Category Archives: Rude Mechanicals Press

Draw a Scotia, Ogee, Cima-recta & Cima-reversa

Posted on September 3, 2018 by fitz

A scotia is a concave moulding receding at the top, and pro­jecting at the bottom, which in this respect is contrary both to the ovolo and cavetto; it is also to be observed, that its profile consists of two quadrants … Continue reading →

Posted in Books/Editing/Writing, Rude Mechanicals Press, Uncategorized | 2 Comments

Astragal, Beads, Torus, Ovolo & Cavetto

Posted on August 31, 2018 by fitz

An astragal is a moulding of a semi-circular profile; its construction is so simple that it would be unnecessary to say any thing concerning it. Fig. 1. There are two kinds of beads, one is called a cocked bead, when … Continue reading →

Posted in Books/Editing/Writing, Rude Mechanicals Press | 2 Comments

Iron & Fire

Posted on August 23, 2018 by fitz

Sure, I love “Mechanic’s Companion” for the Carpentry, Woodworking and Turning sections. But Peter Nicholson also covers the early 1800s tools and trades of many of the other skills that go into making a building: Bricklaying, Masonry, Slating, Plastering and … Continue reading →

Posted in Books/Editing/Writing, Rude Mechanicals Press | 3 Comments

Nicholson’s Indices & ‘Explanation of Terms’

Posted on August 14, 2018 by fitz

Among the valuable lessons on offer in “Mechanic’s Companion” are the “Explanation of Terms used in…” at the end of every section – quick definitions of the jargon, with reference to where they’re covered in the text for further reading … Continue reading →

Posted in Books/Editing/Writing, Rude Mechanicals Press | 4 Comments

‘Mechanic’s Companion’ – Where to Buy Update

Posted on July 31, 2018 by fitz

JJ, Viola and I would be happy to pick, pack and ship to you (if you’re in the U.S.) a copy of “Mechanic’s Companion” (a favored few might even get a bonus cat hair or two under the packing tape!) … Continue reading →

Posted in Books/Editing/Writing, Rude Mechanicals Press | 2 Comments

The Curious Case of the Missing Holdfast

Posted on July 19, 2018 by fitz

We know the English knew about the holdfast by the early 1800s; Joseph Moxon shows it in “Mechanic Exercises” in 1683. Yet Peter Nicholson (who trained briefly as a joiner) neither shows nor mentions it in his 1812 book “Mechanical … Continue reading →

Posted in Books/Editing/Writing, Rude Mechanicals Press, Woodworking | 2 Comments

‘What’s With the Weird Cat Logo?’

Posted on June 20, 2018 by fitz

“What’s with the weird cat logo,” asked someone on Sunday – and I have received other iterations of said question in the last seven months. In short, as you might know, I love both cats and woodworking, and while it … Continue reading →

Posted in Books/Editing/Writing, Rude Mechanicals Press | 12 Comments

On a Fox(ing) Hunt

Posted on May 1, 2018 by fitz

Among the more time-consuming (and eye-straining) tasks in preparing Peter Nicholson’s “Mechanic’s Companion” for publication has been digitally removing the “foxing” from the 175-year-old pages. It’s a balance of taking out the staining while simultaneously rendering the text legible in … Continue reading →

Posted in Books/Editing/Writing, Rude Mechanicals Press | Tagged | 14 Comments

‘I, one Snug the Joiner…’

Posted on January 15, 2018 by fitz

I get a fair number of questions about my Instagram and Twitter handle, “@1snugthejoiner,” but fewer about the name of this blog,* Rude Mechanicals Press. I think that’s in large part due to Christopher Schwarz using the Twitter handle “@rudemechanic,” … Continue reading →

Posted in Books/Editing/Writing, Rude Mechanicals Press, Uncategorized | 19 Comments