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tag: measuring and marking tools

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Model and Measure: De-Mystifying Hip Roof Framing by Measuring in SketchUp

TheTimberTailor, member | March 27th, 2012

Measuring a modeled hip roof is a foolproof way to measure all the rafters for a complete hip roof. This third of 3 parts shows the process to obtain perfect measurements for rafter layout.

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Project House Weekly Wrap, Episode 7: Story Poles and Other Ways To Get Siding Details Right

FHBdotcom, editor | March 26th, 20122 comments

Executive editor Dan Morrison and carpenter Chris Green review pitfalls of a complex exterior siding and trim project at the garage workshop and discuss tools and techniques to get the job done...

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Locate Your Building on a Plot Plan with SketchUp

TheTimberTailor, member | January 18th, 20125 comments

With the challenges of setbacks, easements, drainage planning, and other code compliance issues, it's important to get the location for a structure properly on the lot. Google's free 3-D modeling software has some features that make drawing a plot plan a snap.

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How to Avoid Complicated Fractions When Measuring a Workpiece

cmiller, special-issues editor | January 6th, 20127 comments

If you need to divide a piece of wood by some inconvenient fractional number like 11/64, you could do some complicated math in your head, but there's a better way.

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Simplify Rafter-Pattern-Layout Math with Google SketchUp

TheTimberTailor, member | January 2nd, 2012

SketchUp can be a useful option for layout and planning for cutting rafters. Check out this process for doing the math and see if it fits into your "bag-o-tricks" for carpentry or design projects.

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Improved department means a road trip!

ChuckB, senior editor | June 13th, 2011

FHB's Master Carpenter department will soon move to the center of the magazine, and will be accompanied by a companion web video. Editors visit timberframer Will Beemer.

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Top 10 Tips for Wall Framing Layout on a New Subfloor

FHBdotcom, editor | April 15th, 20119 comments

Framer Scott Grice and veteran builder Larry Haun hash out the the best way to measure and mark wall framing for a new Habitat for Humanity house.

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Cheat Sheet for SketchUp: a Quick-Start Guide for 3D Modeling

TheTimberTailor, member | March 29th, 20113 comments

At first blush a digital 3D model can be intimidating and seem useless. With a little insight, however, a digital format offers some clear advantages over the tried and true models many of us have created over the years with nothing more than cardboard, tape and a utility knife. Watch the two video tutorials below for some insight into the advantages SketchUp has to offer...

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Hip to be Square: Pythagoras in the Digital Age

TheTimberTailor, member | March 8th, 2011

Considering all the whiz-bang capabilities SketchUp has to offer, it's easy to overlook how helpful it can be for basic tasks. This episode shows how to calculate accurate (extremely precise, actually) square-up dimensions for any type of layout work with the "Cliculator".

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Steps in the Right Direction: Use SketchUp's Tools for Stairbuilding Plans

TheTimberTailor, member | March 2nd, 2011

The staircase model created in the Stairmathter blog post gets filled in with more details and components to calculate meaningful dimensions for code compliance and finish features

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Stairmathter: Use SketchUp to Master the Math for Stairbuilding

TheTimberTailor, member | February 25th, 201113 comments

Create a digital layout using jobsite dimensions and let SketchUp do the math to calculate cutting dimensions and angles for stair stringers accounting for finish floor thicknesses and other pertinent information.

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Blueprint-Reading Basics: How to Navigate a Set of House Plans

rwotzak, Web Producer | February 25th, 20113 comments

Construction documents are usually more organized than they look. Learn some common symbols and drawing types that will help you find what you're looking for when you pick up a set of plans.

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Digitile: Use a SketchUp Model to Layout, Estimate, and Build a Takeoff List for a Tiling-Job

TheTimberTailor, member | February 9th, 20114 comments

No, digitile is not a typo for digital, its just my (lame?) title for using digital tools to layout, plan, and quantity of materials for a recent floor tile project. Here I give a brief overview of the process I used... see what you think.

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Door butt gauge

FHBdotcom, editor | January 31st, 2011

For accuracy and speed when hanging doors from scratch, I use a butt gauge (see drawing) that I made out of 1-in. aluminum angle stock. Bending one leg of the angle over 90° just 1/8 in. down...

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