth Information
so cutting or rubbing it down to these marks. But for moulding birds' mouths,
splay, bulls' noses, and, in fact, almost any kind of work, it will be found much
better if a box is made that will hold three or four bricks, either flat or on edge,
as they may be required, taking care that the ends are both alike, and the exact
shape of the brick required. If this method be properly worked it will be found
very accurate, and done with a great deal less labour. The boxes for this purpose
are usually covered with tin or sheet-iron to protect the wood from wearing away
while working the bricks; if not, the moulds are very apt to get out of their proper
shape and so lead the workman wrong.…
In this passage Hammond describes the use of boxes termed 'cutting' or 'mould-
ing' boxes, shaped to profile so that the 'squared' rubbers can be placed in and
worked to shape; as opposed to using a single templet. There can be little doubt
that shaped moulding boxes had been in use for a very long time in the better
cutting-sheds pre-dating the introduction of the bow saw. Through careful study
of Waudby's depiction of gauged work a large selection of profiled cutting, or
moulding, boxes can be seen on and under the banker, and upon the window
cill of the cutting-shed.
Given the tools that Waudby's cutter is employing, however, the boxes
would be used only to scribe the desired profiles on the squared bricks. Then,
after their removal and 'axing' or 'scotching' to size and shape, they would be
replaced to their original positions within the moulding box for precise finishing
by abrading. Working between the opposing profiled sides, using various large
files, rasps, and other abrasives, would control this, hence why Hammond states
the edges of the box are covered with tin, or sheet-iron, to stop wear while work-
ing the bricks, thus preventing distortion of the finished bricks.
Practice proves that it is not possible, nor indeed practicable, to use a brick
axe or scotch to cut rubbers to shape whilst positioned within a cutting, or
moulding, box, as the arrangement does not facilitate this. The two profiled
ends are unable to control the cutting tools, essential with the cutting-box
method, and the debris created quickly clogs the box. With these cutting-tools
the boxes can only be used for both scribing the rubbers and assisting final
finishing, as described above. This advanced greater accuracy of both scribing
the prepared, or 'squared' rubbing brick to the desired shape, over the ear-
lier method of working to a free templet placed alongside the brick, both
resting on the bedding slate; as well as accurate finishing between the pro-
filed sides of the moulding box. This was and remains similar to a technique
used by craftsmen cutting and rubbing gauged work in Flanders, as discussed
earlier.
In order to use the cutting or moulding box correctly, therefore, demands
a tool that can be used across the full width of the box along the opposing
profiles, reducing the rubbers to almost perfect size and shape in one pass.
