Crossbow

The crossbow is type of weapon, consisting of a bow mounted on top of a stock that shoots bolts. During medieval era the crossbow was called many names, especially the ballista. Crossbows date back to be used during warfare in East Asia since 4th century B.C., as well as in Europe, and the Mediterranean. Today crossbow's are used for shooting, and hunting.


Pull lever crossbow


Pistol crossbow



Modern day crossbow

Halberd

The halberd is also known as the halbard, halbert, or Swiss voulge. The halberd is a two-handed pole weapon that was popular during the 14th and 15th century. The halbert has an axe blade toped with a spike that is mounted on a long pole, the halberd has a hook or a thorn which is used as a handle. The halberd ranges in sizes of 5 to 6ft. long. The halberd was a very cheap weapon to produce, and the weapon was very useful in battle.


Medieval halberd

Corkscrew Willow

The corkscrew willow known as the salix matsudana ( chinese willow ) is a species of a willow tree that is native of  northeastern China. The corkscrew willow is named in honor after  Japanese botanist Sadahisa Matsudo. The corkscrew willow is widely cultivated, and planted. Corcksrew Willow's have twisted twigs that look like corkscrew. The corkscrew willow is a medium to large size deciduous tree, the tree can be 20 to 25ft. tall, and the tree has a short lifespan. The corkscrew willow has separate catkins ( aka ament, cylindrical flower cluster, has no pollinated, is wind or insect pollinated ) on male and female trees. The flowers are born in catkins, and are produced in early spring. The leaves on a corkscrew willow are narrow, light green, about 4 to 10cm long, and about 1 to 2 cm broad.


Looking up a corkscrew willow


Corkscrew willow


Corkscrew willow catkins

Poplar Tree

The poplar tree is in the genus populus, which consists of 25-35 species that are deciduous flowering plants which belong to the Salicaceae family. Poplar trees can grow up to 50 to 165ft tall, and can have trunk diameters up to 8ft. The bark on young poplar trees  is smooth, with a color of white to greenish, or dark grey bark. Poplar leaves are spirally arranged and vary in shapes of triangular, rarely will be circular or lobed, and some species of populus have a long petiole ( stalk attaching the leaf blade to the stem ). Poplar trees typically with small leaves on the side shoots, and very-large leaves are located on strong-growing lead shoots. Before leaves on poplar trees fall during autumn the leaves turn from bright gold to yellow. Most flowers on poplar trees are dioecious, rarely monoecious, and the flowers appear on poplar trees in early spring before the leaves come in.


Mature black poplar tree


Yellow poplar tree


Different leaves that can be found on a poplar tree


Poplar tulip tree with flower

When was the jointer invented?

The jointer dates back to being made in 1687. At first the jointer was known as a jointer hand plane. When the mechanical jointer appeared it was called the jointer, because it was very similar to the jointer hand plane. The jointer uses the principle of rotary cutting. The purpose of the jointer is to square wood.


example of a jointer


example of face jonting, push block is used this kind of jointing.


example of edge jointing, in this case a push stick is needed, because the stocks face is not wide enough.

Walnut Tree

The walnut tree known as the Junglans, is a plant genus from the Juglandaceae family. Walnut trees are deciduous trees that grow 30 to 130ft tall. Walnut trees have pinnate leaves that can be 7 to 35in. long, that contain 5 to 25 leaflets. There are 21 species of walnut trees. Walnut trees can be found in North America, southeast Europe, Japan, southeast Canada, and Argentina.

Black Walnut Tree