Measuring Tools for Woodworking & Layout | Garrett Wade

Before one can cut, one must layout. And to that end, here is a list of recommended layout tools that should be sufficient to tackle most any woodworking layout task. In my humble opinion, the tape measure ranks right up there with the wheel and fire as one of the greatest inventions ever.

Not only can it measure both inside and outside dimensions but it retracts into Woodworking Ruler Square Layout Yield a compact coil that easily slips into your pocket or shop apron when not in use.

For general purpose woodshop use, I prefer a 12 to 16 foot tape measure. This length range accommodates most any furniture project in a relatively compact package.

Ok for general carpentry but unnecessary and somewhat unwieldy for most woodshop projects. The first time you use a tape measure, you may wonder why the metal tang on the end slides back and forth. Rather, it allows for either inside or outside measurements because the thickness of the tang equals the distance it slides back and forth. An outside measurement is taken with the tang hooked over the end of a board and an inside measurement is taken with the tang butted up against a board.

When you buy a tape measure, measure a board both ways to make sure the lengths match up. Unlike a tape measure, a steel ruler will not wear out Woodworking Ruler Square Layout Design over time so it will be as accurate 10 years down the road as it was on the day it was purchased.

A useful variant of the standard metal ruler is the center-finding ruler. It is used to efficiently locate the center of a board or the center between any two points. The arrow above the zero then points to the exact center. A combination square is like a try square on steroids. I also find myself using a combination square to layout screw holes, mark joint lines, and measure router bit cut depths.

A good quality combination square should accurately gauge 90 degree angles. The blade of a tri-square is made from hardened and tempered steel whereas the body is usually made woodworking ruler square layout tutorial a hardwood or even plastic. The highest quality squares are made from rosewood with a brass face. This size handles the majority of woodworking tasks in my shop but if greater length is needed, I can pull out the trusty combination or framing square.

Strictly speaking, a try square is not needed if you have an accurate combination square but a try square is woodworking ruler square layout tutorial classic woodworking ruler square layout tutorial tool and it just feels right to have woodworking ruler square layout tutorial in your shop.

There, I said it. The compass is the quintessential tool for laying out circles and curves. If you need greater capacity to layout large circles e. For example, a piece of scrap wood with holes drilled in at defined intervals makes for an effective fixed radius compass.

Or you can get a bit fancier and make an adjustable compass with a slotted radius adjustment bar like the one shown in the photo. Another solution is to mount a pair of trammel points on a piece of wood. You can then slide Woodworking Ruler Square Layout Free the trammels along the wood to create circles of almost any size. Certain layout tools like a tape measure and pencil will probably be kept on your person most of the time.

I have a dedicated drawer in the tool chest for this purpose. In addition to keeping the tools organized, the storage drawer also keeps them from getting all dusty.

As far as actually marking the layout lines in the wood, the most common choices are a marking knife or a pencil. Traditionally, marking knives have been favored by woodworkers because they etch woodworking ruler square layout tutorial well defined, uniform width line that does not smudge or wear away.

But you have to be careful not to inadvertently mark surfaces that will woodworking ruler square layout tutorial visible in the finished project. Compared to marking knives, pencils make a less precise line that is subject to smearing. On the other hand, pencil lines are easily erased and repositioned if one makes a mistake. And the pencil comes in handy for labeling parts, making annotations, etc.

Woodworking ruler square layout tutorial these reasons, I find myself using a pencil more than a marking knife perhaps at the expense of more time spent sneaking up on the cut and test fitting joints. For laying out mortises, the go-to tool is the mortise gauge. These devices woodworking ruler square layout tutorial a movable metal pin that is used to scribe the cut lines.

The simplest gauges have a single pin with an adjustable fence that slides along a beam and locks into position via a thumbscrew. The fancier models, like the combination mortise gauge shown here, contain two pins for woodworking ruler square layout tutorial both sides of a mortise simultaneously as well as a single pin on the opposite side so it can be used as a regular marking gauge. Chalk works well for labeling parts and laying out rough cut lines.

I prefer woodworking ruler square layout tutorial old white chalk rather than blue or some other color because it is easy to wipe or sand off.

It also shows up well against most woods although really white woods such as holly can be a bit challenging at times. My assortment of measuring tapes. Steel rule with hook. Combination square. Try square. Assortment of compasses. Dedicated drawer for layout tools.

Combination mortise gauge.

Use Full-Scale Layout to Solve Woodworking Project Problems. When building woodworking projects. problems can arise when component parts stray from the usual square and parallel cuts. When projects or parts of projects veer into the world of angles and curves a carefully drawn full-scale layout will help navigate the project to an easy. Before one can cut, one must layout. That should be every woodworker’s mantra. And to that end, here is a list of recommended layout tools that should be sufficient to tackle most any woodworking layout task. Tape measure. In my humble opinion, the tape measure ranks right up there with the wheel and fire as one of the greatest inventions ever. step 5: learn how to design woodworking projects; steps | beginner’s guide to hand tool woodworking. step 6: learn how to choose stable, strong, & beautiful wood; step 7: learn to prepare wood: square, flat, straight, & smooth; step 8: joinery: learn how to layout & cut joints; step 9: learn how to assemble, fasten, & glue-up woodworking.

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