PREFACE.

...[established by a more skillful] hand than mine; yet since it is not, I have ventured upon it.

For having for many years been experienced in manual crafts original: "Handy-Works.", and especially in those trades where the primary knowledge of all manual crafts lies—namely smithing, founding original: "Founding." The process of melting and casting metal into molds., drawing original: "Drawing." In this context, likely referring to drafting technical designs or the process of pulling metal into wire., joinery original: "Joynery." The skilled craft of connecting pieces of wood to create furniture or house fittings., turning The art of shaping wood or metal while it rotates on a lathe., engraving, printing books and pictures, globe and map-making, mathematical instruments, etc.—I am willing to share with the public the knowledge I have gained. But because the whole project will be a work requiring much time and great expense original: "Charge.", I intend to test the market by the sale of a few monthly exercises to see what encouragement I may have to complete the entire work, if I live long enough, and I will continue or stop accordingly.

I originally thought of giving these exercises the title The Doctrine of Handicrafts; but when I better considered the true meaning of the word "handicrafts," I found that "doctrine" would not suit it. This is because "handicraft" signifies skill, dexterity, or the craft of the hand, which cannot be taught by words alone, but is only gained through practice and exercise. Therefore, I shall not claim that by the bare reading of these exercises anyone shall be able to perform these manual crafts; but I may safely tell you that these are the rules that everyone who intends to perform them must follow. By observing them truly, a person may—depending on their own ingenuity original: "Ingeniety." A person's natural capacity for invention or cleverness. and diligent zeal—sooner or later train original: "inure." their hand in the skill or craft of working like a craftsman, and consequently be able to perform them in time.

For the reason stated above, I intend to begin with smithing, which includes not only the blacksmith’s trade but encompasses all trades that use either a forge or a file, from the anchor-smith A smith who specializes in forging heavy ship anchors. to the watchmaker. They all work by the same rules, though not with equal precision original: "exactness.", and all use the same tools, though of various sizes compared to those the common blacksmith uses, according to the different purposes they are applied to. In order to do this, I shall first show you how to set up a forge and what tools you must use