Series editors' preface - Wood Tools

418 Conservation of Furniture
Figure 9.7 A work bench fitted with a pattern maker’s
vice and end vice
those who love tools, conservation provides a
fair excuse to collect just about everything
going and then to make some more along the
way. There are many fine publications on this
subject, a selection of which are cited below as
an alternative to a lengthy discourse here.
One item of equipment that deserves special
mention is the bench. A firm and solid work
bench allows work to be firmly held during
various work processes of cutting, shaping,
sanding and so forth (Figure 9.7). A wide
range of different types and sizes of bench is
available commercially or can be made by the
conservator to suit personal requirements and
preferences (Hoadley, 1980; Landis, 1998). The
authors’ preference include a pattern-maker’s
vice and a bench vice adapted to fulfil the
function of a full-width end vice. Using the end
vice in conjunction with circular bench dogs,
each with one face squared off, it is possible
to safely and securely hold a very wide range
of different sizes and shape of material. The
traditional tool-well has been deliberately omitted.
Experience shows that this is often more
of a hazard than a benefit and because workshop
space is limited the bench has been chosen
to provide a large clear flat surface that can
be used for a wide range of jobs besides timber
preparation.
Many woodworkers prefer to use old woodworking
tools, particularly planes, many of
which will give a superior performance to their
modern counterparts. The quality of furniture
produced by some of these tools stands witness
to their performance in capable hands. A large
number of tool manufacturers, many of whom
were using labour-intensive methods of production,
went out of business between 1914 and
1960 as a consequence of which the range,
diversity and perhaps also quality, decreased.
Many of these older items are now highly prized
by collectors and extremely expensive. An introduction
to this subject is provided by Proudfoot
and Walker (1984). Further treatments are given
by Dunbar (1979), Goodman (1964, 1993),
Roberts (1980, 1982), Sellens (1975a,b) and
Smith (1981). The most comprehensive reference
work, containing some 2600 entries and
2000 illustrations of traditional hand tools, is that
by Salaman (1997). For a more recent collector’s
guide see Rees and Rees (1996). Comprehensive
information on restoring older woodworking
tools for use is given by Dunbar (1989). In addition,
many woodworkers traditionally made at
least some of their own tools, a subject on
which Fine Woodworking magazine has carried
many excellent articles.
9.6.2 Other tools and equipment
Tools for metalworking are described by Love
(1983), McCreight (1991) and Untracht (1969).
Those for upholstery are described by Gill and
Eastop (2001), James (1994, 1999) and
Thomerson (1996).
Equipment required for environmental monitoring
and control includes apparatus for making
spot checks on temperature, humidity, light
and UV radiation and for providing permanent
record of variation in these parameters with
time. Equipment that may be required to maintain
workshop conditions within an appropriate
range include heaters, chillers, humidifiers
and dehumidifiers. Refrigerators and ovens
may be required to provide locally reduced or
elevated temperatures. Cool storage is advantageous
for epoxy resins, hydrogen peroxide,
silicone rubber and film and low temperature
storage can be used (–18 °C) for gilders composition.
Refrigerators used for storage of flammable
materials must be spark-proof.
Refrigerated storage for foodstuffs should be
completely separate from chemicals storage.
An adequate number and range of extinguishers,
sand buckets and fire blankets, as recommended
by the local fire prevention service,
should be installed and regularly maintained.
Smoke detectors should be fitted and wired
together so that if one goes off, they all do.