Popular Woodworking 2008-12 № 173, страница 7

Letters

What's the Origin of the Word 'Frog' (as it Refers to Handplanes)?

FROM OUR READERS

ANATOMY OF A HANDPLANE

c

V^>an you tell me the origin of ihe word "frog" as il refers loa handplane? Is it because ii resembles the shape of a frog?

— Tom Ready, Lincoln Nebraska

The origin of the word "frog" as it relates to hand-planes is somewhat murky.

Stanley lore has it that an employee named it the frog because the frog is placed in the plane's throat, i.e. "There's a frog in my throat."

If you think that's unlikely, other origins of the word point to the frog as a support structure or something with a triangular shape like a plane's frog.

A frog can be the support Jor a flower arrangement. Or a frogcan be the triangular area that is a shock absorber behind a horse's hoof A frog is also the area in a railroad where rails cross in what'scalleda "turnout "-which is whereone line of rails veer offJwm another. Another intriguing clue: A frogcan be the linkage between a belt and a sword's scabbard.

1/anyone knows any other "frog lore," please let us know, and we'll publish it on the blog.

— ChristopherSchwarz, editor

Why Select Ash Over Oak or Maple for 21st-century Workbench?

I read Robert Lang's article on his new workbench in the October 2008 issue (#171) and 1 have a couple questions:

1. Why did you select ash instead of oak or maple for the benchtop?

2. Why did you use a lag bolt in t he upper side rails instead of a dowel/pin (as it isglued anyway)?

I like the design, but 1 probably would have left the opposite side (away from the double vise) with at least a 3" overhang for extra clamping capacity.

— Ron Bland. Sr., Appleton, Wisconsin

I chose ash for money reasons. It Jits the criteria for building a bench (strong, hard, dense) and at the moment there is an abundance of this wood on the market here in Ohio. It cost a few cents per board foot less than poplar, and about half of what maple would cost.

There arc a number of woods that can make a good bench, and one of the traditional criteria for selecting a wood is cost.

The upper side rails are not glued so the bench can betaken apart for moving. The lapped dovetail and the lag bolt arc sufficient to hold it together. It could, of course be glued, but then the bench would be much more difficult to relocate.

With the space between the top and the upper-

rail, there isn't any needJor an overhang to clamp somethingdown to the top of the bench. The handle oj an F-style clamp will Jit in this space.

— Robert W. Lang, senior editor

What's Causing Gummy Black Film on Oak and Cedar Chest?

i have a puzzling finishing question and am hoping you will know what the cause is, and by association, the solution.

Two years ago 1 built a hope chest for my daughter. It's solid wood with raised-panel construction, made of Kentucky red oak. The entire inside of the chest is lined with cedar.

CONTINUED ON PACI lf>

14 ■ Popularwoodworking December2008

ILLUSTRATION BY IIAYISSHAVISY