Home › R › Rods, Boning or Borning

Rods, Boning or Borning

These are invaluable instruments in levelling ground, or for determining heights in making an incline uniform throughout. They are always requisite when laying out new walks or edges, levelling turf, &c. There are usually three made, straight, and of equal length, about 3 1/2ft. or 4ft., and provided with cross-pieces, which should be fixed in the centre, and at exact right angles. Before Borning Rods can be brought into use, it is necessary that two points should be fixed, preferably at the extreme ends of the ground to be levelled, should these not be too far apart. If level pegs are inserted at these points, and two of the three Rods allowed to rest on them, as many intermediate pegs may be inserted as thought desirable for guiding workmen. This is done by a third person with the other Rod, who drives pegs in as he is directed from one of the ends, until all the Rods are in, as near as possible, a direct line. The tops of the pegs, if the levelling is properly done, should then show all inequalities in the soil, and represent themselves either a level surface or a uniform incline, according to the disposition of the ground and the comparative heights of the two fixed points taken at the commencement. Boning or Borning Rods of equal length can only be used correctly by persons accustomed to them, as the light is found most deceiving at a distance. Sometimes, one of the Rods is made an inch longer, and a small sight-hole pierced through the cross-piece. By using this, it is possible to work with more exactness, as a workman who might be able to level through a sight-hole might not be able to do so correctly were all the Rods made of equal length, and no sight-hole pierced.