LAYOUT AND MEASURING

* Measuring sticks. Use two straight sticks, the total length of both about 1 1/4 times the distance to be measured. Lay the sticks together on the work piece with the ends of the sticks flush to the desired distance. Place a mark across both sticks. The measuring sticks may be transferred to another item.

* Winding sticks. May be used to test for a flat plane. To make, take two pieces of stable wood about 2' long by 2" wide. Taper in cross section with a wide base. To use, lay one stick on one end of a surface and the other stick on the opposite end. Sight across the top edges to detect twisting of the surface. A dark and a light wood will help to read the edges.

Finding the center of a sheet. Lay a rule across a surface at an angle with zero on one edge. Line up any even number on the opposite edge, the center will be one half of this number.

* Dividing into equal increments. Use same method as finding center, but mark off increments in whole numbers. For example: for five equal spaces, lay ruler at a diagonal with 5" mark at one edge. Place a mark at each inch number. Use a t-square to draw parallel lines through each mark.

* Center scribe. Drill three equally spaced holes into a flat bar. Insert rods into the end holes. Insert a shorter scribe rod into the center hole and weld all three rods to the bar. To use, place the scribe down onto the work piece, hold end rods snug to the edges and drag to scribe a line. (Note: a marking gauge is similar but works on one edge and has an adjustable rod to move the scribe distance.)

Quick scribe. Use a mechanical pencil and replace the lead with an old 3/32" drill bit sharpened to a point. It may be retracted after use.

* Drawing long curves. Place a thin section of rod or flat bar into a pipe clamp. Tighten to the desired shape and transfer a line by tracing around one edge of the rod.

* Replaceable layout. Place layout paper onto work piece, draw two lines across the edge of paper onto work. Layout paper may be removed and returned to the index marks.

Transfer photocopy image. Use a reverse image copy. Lay onto work piece, and soak with Acetone. Peal off paper to leave an image on work.

* Cone Pattern. Draw a side view of the cone. Extend the sides to meet at point A. Multiply the distance of the base times 3.14. Draw an arc from the base of the cone with the center at point A to this distance, point B. Extend a line from A to B and draw another arc from the top edge of the cone to line A-B.