RUSTIC WORK for BOYS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22344, 15 February 1936, Page 5 (Supplement)

RUSTIC WORK for BOYS

A Rustic Table and Bridge Will Complete Your Garden

A TABLE will bo required to complete the furnishings of your summer house, and it will need to be round. This is quite a simple and inexpensive thing to make, the round top proving the only difficulty to anyone not accustomed to accurate sawing.

the table. The sketch ((Fig. 9) shows very clearly how one of these sections is made, the wood used being from an old crate. In the sketch of the table, the manner in which the three sections are brought together is also clearly shown. It will be observed that the section (Fig. 9) is filled in with odd pieces of rustic wood; this, is only a suggestion to match the summer house; it is really unnecessary, and many will prefer the table quite plain. Especially will this be the case if the table is turned upside down, and the bottom of the cross-pieces nailed over with boards, to form a receptacle for, say, the cake dish or spare plates when the summer house is used for tea. Well, the table completes the summer house, and it will readily occur to you that oblong table may be made for the summer house first described on much the same lines. In this case two sections' only of the legs are made, exactly as shown for the round table, and"these are joined, and strengthened by four parallels, one at the top and another near the foot on either side

each 4ft. long, Sin. wide by ljin. deep, are required. Creosote well—let us hope you are not sick of the word—then cut ends and screw together with a small plate on either side, as shown in Fig. 10. The metal plates can be home-made, but if there is any difficulty in getting them,_ nail strong pieces of timber on the inside of each of the two bridge sections; they will

not be seen when the bridge is completed. Then secure an old crate, and cut the wood into 2jft. lengths; these are nailed across, with a 3in. space left between each strut, to form the floor of the bridge. Next secure a few poles of rustic wood, cut half a dozen stout uprights, each a yard long, and nail them on the framework, as shown

In the case of the one shown under Fig. 8, the top was bought for a Bhilling ready made; it is, in fact, what is popularly known in the kitchen as the copper lid. It was lying about in a builder's' yard, getting the worse for the tfeather, and the good man was

of the table. The oblong-top may consist of the ready-made lid of a large packing case, or it may be made up in that form from oddments. The final creosoting -will cover up any blemishes. How to Make a Rustic Bridge Tbpugh desirable, it is not absolutely necessary to have a garden pond in order to have a bridge. A rock garden may be made, and a deep cutting dug to get the necessary soil for the banks of the rock garden. Over this cutting can be built a bridge in an artistic manner. Four pieces of timber,

in Fig. 11. Then measure up, cut hand rails, and fill up panels, as shown in the sketch of the completed bridge. Then split up short lengths of rustio wood —say 15in. to 18in. each—and nail the flat sides so that the sido framing of bridge is coyered. Alternatively as shown in sketch, Fig. 11 cork bark may be used to cover up the woodwork. The bridge is now finished., It is a good plan to induce the heaviest visitor to cross first. Then, if all is well, open for traffic. It is also advisable to give the bridge a look over occasionally, because, even

only too glad to get rid of it for the coin named.. If you cannot obtain the top ready made, the sketch (Fig. 8) chows very clearly the three sections which will have to be cut from, wood one inch thick. It should be planed, and the whole of the table creosoted. The legs are in three sections, screwed or nailed together to form the base of

when creosoted, some timber rots rather quickly, especially the softer deals, of which the floor pieces will usually be made. Again, the timber may warp and so work loose. The writer has known at least one case where a young ladv went through tho floor of the bridge into the pond below! No material damage was done to the lady, bridge or pond, but it was not a pleasant experience, and might have been avoided by a little care on the part of the fellow who was the proud possessor of the structure. Surplus Rustic Wood There will be a certain amount of material left over, as it is impossible to gauge one's needs with any accuracy in rustic work. It is far better at the outset to buy rather more than less, since it is both expensive and exasperating to have to visit the itimber-yard in the middle of a job. Larch and similar wood is good stock, and comes in for all sorts of purposes, if carefully stored. It is often the case that in many gardens there are several spots which would be better if screened. Here, then, comes a definite use at once for the left-over wood.

Doors and outhouses may be screened effectually, and the general appearance of yard and garden is often greatly improved by the judicious uso of rustic screens. There is no need to give designs for these screens here; everything depends on the subject which it is proposed to hide, and the fancy of the artist in rustic work may have full play. Just a word or two might be given on the general planning of the screen. If the object to be screened is very ugly, the poles should be placed from 2ft. to 3ft. apart and a thick trellising adopted—something like that shown in Fig. 9 for the side of the table. Over this should be grown ivy, preferably of the variegated-leaf kind, evergreen ramblers, or, indeed, anything which is quick growing and possesses perpetual foliage. I have known privet set at the rear of the screen; this is very quick growing, and can be trimmed to taste. But, on the whole, it is better to train a creeper of some kind over the screen. If desirable the screen may have a trellis top, running from the poles to the outhouse, and the creeper can be trained among that section too. Varnishing Rustic Work Some workers in the rustic prefer to have all their poles and cross-pieces varnished. Tastes differ, and all should follow their own choice, but the varaishing of rustic work is a lengthy arid rather tedious business. To begin with all bark must be stripped and the wood underneath cleaned down, then several coats of varnish must be given, and these coats must be periodically renewed or the work looks shabby. With some wood, as the sap dries the bark peels off, and then the rustic arches, etc., look rather untidy—this is, perhaps, the reason why some workers prefer to varnish at the outset. But if larch is insisted upon the bark will remain on tho poles as long as they will stand, and the woodwork in its original is preferable to varnish. (Concluded)