As I age, it’s getting harder to lay out precise measurements, because fine demarcations in 1/64ths or hundredths of an inch are difficult to see. If this is tough for you, too, here’s a simple workaround. I use a magnifying glass to enlarge the scale on my ruler, and I stick a piece of painter’s tape exactly at the desired measurement. Now I can transfer this distance onto my workpiece without magnification: I just set the rule into position and press the tape down onto the workpiece. Then, I place the edge of my marking knife along the edge of the tape and knife a reference mark at the precise length I need.
-Bill Wells
Olympia, Washington
