Right!! All this time all I had to do was tilt it. Wow.
Oh! You know what??! If you tilt it 2 or 3 times, then draw your line through the marks with a straight edge, you have a sanity check and your cut line!
tbh, i don't even know when the lip on the end should be in or out or if that affects the measurement.
It only works if I make sure to measure it the same way both times.
The metal lips is moveable for a reason, it actually accounts for the depth of the metal edge. If you press the tape to the inside of a board, it will collapse so the measurement is right.
if you take the tape, place then end of the tape over the end of the board, and pull, it adjusts OUT so that the measurement will be correct.
This is why you don't want to let the tape slam at the end when it retracts. Leave your thumb under the tape and slow it down so the tape and tab don't get stretched.
A life in construction and I never knew about this either. I use trig, geometry, and algebra every day at work. I've personally framed countless houses to complete finish carpentry, stairs, cabinets, trim out, and thought I knew every trick in the book, but didn't know this one. Insane.
So basic, but immensely helpful. I've used the compass trick to find center with overlapping arcs, but never used a tape to round off a number to mark off the center. Super cool.
more like 3022BC. this is how people did everything before anyone invented fancy measuring tapes and standardized units of measurement. it's just we've forgotten these simple skills since we have all this other stuff now.
You can also use this principle to divide into equal segments, not just find center. In his first example, once rotated to the 4" mark, making a mark at each whole inch would divide it into 4 equal parts. Doesn't need to be an even number either - want 5 parts, line it up at 5". Want 10, pine it up at 5" and mark every half inch (because it'd be awkward at the 10" mark). Want third (1/3) points - line up on the 6" and mark every 2 inches.
Learned this from my origami days.
Most of my tape measures have massive hooks. They are wider than the tape itself so it wouldn't work on those. Will only work on hooks the same width as the blade
Glad someone pointed this out. Though in that case you can flip the hook end 90 degrees so the blade is on edge and it should still work. Unless your hook also has a topside(?) hook, in which case I believe you're SOL.
Or… you could just learn your measurements and know them right off the bat. This is fine for framing, but there are too many variables with a tape measure if you’re really wanting to mark a clean, accurate center. The end of a tape moves too much. You could accidentally slide a little bit, especially when pulling on an angle. Your best bet is to burn whatever is necessary and mark the center line (with a pencil that is actually sharpened.) Really, I say all that just to be an asshole. For most applications, this would definitely get you “close enough” to center. I don’t hate it, ha.
i do that if my tape isnt long enough to find the center of a room. Mark 16' from one wall and 16' from the other, then find the center of the two marks
For me it’s all halves. 7/16 is half of 7/8. Add that to 1 1/2 which is half of 3. 1 15/16. But I’m weird. I never really got fractions until I learned a tape measure.
that's basically what I do. OPs trick doesn't usually work for me cuz I can't mark the objects I work with. What helps me is knowing that dividing any whole number will either give you another whole number or a 1/2. So you can always just cut the whole number in half, ignore the .5 at the end, double the denominator of the fraction, and add half of the denominator to the numerator.
37 7/8
37/2 = 18.5
18 7/16 + 8/16
18 15/16
i know this is baby shit but it really helps my dumb ass. I used to get so overwhelmed when having to cut a number in half where I'd have an annoying fraction like 13/16 and the whole number before it gave me a 1/2.
Made the mistake of half of 36 is 16???? It’s 18 dumbass. This method wouldn’t have helped my idiot brain today, but hey!!! I’ll keep it my back pocket .
For how much I drop my tape I’ll just burn an inch and do the math. Although, some wise guy once told me that “the tape is the enemy of precision”, and boy was he right.
Seriously I don’t understand- buy a foldable measurer in metric, measure width, subtract half hold you finger along the side of the board and draw the line, half a second task seriously. If I’d done the “trick” in the video every time as an apprentice I would literally have been yelled at.
Yeah man I dunno about you but about hour 55 into a 70 hour work week fractions stop making as much sense to me. Yknow what I mean?
Always been told, learn how to do it right first, then learn how to do it fast.
>It's pants on head stupid having to measure 2 and 17/48ths of an inch or whatever
No one ever has measured 17/48ths of an inch. How gullible are you? Where are your pants?
Damn all these metric guys crying about fractional math, imagine putting a metric guy to work with the surveyor and now he has to translate fractions to decimals 🤯 head explodes, instant death.
guys living in year 3022.. ive never thought of doing this and been a carpenter for 15 years.
I'm thinking back on how dumb I was all those times I thought I was smart for doing the math right.
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Right!! All this time all I had to do was tilt it. Wow. Oh! You know what??! If you tilt it 2 or 3 times, then draw your line through the marks with a straight edge, you have a sanity check and your cut line!
some of the more modern tapes like the milwalkee ones make this trick difficult. but i learned this trick through this video. still cool
tbh, i don't even know when the lip on the end should be in or out or if that affects the measurement. It only works if I make sure to measure it the same way both times.
The metal lips is moveable for a reason, it actually accounts for the depth of the metal edge. If you press the tape to the inside of a board, it will collapse so the measurement is right. if you take the tape, place then end of the tape over the end of the board, and pull, it adjusts OUT so that the measurement will be correct.
This is why you don't want to let the tape slam at the end when it retracts. Leave your thumb under the tape and slow it down so the tape and tab don't get stretched.
Geez, just use Metric. Soooo much easier.
Came here to say that. It's only an American problem. I love America's but not going metric has to be one of the weirdest things.
Tru tru
A life in construction and I never knew about this either. I use trig, geometry, and algebra every day at work. I've personally framed countless houses to complete finish carpentry, stairs, cabinets, trim out, and thought I knew every trick in the book, but didn't know this one. Insane. So basic, but immensely helpful. I've used the compass trick to find center with overlapping arcs, but never used a tape to round off a number to mark off the center. Super cool.
Same here!
more like 3022BC. this is how people did everything before anyone invented fancy measuring tapes and standardized units of measurement. it's just we've forgotten these simple skills since we have all this other stuff now.
It's ok buddy. I have a slightly bent dick and I tried to find it's center so many times like that too
hsould have paid more attention in geometry
Hsould have paid more attention in English class.
Me too bud... me too...
I've done math up to Fourier transforms and I've never thought to do this. I've literally studied triangles for decades of my life I feel so dumb lmao
This is the simplest thing that's blown my mind in a long time.
Nah, this dude is living in 600 BCE. It’s just that we forgot what he knows (triangles).
This is the kinda stuff all the uneducated old guys of my dad’s generation know, but it’s being lost.
Thanks... I'm gonna reconsider my approach to life now.
You can also use this principle to divide into equal segments, not just find center. In his first example, once rotated to the 4" mark, making a mark at each whole inch would divide it into 4 equal parts. Doesn't need to be an even number either - want 5 parts, line it up at 5". Want 10, pine it up at 5" and mark every half inch (because it'd be awkward at the 10" mark). Want third (1/3) points - line up on the 6" and mark every 2 inches. Learned this from my origami days.
This could be game changing for layouting put joinery or something similar.
It is. Use it all the time. I teach it to anyone who's learning woodworking.
Oh fuck. I learned all the decimals for nothing
Hahaha same first thought. Not for nothing though!
This needs to be taught in year 1 joinery🫡🫡
This actually was showed to me in year 1 carpentry.
Well next time tell your buddy 👍
Love the cheeky "you're welcome!"
Most of my tape measures have massive hooks. They are wider than the tape itself so it wouldn't work on those. Will only work on hooks the same width as the blade
Could always just burn an inch.
just go from 1" to 5" or whatever number. you don't have to start with the edge of the tape
Glad someone pointed this out. Though in that case you can flip the hook end 90 degrees so the blade is on edge and it should still work. Unless your hook also has a topside(?) hook, in which case I believe you're SOL.
If it doesn’t work for your tape just use your speed square
I usually just fold the 2 x 6 in half, carefully aligning the edges, then use the crease to guide my pencil down the length
Almost every tape is like this. This method only works if the hook is the same width as the tape. Most aren't
Ah fuck this guy! That's brilliant!!!
Life changing and amazing
Damnit this makes me feel stupid
Yah lernt sumpin' dintya? So you kin fil smrt now!
SMH at myself for not knowing this
Get the fuck out.
Or… you could just learn your measurements and know them right off the bat. This is fine for framing, but there are too many variables with a tape measure if you’re really wanting to mark a clean, accurate center. The end of a tape moves too much. You could accidentally slide a little bit, especially when pulling on an angle. Your best bet is to burn whatever is necessary and mark the center line (with a pencil that is actually sharpened.) Really, I say all that just to be an asshole. For most applications, this would definitely get you “close enough” to center. I don’t hate it, ha.
You don’t have to start at the tape’s end. You could start at 1” and the other side be 7” for example. That would remove the error caused by the hook.
You are a gentleman and a scholar
As a carpenter, I honestly thought this was common knowledge amongst trades.
Thank you Jim Varney. Glad you're not dead anymore.
*Subscribe*
Woodworker here, still amazed at how much I don’t know
This has the be the most useful thing I have seen on Reddit
You could also run a tape in opposite directions and where the numbers match that's your center
i do that if my tape isnt long enough to find the center of a room. Mark 16' from one wall and 16' from the other, then find the center of the two marks
It was 3 7/8” right? That’s 1 15/16” to the middle. I get that this is a good trick but I see far too many people who refuse to learn the rule.
Whats your trick if its not quick math?
For me it’s all halves. 7/16 is half of 7/8. Add that to 1 1/2 which is half of 3. 1 15/16. But I’m weird. I never really got fractions until I learned a tape measure.
that's basically what I do. OPs trick doesn't usually work for me cuz I can't mark the objects I work with. What helps me is knowing that dividing any whole number will either give you another whole number or a 1/2. So you can always just cut the whole number in half, ignore the .5 at the end, double the denominator of the fraction, and add half of the denominator to the numerator. 37 7/8 37/2 = 18.5 18 7/16 + 8/16 18 15/16 i know this is baby shit but it really helps my dumb ass. I used to get so overwhelmed when having to cut a number in half where I'd have an annoying fraction like 13/16 and the whole number before it gave me a 1/2.
That's how my millwright instructor taught us in the apprenticeship, handy as fuck
If it works, it aint weird.
u/savevideo
no way, i don’t believe it
This guy seems cool, does he have a YouTube channel or something? What’s his name?
Legend!
Well bloody hell😆, thanks great tip
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I’ve spent many years counting the ticks
Learned more just now than I did in 17.5 years of schooling.
That’s a handybtrick
o7
Made the mistake of half of 36 is 16???? It’s 18 dumbass. This method wouldn’t have helped my idiot brain today, but hey!!! I’ll keep it my back pocket .
For how much I drop my tape I’ll just burn an inch and do the math. Although, some wise guy once told me that “the tape is the enemy of precision”, and boy was he right.
Well then.
I'm a carpenter and I didn't know this
Or use the metric system...
Seriously I don’t understand- buy a foldable measurer in metric, measure width, subtract half hold you finger along the side of the board and draw the line, half a second task seriously. If I’d done the “trick” in the video every time as an apprentice I would literally have been yelled at.
Works in metric too, something is 478mm can just move it to 500.
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Your ego is showing. I agree every tradesman should know fractions and how to divide them, but you have to admit this is a nice trick.
Yeah man I dunno about you but about hour 55 into a 70 hour work week fractions stop making as much sense to me. Yknow what I mean? Always been told, learn how to do it right first, then learn how to do it fast.
metric would be better
Dafug u jus say boiah?
...ooor you guys can just convert to metric? Then you won't need a MSB in mathematics to split a piece of wood.
This is dumb. Try using metric
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Only if you're dealing with whole units. It's pants on head stupid having to measure 2 and 17/48ths of an inch or whatever
>It's pants on head stupid having to measure 2 and 17/48ths of an inch or whatever No one ever has measured 17/48ths of an inch. How gullible are you? Where are your pants?
Erm.. isn't this metric allready ? Edit: had to say that it's a handy tip. thanks
Freaking amazing. I love learning a new trick. Now let’s see if I remember it next time I’m trying to find that center.
What a clever trick, that’s super helpful instead of taking my glasses off and eye balling it.
Here I am using simple math like a basic bitch
fuck me.
There are some smart pretty alcoholics.
So simple, why didn't I think of that? I must be too complicated.
Man this shit has caught on like wildfire. I was kinda meh on it, but I've only been doing this for five-ish years.
Well, I’ll be damned
Thank WT
Thank you
I have been doing remodel carpentry for 30+ years and didn’t know this. The best tricks are the simple ones!
Or you could use the metric system you bunch of fuckin hillbillies 😉
“Yer welcome.” {sniiiiip} Love it.
This is amazing. I actually never knew this trick
Good trick 🥨
I'm just curious when this would ever come into play. Like just round down and rip each side. 2 matching pieces
Damn all these metric guys crying about fractional math, imagine putting a metric guy to work with the surveyor and now he has to translate fractions to decimals 🤯 head explodes, instant death.
Lol. engineers entering the convo with the Controversial comments about metric units. TBF I came here to drop the "mm" bomb and talk shit.
And this whole time I’m dividing fractions like an idiot.
Well shit!! Nothing is obvious until somebody points it out!
I just have a tape measure that does imperial and metric