The larger tint-tools and scaupers are used for scauping or clearing, that
is, for clearing a wide line round the work and cutting away all wood not
wanted. While doing this it is essential to protect the surrounding work
from the belly of the tool by a thin piece of card (Fig. 20). It must be
thin yet of sufficient substance to withstand the pressure of the tool,
for the work is done by levering out the wood as well as cutting it. Card
soon wears out. A thin piece of hard wood or bone will do well if smoothed
and bevelled off a little on the edge to be used under the tool. The
thickness should be about that of a penny. When scauping start the cut a
little away from the work gradually approaching until the tool has cleared
away all unnecessary wood. Smaller pieces must of course be taken away by
the smaller tools. It is a good plan to extend the first finger of the
left hand over the block until it presses against the end of the thumb of
the tool hand. This position gives great control and prevents much
slipping.
[Fig. 21]