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M

M-F

Miller's Falls. An old-time tool manufacturer.

Machinist Vice

Metal vice that mounts on top of a work surface. Intended primarily for metal working but can be adapted for wood work by inserting wood or leather jaw guards.

Mallet

A tool like a hammer with a wooden, rawhide or rubber head

Match Planes

Planes used to make tongue-and-groove joints. These planes are used in pairs. One plane cuts the tongue. The other plane cuts the groove.

Maul

Alternate name for a wooden club.

MDF

Medium density fiberboard, very stable underlay for counter tops etc. to be covered with laminate.

Medallion

The enlarged face of one saw nut on an older hand saw, generally giving the brand name of the saw or the more generic "Warranted Superior."

Medial stretcher

Connects the mid-point of left and right leg stretchers on a Windsor with "H" stretcher pattern.

Medium density fiberboard (MDF)

A special type of tempered hardboard characterized by a very fine, smooth finish. MDF is used in cabinet making.

Medium Oil Varnish

Varnish that contains 12-40 gallons of oil per 100 pounds of resin. Sometimes referred to as "all purpose" varnish. It is not as durable as the long oil varnishes but it dries to a harder and glossier surface. It is more flexible than the short oil varnishes.

Medullary Rays, Rays

A specialized fluid channel found in some species of wood, most notably oak. The rays radiate from the center of the tree to the outside. In plain-sawed lumber the rays show up as short dashes dispersed uniformly over the surface. In quarter-sawed wood the rays make varied wild patterns Quarter-sawed oak that has very prominent ray patterns is sometimes called "tiger oak" because the pattern resembles the stripes of a tiger.

Meglip

A thickening agent used to improve the working characteristics of graining stains. The actual ingredients of the meglip vary depending on what type of stain it is added to. Traditional formulas used ingredients such as pumice, talc, whiting, cornstarch, varnish and stale beer.

Merchant of Ashby (MofA)

Veteran internet tool dealer Patrick Leach (who lives in Ashby, MA) Also known as The Leachness Monster, That Broad-Shouldered Irish Bastuhd.

Mesh System

A system for gauging the size of abrasive particles. The particles are sorted through wire mesh screens The higher the number the finer the abrasive. It is generally considered the most accurate system for designating the grade (coarseness) of coated abrasives.

Metallic Planes

Hand Planes that are made almost entirely of metal .

Micro-bevel

A narrow sub-bevel immediately behind an edge. The included angle of a micro-bevel will be a few degrees greater than the bevel angle. See Back Bevel.

Mildew

A fungus that feeds on oils found in paint and other finishing products. It causes discoloration of the paint

Milk Paint

A paint made with milk solids, chemically akin to casein glue, often the original finish on antique furniture.

Mill Marks

Small parallel ripples or ridges produced on the surfaces or edges of wood by planer knives, joiner knives or saw blades. In the case of planer or joiner knives, these imperfections can be caused by nicks in the blades, improper knife settings, feeding the stock too rapidly or taking too deep of a cut in a single pass. In the case of saw blades, virtually all blades (with the possible exception of certain hollowground blades) produce mill marks.

Mineral spirits (paint thinner)

Standard solvent for oil based paints and varnishes.

Miter Box

1. An apparatus to guide a hand saw to make miter joints and cross-cuts. 2. A circular saw guided in a controlled, arcing motion used to make accurate cross-cuts.

Miter Box Saw

A frame saw or back saw used in a miter box. Used interchangeably with Miter Box.

Miter gauge

A tool that slides in a slot on a power tool such as a table saw, router table, bandsaw, etc. A miter gauge can be adjusted to different angles and is used to slide the stock past the blade.

Miter Joint

A joint where the meeting angle of two pieces of stock is divided. For example, the 90° corner of a picture frame is usually created by cutting two mating 45° miters. This same 90° corner angle could also be divided and produced with a 60° cut and a 30° cut.

Miter-and-spline joint

A joint with two mitered surfaces connected by a spline.

Moisture Content

The percentage of moisture in a piece of wood compared to the same piece when it is thoroughly dried.

Molding (Moulding)

1. A strip of material with a profile cut on the facing edges, used for trimming. 2. The process of creating decorative surfaces on workpieces using a molder accessory.

Molding Planes

Hand planes used to make moldings.

Money Side

What the customer gets, it is what shows, the good side, the primary surface. You want the 'money side' to look its best.

Morse Taper

The standard for the taper on the shanks of drill chucks, drill bits and lathe centers. The different size tapers are designated by numbers, #1 being the smallest, #3 is common for drill chucks.

Mortise

A cavity cut into a piece of wood to accept a tenon. Can be round or rectangular in section.

Mortise and Tenon joint

A joinery technique where the tenon from one board fits into the mortise of another.

Mortise chisel

A stout chisel with an unusually deep cross section. The sides are square or tapered slightly towards the back. Often struck with a hammer or mallet.

Mounting Plate

The part of a concealed European style hinge (such as a Blum hinge) that mounts on to the cabinet or face frame.

Mouth

On a hand plane, the entire aperture in the sole which enables the blade to touch the wood.

Movement

Distortion of timber due to shrinkage.

Mullet

A piece of wood with a notch cut into it. Used to reference the thickness of a board when planing.

Mullion, Muntin

Interchangeable terms for a vertical piece in a door or window that separates panels or lights of glass.

MWTCA

Mid-West Tool Collector's Association

RD Glossary by Run Digital