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Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 6:15 pm
by fjimp
Another link that offers several options for center finding rules or tape measures.
http://www.woodcraft.com/search2/search ... ng%20ruler
bulls eye center finder
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 7:16 pm
by forrestb
I have one of these for years. don't know if they sell anymore but there was one on ebay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/Bulls-Eye-Cente ... 0828468187
Forrest
we have a winner
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 9:36 pm
by oldc6
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 10:14 pm
by joedw00
Is this what you are looking for.
Board Center Finder It looks pretty simple. I might make one of those.
that's it
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 10:58 pm
by forrestb
Simple to make but I think that I would make one for narrow and one for wide boards.
And instead of measuring and using a hand drill, I would make the center hole first (on a drill press - or, even on a SS!) and put a dowel in it. Make a jig board that holds that dowel and allows you to rotate the board about the dowel to make the end drills. That way you don't have to worry about measuring accuracy since the outer holes will necessarily be the same distance from the center.
Forrest
Posted: Wed Dec 26, 2012 11:59 pm
by reible
Actually you can get pretty close to the center by eye. Look and practice and soon you will get to the point you can spot the center just by looking at it, well close enough for a lot of things.
About fractions..... some of you are making it way harder then it is.
half of 17/32 = 17/64
half of 13/16 = 13/32
half of 7/8 = 7/16
half of 23/32 = 23/64
are you noticing a pattern here? Finding half is a no brainier up to an inch, even beyond is quite do able for most people.
In addition to my 12" and 18" center finding rules I have a tape measure that is good for up to 25'.
[ATTACH]19692[/ATTACH]
[ATTACH]19693[/ATTACH]
If you have a point-2-point it will also work to find a center.
[ATTACH]19694[/ATTACH]
And then you can always use a ruler like shown. In this case the zero is on one edge and the 4" mark is on the other edge, the center will be at 2"....
[ATTACH]19695[/ATTACH]
More ways then you can throw a stick at eh?
Ed
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 9:56 am
by joedw00
reible wrote:
And then you can always use a ruler like shown. In this case the zero is on one edge and the 4" mark is on the other edge, the center will be at 2"....
[ATTACH]19695[/ATTACH]
Ed
I had forgot about this one.
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 10:30 am
by saminmn
forrestb wrote:Simple to make but I think that I would make one for narrow and one for wide boards.
And instead of measuring and using a hand drill, I would make the center hole first (on a drill press - or, even on a SS!) and put a dowel in it. Make a jig board that holds that dowel and allows you to rotate the board about the dowel to make the end drills. That way you don't have to worry about measuring accuracy since the outer holes will necessarily be the same distance from the center.
Forrest
Yea, I was thinking the same thing. A scrap with 2 holes swinging around a center hole/peg seems a lot more reliable than measuring several sets of holes
while waiting for wood to dry...
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 3:03 pm
by forrestb
Thought I would try to make a couple of center finders ala the Eagle design. A couple of hours later a wide and a narrow finder. Haven't decided yet how to finish them.
I found that one wrap of tape around the pencil held it tight enough to mark yet loose enough to pull out and sharpen. I think next time I will use a thicker board to better align the pencil vertically. And a round pencil would be great, but had none in the shop.
Forrest
Posted: Thu Dec 27, 2012 3:26 pm
by robinson46176
forrestb wrote:Thought I would try to make a couple of center finders ala the Eagle design. A couple of hours later a wide and a narrow finder. Haven't decided yet how to finish them.
I found that one wrap of tape around the pencil held it tight enough to mark yet loose enough to pull out and sharpen. I think next time I will use a thicker board to better align the pencil vertically. And a round pencil would be great, but had none in the shop.
Forrest
I need to make 3 or 4 of these. I have seen them before both homemade and commercial and thought they would be very useful. What I had not seen before was your tip about drilling the center hole first for a pivot to avoid any measuring to get the end holes right. The actual distance only needs to be somewhat close as long as they are exactly the same... Thanks. I like to tell myself that I would have thought of that on my own but I would probably be lying to myself...
.