measuring accurately ...

[ladylola]

I was taught that one when an apprentice but not the reason behind the diamonds on a tape hence my question in the tool forum recently.
A lenght of lath to be used as a measuring rod or stick can be used for repeating accuracy, assuming you cut the rod to the correct lenght in the first place.
As an apprentice I was told as a rule joiners cut on the waste side of the line to allow for cleaning up and site chippies cut on the line or on the other side of the line for roof work and similiar.

 

[^woody^]

I can't believe all your answers for how to measure an internal door frame

You just hold the hook of the tape in the frame and run the tape across the face of it.

You don't mess about with string, or bits of wood and plastic

For the line marking, you either cut on the line or to one side of it. You just have to remember which one it is and stick to it

 

[cantaloup63]

I was taught that one when an apprentice but not the reason behind the diamonds on a tape hence my question in the tool forum recently.

Ah the diamonds on a tape, marking multiples of 16" and 19 3/8" for historical centres and more worryingly every 40cm on the metric side since the yougsters of today seem not to know their 4 times table.

A fascinating book on measurement is called About the Size of It and is a highly recommended light read

 

[imamartian]

A highly rewarding post, thanks to all.... i especially liked the bits of wood idea, and the pencil mark at eye level.

Woody, in the particular instance i had recently, i couldn't measure across the face because i was fitting a glass panel at the side of a door, and the glass sat in a rebate, so i needed to measure that too!

 

[Brigadier]

I sometimes use a 2ft length of mini-trunk (with the lid attached). You can slide the lid out until it butts nicely in the rebate - the lid won't slip back and forth. Then use it as a comparative measure.

 

[Alarm]

And to think we used to be able to build ships and rule the world.
Now most cannot even measure up a door with a bit of glass in it.

 

[imamartian]

And to think we used to be able to build ships and rule the world.
Now most cannot even measure up a door with a bit of glass in it.

But most people couldn't build ships when this country ruled the world....

I do like to find simple ways of doing things..

Another question... are we metric or imperial on our tape measures? I'm metric as it's more accurate, and easier to understand. 1218mm is much easier than 3ft 6 and 3 eighths !!!

(i know they're not the same length )

 

[Alarm]

Work on both, but the "kids" should be metric.

 

[gregers]

i tend to use what ever the measurment falls on.

as said a measuring rod is the best thing to use if you are fitting multiple items.

cant believe it took so long for someone to say measure half the frame from the bottom/top then add them together .

but then again,if you only use a tape once in a blue moon then your not going to know the basic tricks.

 

[cantaloup63]

cant believe it took so long for someone to say measure half the frame from the bottom/top then add them together .

But how will you know where the half way mark is without measuring it in the first place?

 

[imamartian]

i tend to use what ever the measurment falls on.

as said a measuring rod is the best thing to use if you are fitting multiple items.

cant believe it took so long for someone to say measure half the frame from the bottom/top then add them together .

but then again,if you only use a tape once in a blue moon then your not going to know the basic tricks.

i did find it funny that wreckedit and mw roofline (sorry guys ) didn't know why the end of a tape measure was loose !! one of the funnier moments on diynot for me !!

 

[imamartian]

cant believe it took so long for someone to say measure half the frame from the bottom/top then add them together .

But how will you know where the half way mark is without measuring it in the first place?

eye level is gonna be more accurate !!

 

[Alarm]

Well most here seemed not to know why "the end bit moved"

I also had the lads check against a steel rule every monday morning, as one bright spark had his go over tollerance and made everything 1/4 " too wide. Didnt help he was cutting the wrong side of the line.

 

[cantaloup63]

eye level is gonna be more accurate !!

Depends what shoes you're wearing

 

[securespark]

And to think we used to be able to build ships

What...like the Titanic?