The sandbag (Fig. 7) is made of two circular pieces of leather sewn
together and filled with fine sand. The sand is poured in just before
completing the last stitches. Any other durable substance can be used
instead of leather. On this solid yet easy base the block held by the left
hand can be turned about at will. It should be not less than five inches
across. To have it smaller may mean difficulty when engraving large
blocks. A magnifying glass is not recommended unless the eyesight is
defective. When there is defective vision it is safer and better to use a
glass and avoid strain, so it must be included as a probably necessary
thing. A double lens should be used, and should be large enough to cover a
block of 2 or 3 inches. The stand (Fig. 8) allows the lens to be turned
away, raised or lowered at will. A watchmaker’s glass can be used (for one
eye only) held in position over the eye by a piece of string round the
head. It provides only a small field of view.
[Fig. 9]