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MEASURING
7essential
Layout Tools
With a small collection of the right tools, you can handle just about
any layout task efficiently and accurately.
Almost every woodworking task
starts with an accurate layout.
Without these guidelines to follow, the table saw, drill press, band
saw, and all your other cutting and
shaping tools arent of much value.
Often, the first tools you pick
up when starting a project are the
ones used to lay out the parts and
joinery. So having a complete set of
these essential tools is key to getting the job started down the right
road. Heres a short list of the basic
layout tools that I wouldnt want
to be without.
Combination Square
A high-quality, 12" combination square is surely one of the
most versatile layout tools you
can own. Not only can it be used
to mark accurate 90 and 45 lines
(photo at right), the sliding blade
can be used for measuring, as a
short straightedge, and as a layout
gauge. Dont skimp on this one.
Buy the best combination square
you can afford. Itll get used every
day and last a lifetime.
Tape Measure
For making large scale layout measurements quickly, a 12' or
16' steel tape measure cant be beat
(photo at left). The end of the
tape hooks firmly over
the end of a
workpiece
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Ruler
A 6" steel ruler with etched
graduations comes in handy for all
sorts of precise layout tasks. The
advantage over a bigger rule is in
the compact size, thin blade, and
the distinct, easy-to-read markings.
You can use it lying flat, as shown
Straightedge
Project parts (and the layouts needed to cut them to shape)
come in all different sizes. When
working on a project that requires
large panels, a 36" or 48" aluminum
straightedge is invaluable.
The essential job of a long
straightedge is to connect measured marks with a layout line. For
this, you dont need an expensive
machinists-quality tool. Just find
one thats straight and rigid.
Marking Knife
A pencil line is adequate for
many layout tasks, but for more
demanding work, the fine, incised
line made by a marking knife is
more accurate. A marking knife
is my choice for scribing dovetail
pins from the tails, or marking the
shoulders of tenons and the cheeks
of mortises, as shown at right.
The sharp line left by a marking knife leaves no doubt where to
make a cut. The shallow groove
created by the knife can even be
used to position a chisel when
cleaning up or fine-tuning a joint.
Compass
Not all woodworking is done
along straight lines. Its often the
graceful curves you add to a project
that attract the most attention. To
draw these arcs and circles easily
and accurately on a workpiece, you
need to keep a compass on hand.
The inexpensive compass shown
at right (my favorite) has springloaded arms and a screw adjustment that allows you to easily zeroin on a radius up to 412". If your
projects often have larger curves,
consider adding a beam compass
to your tool collection as well.
Bevel Gauge
Whenever a project layout
calls for an angle other than 90,
youll find that a sliding bevel
gauge is indispensible. The slotted blade on a bevel gauge can be
adjusted and locked at any angle,
as well as extended or shortened as
needed. I call on mine when laying
out dovetails or other angled joinery, and to transfer angles from part
to part or shop drawings.
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9 shop-tested
Measuring
& Marking Tips
The tape measure and steel rule are the
fundamental measuring tools for every
project in my shop. And using them
seems like it should be second nature.
Yet its amazing how many errors
are introduced this early in the woodworking process. The key to success
is to incorporate some sound principles into how you measure and
} Here are a just a few of the helpful measuring tools that youll
want to keep handy in your shop.
Tape measure
Hook rule
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all the parts in the same project, particularly mating parts. Markings on tape
measures and rules can vary from brand
to brand and even tool to tool, so using
the same tool can take some possibility
for error out of the process.
{
For accurate inside dimensions,
mark a fixed point (above), and
then measure back to it from the
other direction (below).
distance from the table saw blade to the
rip fence (below left).
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IN THE Shop
12
Measuring
tips for
& Marking
Measure twice cut once. Ive
followed those words of wisdom
ever since I began woodworking.
But over the years, Ive learned a
few other things that have helped
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Inside Dimensions.
The shorter jaws on a caliper
are used for inside measurements,
such as the width of a dado.
Outside
Dimensions.
The long jaws
on a caliper
are used to
measure the
thickness of a
board or other
outside
dimensions.
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10
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Consistency.
An
even gap around
the edges highlights
a perfectly fit inset
door.
MAIL
ORDER
SOURCES
Woodsmith Store
800-444-7527
amazon.com
Enco
800-873-3626
use-enco.com
General Tools
800-697-8665
generaltools.com
Lee Valley
800-871-8158
leevalley.com
Rockler
800-279-4441
rockler.com
Project Sources
LAYOUT TOOLS
Most of the layout tools shown
in the article are common
enough that they can be ordered
through just about any woodworking catalog. But there are
a couple of items that deserve
a special mention.
When choosing a combination square, it pays to spend a
little extra and get a high-quality
tool. Starrett, Brown & Sharpe,
and Mitutoyo are all top brands.
The compass shown in the
article is one of my favorites. Its
made by General Tools, and can
be purchased directly from the
manufacturers website (Item
#842).
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