Marking hacks every DIYer should know

Most people have a Speed square in their tool kit, but very few use them to their full potential when it comes to marking cuts. One example of a quick hack: hook the notch at the end of a Speed square on a nail, and use a pencil to mark small circles. Or to mark angles, tilt the square until the angle on the square’s blade matches the angle you want.

Learn how to use built-in squares on saws.

We’ve talked a lot about the tools that help us find our marks, but now it’s time to turn our eyes to the things that literally mark our projects. A simple hack to make life easier is to keep a variety of instruments on hand.

Pencils are great for many purposes, but depending on the softness and shade of the lead, they can be too faint to see on some material. Sharpie markers work great and are easy to see, but while they may be tempting to use on surfaces such as drywall, keep in mind that if you plan to paint over the marks, you’ll likely need to seal with a special primer and possibly paint multiple coats in order to cover up those marks. Pens have a nice, narrow line and don’t need to be sharpened, but they can’t take abuse the way a trusty pencil can, and (like a marker) they can’t be easily erased. Lastly, if you are working with a gloss-finish material such as PVC or ceramic tile, consider keeping a grease pencil around so that your marking will be clear and easily removed.

Learn how to use plumbs, bobs and levels in order to make the most of your marking process. By using these tools effectively, you’ll be able to mark out your project quickly and get to the real work of assembly. And sometimes a simple hack can make things even easier! An inexpensive keychain laser can be modified into a plumb bob with a bit of sturdy string, and just like that, you’re ready to make your mark!

One of the best ways to make sure you have your design clear, especially if you have to convey your concept to someone else, is to draw it out. But it can be hard to transfer a three-dimensional concept onto a two-dimensional surface, even with graph paper and drawing aides. Luckily, this hack makes the planning stage go much smoother! Isometric drawing pads supplement standard graph paper grids with diagonal lines. This makes it much easier to represent the true form of your project on paper, and you don’t need an art degree to do it.

This product is especially useful when planning out a large or complicated project like a whole house remodel.

A common mistake for beginner DIYers is to fail to account for the width of the blade when factoring in cuts. An easy hack to avoid this is to trim your carpenter’s pencil to match the width of your saw blade. Make your marks on the cutoff side of your measure, and you’ll be able to see exactly how much material you’ll have left – a huge time saver when planning multiple cuts from a single board or panel.

When it comes time to work on your landscaping, it can be tempting to grab a shovel or hoe and break ground without adequately measuring and marking out your plan. Instead, take the time to do the equivalent of a “dry fit” that you’d do if assembling a piece of furniture. Use landscape paint to spray the outlines of your project onto the grass. It’s not permanent and will wash away with the next rain, or you can scrub or mow it out.

If your budget is extra tight, save a few bucks and use a length of hose to create a flexible boundary that can be adjusted and tweaked as you see fit. This kind of temporary marking will let you proceed with confidence and save time on your project.

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Part of the tool-modification family of tricks, this quick and easy hack will let you convert an inexpensive combination square into an efficient marking gauge.

Start by drilling a 3mm hole at the 25mm mark of the combination square. Centre it exactly on the 25mm mark, and be sure to make your hole perpendicular to the square (use a drill press if you have one). Once that’s done, you’re through the hardest part of the hack! Next, set the combination square to 25mm beyond your intended measurement, then place a pencil in your 3mm hole. Simply slide your square along the edge of your material, your pencil will mark a nice crisp line at the distance you need.

Finding the true centre of a board can be a bit finicky, but this hack makes it a snap to find and mark dead centre. Using a simple piece of 20mm plywood and a pair of 12mm dowels, you essentially create a U shape, then drill a hole the exact size of your pencil precisely through the middle of the board. To mark the centre of a board, put one dowel on either side of your workpiece and rotate until the dowels contact the workpiece. With your pencil in the centre hole, slide the centre finder along your workpiece. This is a great little tool that gets a lot of use. Make several of them in different sizes to accommodate large and small boards.

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This marking hack is part of a three-piece crown moulding installation that makes the whole project simpler. By installing the centre of the crown using two pieces of preset flat trim, you’ll have greater flexibility to deal with irregular walls and corners. And to get there, you’ll use a marking gauge. Measure the run and drop of the crown moulding, then join two blocks to make a backward L-shape. Place this against the preset trim to position the central crown.

Learn how to install skirting.

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Source: Family Handyman