measure twice cut once

[Contrarian]

the hardware store cut the plywood into pieces about 1/8 too short.

I can still use them but not quite as planned.

[Martin Eastburn]

[FrozenNorth]

Google a "board stretcher" HTH

[Puckdropper]

"Contrarian" wrote in news:mk8l5b$pue$1 @odin.sdf-eu.org:

Last time that happened, I had only the guy in the mirror to blame. Fortunately, I don't have a mirror in my shop so he didn't have to endure my wrath. :-)

If it's important that a piece not be under a specific size, there's two ways to handle it: Have the piece cut oversize and recut it yourself, or tell the guy doing the cutting about the requirement. I usually use the first method, but have occasionally used the second method.

Puckdropper

[John Grossbohlin]

Sounds like they cut to the wrong side of the marks so you lost the width of the kerf... or the end of their tape measure was buggered up!

[Contrarian]

one of the two. :-(

[Greg Guarino]

Some years ago, I seem to remember being told up-front at a lumber yard that, while they'd do a pretty good job of cutting, it wouldn't be with the precision of a cabinet shop.

[Bill]

If there was no line, they probably used a different measuring tool. No two of mine seem to read the same.

>

[-MIKE-]

My guess-- he marked the measurement, then cut on the "keep" side of the mark instead of the waste side. I usually put an X on the side of the measurement I want the blade to cut to avoid such brain-farts.

I see hardware store saws as rough cutters for convenience. I would never use them for final cuts because I would never trust their accuracy, straightness, or for a clean cut.

[Swingman]

Why woodworkers buy their own tools ...

[Doug Miller]

-MIKE- wrote in news:mk9tqg$ptc$ [e-mail]:

I mark my cuts with a pencil like this:

|- or -|

to show that the blade goes right, or left, respectively, of the line.

Exactly so.

[Ed Pawlowski]

In some pro shops there will be a board mounted on the wall. "If you tape does not measure this at exactly 24" it is wrong and cannot be used"

Find a good one and adjust or discard the others.

[Ed Pawlowski]

Some stores will only cut oversize for that reason. You have to trim them, but if an error, it will be on you.

[DerbyDad03]

I thought they cut oversize to sell you more wood.

"Can you please cut this sheet of plywood in half?

"I'm sorry, we have to cut it at 48 1/2". You'll have to go get a second sheet if you want two 48" pieces."

;-)

[Swingman]

Absolutely correct, no matter how you cut it. ;)

[Leon]

You should now consider that a lesson learned. Let me guess, you did not consider the kerf.

[Leon]

You realize that NO ONE can cut a sheet of plywood in half and end up with two 48" wide pieces, right? ;~)

[clare]

Unless you start with a "standard oversized" sheet at 5X10 ft (3150 X

1530mm)

[Martin Eastburn]

They don't make 4x8' anymore. It is all metric and is close to that size. Check the thickness of a 1/2" or 3/4" board...

Mart> >

[-MIKE-]

Nope, just checked. It's dead on 48"x96", unless it's that crappy Chinese stuff I got that's not even square.