Beyond Zero Measuring

Beyond Zero Measuring

by | Jan 1, 2017 | Carpentry, Miscellaneous Carpentry, Tips

To increase accuracy, some woodworkers avoid using the zero end of a rule or tape and use the 1-in. mark instead. You can also use other starting points, such as 2 in. or 3 in. However, when using this technique, you must remember to subtract that number from the...
Beyond Zero Measuring

T Square

by | Jan 1, 2017 | Carpentry, Miscellaneous Carpentry, Tips

A 4-ft. T-square for drywalling can come in handy for other projects. Besides being helpful in drywalling, it can be useful when laying out patterns or cutting on full sheets of plywood or particle board. The square is accurate, stable and will give you a full 48-in....
Beyond Zero Measuring

Broken Screws

by | Jan 1, 2017 | Carpentry, Miscellaneous Carpentry, Tips

There’s a solution for dealing with wood screws which have broken off below the surface of the wood. If you don’t want to risk damaging the wood by digging it out, try driving the screw deeper into the wood with a nail set. Then just fill the hole with a...
Beyond Zero Measuring

Chalk Marks

by | Jan 1, 2017 | Carpentry, Miscellaneous Carpentry, Tips

When you process wood in your shop, it is helpful to make notations on boards so you remember which have been cut to length or run through equipment like planers or jointers. Instead of using pencils for the notes, use chalk. Chalk lets you mark the wood without...
Beyond Zero Measuring

Dowel Sizing

by | Jan 1, 2017 | Carpentry, Miscellaneous Carpentry, Tips

When using dowels, select a size half the thickness of the wood being joined. For example, for 3/4-in. stock, consider 3/8-in. dowels.; for 7/8-in. stock use 7/16-in. dowels. The length inserted should generally be three times its thickness. Thus, a 3/8-in. dowel...
Beyond Zero Measuring

Finding Center

by | Jan 1, 2017 | Carpentry, Miscellaneous Carpentry, Tips

You can use a rule to quickly find the center of a board’s width without dealing with small fractions. Lay the rule across the width, keeping the scale’s zero mark lined up with one side. Then angle the rule so that an even number lines up with the...