Layout, Measuring, and Marking
Get equal spacing in seconds, with no math
Varied curves from modified fairing sticks
As a high school science teacher, I often experiment in my shop.
Cut dead-on angles with a portable circ saw
Sometimes you simply can’t angle-cut the end of a board using a tablesaw or mitersaw because of the length of the workpiece or where you’re working.
I like to mark the projects I build with one of those branding irons you heat with a propane torch. But if you don’t hold the iron squarely and with steady pressure, the design won’t burn evenly in the wood.
For laying out circles where the exact radius isn’t critical, I like to use a scrap of perforated hardboard.
It’s hard to see a pencil mark on dark woods, such as walnut.
Need to lay out a circle but don’t have a compass? No problem.
When building a doll cradle for my buddy’s daughter, I found that the plans he provided required enlarging.
For better access to the edges of workpieces while finishing, I rest them on pronged mending plates.
Tip of the Day
Get dead-on straight edges with a router
Good glue joints require dead-straight surfaces, so if you can’t rip board edges straight enough,... read more