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Plywood

A glued wood panel usually 4' X 8' made up of thin layers of wood laid at right angles to each other.

Pocket Hole

A hole drilled on an angle with a step bit to make a butt joint. The larger hole is for the screw head to enter, and the smaller hole is for the shank.

Point fence

A bandsaw fence that consists of a rounded block of wood, located on the saw table with the tangent spaced at the desired distance from the saw blade.

Pointer

A tool used to taper the end of a dowel.

Points

The size of the teeth on a saw is typically reported as the saw's "points". The point number is determined by counting the number of teeth per inch and adding one. For instance, a saw with 10 teeth per inch would be called an 11-point saw. See TPI.

Polyester Brush Filament

Filaments manufactured from polyester resin. Well suited for use with water-based finishes.

Polyester Resin

A synthetic resin. It is often used in two-part catalyzed finishes. It produces a tough, glossy film, but it is not as wear-resistant as epoxy.

Polyethylene

A synthetic resin made by polymerizing ethylene. Since it is nontoxic and odorless it is used for food related items. It is water-resistant and resists many chemicals.

Polystyrene

A synthetic resin made from styrene. It is used in paints and varnishes.

Polyurethane

One of the most widely used resins in synthetic varnish, it is also used in some paints. It can be chemically hardened by the addition of a catalyst. Oil-modified polyurethane air dries. It produces a very durable finish that is resistant to wear and abrasion, water, and weathering. It is very resistant to chemicals and it retains its gloss longer than most finishes under hard wear.

Pommel

The high point at the front center of a saddled Windsor seat.

Porch, The

The OldTools mailing list (the electronic back porch) Find more information at http://www.brendlers.net/oldtools/oldtools.html

Pores

Small openings in the surface of a board. They result when the saw cuts open large, elongated cells (vessels) in the wood. The vessels serve as fluid channels in the living tree.

Porous Wood

Wood with larger than normal pores and vessels

Post-and-rung chair

A basic chair style that consists of vertical posts and horizontal rungs. The continuous rear posts also form the supports for the back rest, which can consist of slats or spindles. The seat is usually woven, and is often trapezoidal in plan.

Pot Life

See Working Life

Preacher

A jig, often homemade, that carpenters used to transfer the edge of an underlying board to an overlapping board marking a perfect cut line.

Pressure-Feed Gun

A spray gun that is designed to use the pressure of compressed air to transfer liquid from the cup to the nozzle.

Primary Wood

This is the wood that is on the main or primary surfaces of a piece of furniture. These are the premium or money woods of the cabinet. Woods of lesser value, that are on the sides or not seen is called Secondary Wood.

PRINY

People's Republic of Ithaca, New York. Home base of OldTools maintainer and tool dealer Tom Bruce.

Proud

Something is proud if it is just above another surface, just sticking out a bit. See Shy and Flush.

PSI

Pounds per square inch. A way to measure the pressure of compressed air.

PTAMPIA

Patented Transitional and Metallic Planes in America, Roger Smith's 2-volume set of information on metal planes. One of the definitive tool collecting references.

Pumice

A fine abrasive powder that is made from volcanic ash. Pumice is used with a a felt block in woodworking to rub out (polish) a finish. (Pumice is also the gritty additive in Lava soap.)

Puppet (stock)

Vertical member of a lathe that houses either of the two lathe centers. The head stock is the stationary puppet that housing the pulleys and driving center of a powered lathe. The tail stock can be moved along the ways to secure wood of different lengths.

Push Block

A flat, rubber-bottomed "paddle" with a handle on top that is used as a safety device when guiding a flat piece of stock through an operation on a power tool. Generally used when the wide surface of the workpiece rests flat on the table surface during operations. Can be used in combination with a push stick or feather board.

Push Stick

A 10" to 12" long, narrow stick with a notched end that is used as a safety device when guiding a piece of stock through an operation on a power tool. Can be used in combination with a push block or feather board.

Putty

A pasty compound used to fill nail holes and defects in wood

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RD Glossary by Run Digital