As I was about to install a toilet on a recent plumbing job, I made a discovery. I needed to draw a circular cutline on the subfloor for the toilet flange, but I didn’t have a compass handy. I did have my Sawzall, though. I removed its blade, and drove a nail through the hole in the blade into my center mark on the floor. With my pencil resting between two of the blade’s teeth, as shown, I was able to draw a perfect circle — just the size I needed.
Anthony Revelli, New York, NY
Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #32
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I think that most resourceful craftsmen can come up with a make-do compass.
A piece of tie wire and a nail or brad can work.
A length of lath with a hole for a marker and a nail can work.
Even a piece of stiff cardboard will do the trick.