PeteM Posted October 12, 2018 Report Share Posted October 12, 2018 I have a problem with interval. If I’m applying 12 somethings to a 48” board, I goof up the intervals every time. Part of the problem is figuring out the interval spacings, and part is physically laying out the intervals by progressively adding one increment to each tick mark. I am ALWAYS off at the end. So much for talent. I now use a variation of the “story stick” approach, but via calculation, and then a much simpler layout method. I use a spreadsheet to figure out the interval spacing (e.g. 4.13” between dots). I then figure out where the first location/mark will be, and then create a table of locations, each incrementing by the interval (4.13). The computer keeps the numbers in complete accuracy, in decimal form so I don’t have to calc 1/32’s etc. Once I have the table complete of the locations of each tick mark, I convert all the numbers to metric because using mm (and a metric tape) is very accurate and easy to mark. You can read a metric tape to 1/2 mm. I can then either just print the table of mm locations, or copy them from the screen. Although it’s made a bit of process out of what should be (for competent people!) a snap, it saves me time in the end by eliminating measurement errors. And I don’t snap pencils in half. Much. Artie, Grandpadave52, p_toad and 1 other 2 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post lew Posted October 12, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 12, 2018 Use the diagonal technique. https://www.instructables.com/id/How-to-divide-a-line-into-equal-parts-without-meas/ Cal, Grandpadave52, HARO50 and 3 others 5 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stick486 Posted October 12, 2018 Report Share Posted October 12, 2018 40 minutes ago, PeteM said: I have a problem with interval https://thepatriotwoodworker.com/forums/topic/23260-center-finding/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HandyDan Posted October 12, 2018 Report Share Posted October 12, 2018 I agree with Lew. Diagonal method is where it's at. Dadio 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
schnewj Posted October 12, 2018 Report Share Posted October 12, 2018 Try one of these...they come in handy...but shop around. They can be had for as little as $15. https://www.woodcraft.com/products/m-power-point-2-point-mk2?via=573621f469702d06760016cd%2C57641bc769702d65930008ce%2C57641beb69702d6593000948 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted October 13, 2018 Report Share Posted October 13, 2018 Amazon sells the same tool at the same price but the reviews are horrible. They also sell one that gets five stars for accuracy. It's only $216. HARO50, Grandpadave52, Artie and 1 other 1 3 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Dadio Posted October 13, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 13, 2018 38 minutes ago, Gene Howe said: Amazon sells the same tool at the same price but the reviews are horrible. They also sell one that gets five stars for accuracy. It's only $216. I found one on sale for $353. Herb HARO50, Gerald, Gene Howe and 2 others 5 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post steven newman Posted October 13, 2018 Popular Post Report Share Posted October 13, 2018 Set this once...then step off the intervals.. These were about $5 each....6" and 8". Set the points to the distance you need ( like center to center for dado layouts) and walk it down the length of the board. Can also be used to set the spacing for dovetails. Underhill used one to set the spacing of three tenons for a breadboard edge on a lid. Those points tend to be a bit on the sharp side.... Grandpadave52, HARO50, Gene Howe and 3 others 6 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadio Posted October 15, 2018 Report Share Posted October 15, 2018 Looks like WoodPecker has one on sale . It looks like it is made for some serious Point-to-Point-Pointing. Herb Evenly Divided Spaces Without the Math! Woodpeckers Equal Space Divider instantly positions 6 lines equidistant from each other at any spacing between 3/4" and 4", eliminating the math involved in spacing out project parts. • Woodpeckers OneTIME Tool Equal Space Divider with H-D Mechanical Pencil in a Woodpeckers Case SALE PRICE $139.99 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DAB Posted October 15, 2018 Report Share Posted October 15, 2018 wait....there's math involved? i was told there would be no math. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadio Posted October 15, 2018 Report Share Posted October 15, 2018 One time long ago I tried taking a spacer block and stepping off a series of spaces. wasn't long before I was way off the correct spacing. Kind of like the carpenter that cut the stud for his new house and used it to mark the next one, then used the next one to mark the next one and so on. By the time he got around the house he was 6" high on the last corner. Herb Cal 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gary Hanscom Posted October 15, 2018 Report Share Posted October 15, 2018 I'm pulling some school math from the back of my head here from some 50 years ago, but I think there is a reasonably simple formula for this. Example: Say you have a 48" board that you want to apply 12 "somethings" to. Simply take the length (48) and divide it by the number of "somethings" you want (12) and add 1 to that number. I.E. 48/(12+1) = 48/13 = 3.6923 inches. Not necessarily a nice measurement to make but it is accurate. Gary Grandpadave52 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ron Altier Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 I like the point to point. It made me recall the little half door expanders that we used to keep small kids confined to or out of an area. Dadio and Cal 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dadio Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 Cut that in half and make 2 dividers out of it. Herb Cal 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cliff Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 what ever method you use. Debug it by laying out with pointy dividers. The divider will let you dial out any error that would be unavoidable when using a marker of any sort Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Gene Howe Posted October 16, 2018 Report Share Posted October 16, 2018 37 minutes ago, Cliff said: what ever method you use. Debug it by laying out with pointy dividers. The divider will let you dial out any error that would be unavoidable when using a marker of any sort Combine Gary's math solution with your dividers and walk it down. The beauty of it is that you could start on any longer length board and get the spacing then trim to suit...or not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.