How to Take Measurement For Your Custom Woodworking Project

I've seen many people struggling when it comes to take accurate and consistent measurement and an accurate cut. When we talk about custom woodworking project there are a few simple methods that can make your time in the workshop more enjoyable. Don't worry if you're just a beginner in custom woodworking. Eventually you'll learn these skills. Of course there'll be quite a few series of trial and error but it's ok. The best things you can do are finding a guide and take advantage of the experience that you had throughout these trial and error process.

So you have a few set of plans for your upcoming project. All the materials have been pile up in the workshop or for most people it's on the floor muddled with other unrelated stuff. The next morning you wake up and feeling excited to start the job. You bring out the measurement tape and you start cutting it off. Ok that doesn't fit right, you said. This kind of thing is pretty normal.

And these are the solutions. Step back for a while, take your time and learn how to measure your material accurately on the first time. Enjoy yourself and do it right on the first time. Here are a few tips for you.

• If your measurement is less than 12" you have to get into the habit of using rigid steel ruler. Put aside the tape for a while. The steel ruler will lay out flat on your work piece; it doesn't bend or have a riveted end. All these things have their own influence on the measurement.
• If your measurement is more than 12" then it's ok to use the tape but you have to take note that two different tapes hardly give the same measurement. Always use the same measurement tape until you complete the project. One best way is start the measurement on 1" scale and not 0 because it got a riveted end that can cause an error. A better measurement means better result. If you have a friend helping you make sure you're using the same tape so it'll be consistent.
• What kind of pencil do you use? I recommend you use a mechanical pencil. Maybe you'll grunt how often their lead tends to break all the time. Don't hold it straight down but hold it at an angle. You'll get a better and clean mark. Remember that you have to be consistent and make sure the marks is the same all the time.
• Mark all your cutting lines with a square. This will be a visual reference of your cutting lines. If you just scratching it you will end up guessing a lot especially if you have many woods to be cut. We want to make it as accurate as it can be.

I believe these will help you to get a good start for your upcoming project. Take your time and enjoy yourself. Custom woodworking can be something pleasurable. Take your measurement twice and cut it once.

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