I once worked with a carpenter who claimed to have built a barn without a tape measure, and I don’t doubt it. Carpenters have developed all kinds of measuring and marking tricks to save time or improve accuracy. In this article, we’ll show you a collection of tips—some that you can use for everyday measuring tasks, others for more specific problems. All are great additions to your arsenal of measuring and marking techniques.

You’re Never Without A Ruler —
unless you’re flat broke  

Did you know that a U.S. dollar bill, or hundred-dollar bill, for that matter, is about 6-1/8 in. long? Next time you find yourself at the flea market without a tape measure, use a buck instead. The window in this photo is about 5-1/2 dollars wide by 9 dollars high. I think it will just fit the shed we’re planning.

Accurate Handrail Height

Placing handrail brackets so the screws hit the wall studs and the rail hangs at the correct height is a job that can tax the patience of the best carpenter. Here’s a simple way to accomplish the task using a framing square and a 1x2.

Rest a length of 1x2 across the stair nosings. Use a stud finder to locate a wall stud (framing member). Slide the square along the 1x2 until the end of the 2-ft. blade of the square is directly over the stud. Now rest the handrail bracket on the end of the square and mark the screw locations to establish an exact position. With this method, the top of the handrail will fall between the code-required height of 34 to 38 in. above the stair nosing. Substitute a 1x3 or 1x4 for the 1x2 to increase the height if needed.

Have Nail, Hold Tape

The hook on your tape measure has a slot that’s just right for hooking a nailhead into. If you set the nail so the head is about 3/8 in. above the surface, the hook will fit snugly over it. Then as long as you keep tension on the tape as you pull it out, the nail will hold the end of the tape. You’ll find many occasions to use this tip when you don’t have a helper to hold the end of the tape.

More Tips

Measuring & Marking Tips • More Tips 1 • More Tips 2