• S

Spokeshave

A cutting tool, originally used to smooth wooden wheel spokes, consisting of two in-line handles with a small, plane-like cutter mounted in the center. Many variations have been produced, with both wood and cast iron bodies.

Spontaneous Combustion

Self-ignition resulting from chemical reaction. When oily rags are piled together and there is no air circulation the oxidizing oils will generate enough heat to cause the rags to burn without any external ignition source.

Spoonbit

A gouge-shaped wood bit with a rounded nose at the front. Sometimes called a "chairmaker's bit."

Spring

Curvature across the width of a board.

Springwood

See Earlywood.

Sprung Plane

A plane that can be held at an angle of 15 to 30 degrees.

Square

1. The state of being at a 90 degree angle. For example the edge of a board is square if it forms a 90 degree angle with the face. 2. The process of making something conform to a 90 degree angle. For example when you square a carcass, you adjust it until the corners form 90 degree angles. 3. A tool used to mark and check for a 90 degree angle. The three most common types used in woodworking are the framing square (a large tool with two arms made of a single flat piece of steel, the longer arm is called the blade, the shorter arm is called the tongue), the try square (a small tool with a fixed stock or handle and a blade), and the combination square (also called a machinist's square, it has a stock that can be moved along the blade. It can also mark 45 degree angles and may include a small spirit level). 4. A unit of measure equal to 100 square feet. Usually used to refer to roofing or siding material.

Squeeze-out

A bead or drops of glue that are forced out of a joint when pressure is applied.

Stacked Dado Head

This style of dado cutter has two outside saw blades, using a combination of chipper blades and shims between them the width of the dado is set.

Stain

A discoloration in wood caused by a fungus or chemicals. 2. A die or pigment used to color wood.

Starter Pin

A small diameter pin that is inserted so it protrudes up from the shaper or router arm table surface and is used to rest the workpiece against when easing it into the rotating cutter. A starter pin is sometimes referred to as a "fulcrum" pin.

Starved Joint

A poorly bonded joint caused by lack of glue.

Step

The section of the stock (normally on the right) that carries the stop; characterized with a molded top, made to reduce the plane's mass.

Stick

1. An unspecific term for chair parts that are roughly cylindrical. Post-and-rung chairs are sometimes called "stick chairs." Also refers to bow and comb supports on Windsors when they are shaved, instead of turned. 2. The board that the molding is cut into on a cope & stick joint.

Stick Windsor

A simple Windsor chair, often with shaved legs and no stretcher system.

Sticker

A thin wood strip that is inserted between stacks of green wood to allow air to flow through the stack to ensure proper drying..

Sticking or Striking

The process of cutting moldings.

Stile

The vertical part of a raised panel door.

Stock

Generic term for a piece of wood. Used more specifically for a wooden or transitional plane body.

Stop

Section of the stock (normally on the right) that stops a wooden plane from cutting any deeper. Not all planes have stops.

Stop Block

A block of wood or aluminum attached to a fence, miter gauge, machine table or workpiece with the intended purpose of limiting the depth or length-of-cut during operations. Also used frequently in mass production situations to position workpieces for drilling or other operations with high level of repeatability.

Stopped

A cut or joint that ends before the edge or end of a board. For example, a stopped dado ends before the front edge of the board.

Story Pole, Story Stick

A piece of wood that is used as a measuring device for repetitive work. Marks are made on the story pole where joints such as stretchers, joints or other elements are located. Used to build houses, the pole was one story tall. When used for cabinet work it tells the whole story.

Stretcher

Another term for rung but also applies to tables, it is any member that connect and strengthens the legs of a piece of furniture.

Strike

Area on the stock, forward of the iron, that is hit with a mallet in order to loosen the wedge; usually a hardwood or metal.

Stripper

Any product that uses chemicals or solvents to soften an old finish for removal.

Strong

See Proud.

Stropping

A process sometimes used when sharpening a plane blade in which a piece of leather that is impregnated with a fine abrasive is used to make the cutting edge very sharp.

Stuff

A term that was traditionally used to describe what you are working with, usually boards or pieces of wood. It is a convenient term and it is used extensively.

Style, Stile

A vertical member of a door framework attached to the horizontal rails.

Summer Wood

See Latewood

Sunflower Oil

A natural oil with properties similar to linseed oil.

Surface Mounted Hinge

A hinge that does not need a hole or mortise drilled in the door or cabinet in order to mount it. In a concealed hinge it simple mounts with screw. In an exposed hinge it also means the entire hinge will show on the outside of the door and cabinet.

Surfaced Lumber

A piece of wood that has been planed smooth on one or more surfaces.

Surfacing

The way a piece of lumber has been prepared at the lumber mill.

SW

The Stanley Works

Sweep

The curvature of the cutting edge of a carving gouge. A lower number (like #3) indicates a shallow, flat sweep while a high number (like #10) is used for a deeply curved gouge. A #1 sweep is a chisel.

Sweetheart

Stanley Logo used in the 1920s: "SW" inside a heart

SWMBO

She Who Must Be Obeyed (See LOML) (Variant - SWIATAABAC: She who's all that and a bag of chips (TM Paddy))

Sword Striper

A brush with very long flexible filaments that is used for pin-striping and freehand graining.

Synthetic Varnish

Varnish that uses man-made resins in place of natural resins.

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