Shopsmith Forums

Some time ago i thought i seen a way to find center of board.

yes, you can measure to find center. Example to find the center of

the edge of a 3/4 inch thick board. Things are foggy on this.

May have been a tool for this or useing a compass, etc. etc.?????????

minus 4 degrees here this morning so, maybe will take a while to warm

the neurons up today.......... thanks

oldc6 wrote:Some time ago i thought i seen a way to find center of board.

yes, you can measure to find center. Example to find the center of

the edge of a 3/4 inch thick board. Things are foggy on this.

May have been a tool for this or useing a compass, etc. etc.?????????

minus 4 degrees here this morning so, maybe will take a while to warm

the neurons up today.......... thanks

I use an adjustable combination square.

Guess first, scribe a line from both sides and the lines will be 2x the 'guess error'.

Move the square half the error distance and it will be set to equal the center distance from both sides.

You can either use it as set or read the distance from the square scale.

BTW I always mark from both sides when laying out an edge center.

JPG40504 wrote:I use an adjustable combination square.

Guess first, scribe a line from both sides and the lines will be 2x the 'guess error'.

Move the square half the error distance and it will be set to equal the center distance from both sides.

You can either use it as set or read the distance from the square scale.

BTW I always mark from both sides when laying out an edge center.

I don't understand. Using a combination square I would mark a 45 degree line from each side, forming an 'X' - no guessing about it. Center of x should be on center line of board.
Edit: Yea, I was confused and I hope no one wasted too much time trying figure out how to respond. My answer required having the same reference points start each 45 degree starting point along the edge - lots of places for error to be introduced.

Set 3/8" on your combination square. With a sharp pencil draw a line by holding the pencil point against the end of the combination square's ruler. Now do the same thing (without re-setting the ruler) sliding the square down the opposite side of the board.

Now you probably have two lines. The true center of the board is between the lines.

I happen to have a combination square with holes in the center of the ruler. I can set the pencil in one of the holes and do the same thing as above. The advantage here is there is less chance of the pencil slipping out of position.

i use a "center" rule to find the center of flat boards. it a 24 inch ruler with 0 in the center. lay it at an angle across a board at say eight inches on each side and put a mark at 0. do it twice and draw through those two marks and you have the center. google center finding ruler for more/better info

http://craftybev.com/how2cfr.html

I also use a center rule. However math to find center of 3/4" board (assuming it really measures 3/4" which most do not) multiply quarters into eights and divide by 2. 3/4 to eights would be 6/8ths so 1/2 would be 3/8." Now if I were to use that method I would then set my sliding square at 3/8" and measure from both sides just to be certain. Frankly I like using the two 45 degree lines and using the center point better. Yeah I know I am lazy. Jim

I like the Center-Finding Ruler. I will see if one of my wife's quilt shops has them. Thanks Bob for the link.

Using my square I draw two parallel lines a few inches apart then connect the opposite ends of the two lines...x marks the spot. Repeat to get two points then connect the dots. I like the centering ruler. Above is just another method.

Y'all (except Charlese) are making a simple task 'complicated'.

Nowhere did we say anything about 45 degree lines!

Center rule ok and convenient for long stuff, but reading it is still necessary.

Reason for using a combination square is the ability to set the end relative to the base.

FWIW a mortise gauge would work as well(maybe better!).

joedw00 wrote:I like the Center-Finding Ruler. I will see if one of my wife's quilt shops has them. Thanks Bob for the link.

It can also be bought here.

http://www.woodcraft.com/product/200044 ... nless.aspx