Yes I have a framing square and stair gauges.
Thing is, I have the Swanson BIG speed square with the attachment for marking stair stringers – trouble is I lost the ‘Blue Book’; (actually it got drowned).
I can’t remember how to attach the darned attachment to the speed square for marking stringers. Since I bought the darned thing I’d like to use it – any helpers?
Let’s not confuse the issue with facts!
Replies
I have one , have the set up and never use it either.
I will share a trick my dad taught me.
Take a piece of straight stock ,24"-30" x 1 x 2, rip it at it's center on the 3/4 dimension from each end until you have about 6 " of solid uncut wood in the middle .
Now slip the framing sq. into the slots and align the edge of the 1x with whatever numbers you are using for the stairs: for example, 7" x 10 5/8 " (works for rafters as well) clamp or screw the slots (pinch them shut)tight to the square.
This will give you and accurate tool to use for layouts. just slide it along the stringer or rafter and mark things out.
Edit: Forgot this part.
If you want the book I think I can find it and send it to you . Just let me know
Edited 1/16/2007 9:17 pm ET by dovetail97128
Thanx for the reply. I will remember your 'trick'. As for the blue book you would think Swanson would have the instruction on line, but no!!!Let me get back to you on your generous offer. Not looking forward to cutting stringers outside tomorrow, windy and high of 28*Let's not confuse the issue with facts!
If I can find my book I can try scanning it . If that works well enough to be readable I will send it to you.
gdcarpenter, sounds like a heat wave! there tellin' us a high of 14 tomorrow!!!(Hartford), lucky you, being on the warm coastline!! :)
Geoff
P.S. thinking of bagging the scheduled clapboard patch-in myself!
Nice thing about your dad's trick is that the 24"-30" kerfed stock thingy provides a long baseline fence, which likely removes the variation that crowned stringer stock throws into the layout.
Sometimes there's no choice but to cut a stringer from a slightly crowned 2x. The 'short fence baseline' provided by the buttons on a std. framing square follows the crown, rather than evening it out.
Last stairs I cut (mortised stringers), I penciled the layout 'points' on the 2x edges, flipped both stringers up side by side, and compared where the marks were in relation to each other. One stringer was way off, growing incrementally to a 3/8" error at the bottom tread, enough to totally screw up the works. First time
I've done this side-by-side check...it will be SOP from now on. I'll also try your dad's long fence trick. Thanks.
Pierre,
Your Welcome, my Dad would have loved to know that others learned something from him.
I like your Dads' trick.
Now all I gotta do is remember it.
Joe H
Isn't the attachment for adjusting to crooked corners? just for transfering that crooked angle to the tread? I don't see how it would work like stair gauges. Could be wrong, but I don't see it.
EDIT - I was wrong. Solution in post #7 below.
I also dug up a copy in the shop and don't see any mention of stair layout. Don't know/remember if this one came with one of the 6"ers or the 12"er I have.
EDIT - two different Books
1st one was The Swanson Spped Square, Swanson's Blue Book of Rafter Lengths & Roof Construction...
2nd one is Swanson's Little Blue Book for Roof and Stairway layout.
Sure seem like a good candidate to be online somewhere, HMMM
TFB (Bill)
Edited 1/16/2007 10:48 pm by ToolFreakBlue
found the book. There are two versions.
I'll scan the pages and email them to you.
OK here are page 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, & 7. Pages 8 & 9 are "Basic Stairway Layout which is available on the Swanson Tool website http://swansontoolco.com/tooltips/basic_stairway_layout.html.
I reduced the image size in Irfanview and I think the resolution is still adequate to read. You do need to zoom in on the images.
Hope it helps.
Thanks to all for the great assistance. Got the printer to print the posted info. Did not find it on the Swanson web site, just got the basics on stair layout, not use of the adapter. Guess I missed somethingTurns out accuracy wasn't that important. Didn't know I was just building forms for concrete stairs. First time for that. The working in 'reverse' took me a minute to get my head adjusted. Hopefully the 'warm blankets' will keep the crete curing acceptably.Let's not confuse the issue with facts!
I don't think you missed anything. Swanson does not have it on their site, just the "basics" as you pointed out. I just scanned and posted the pages you needed. LaterTFB (Bill)