Fractional Measurements Made Easy
Spike CarlsenIs adding and subtracting fractional measurements slowing down the progress of your woodworking projects? Spike Carlsen has couple of quick tips on how to make fractional addition and subtraction quick and easy.
Here's a great tip for subtracting one fractional measurement from another. You take your tape measure, pull it out, and put the end on the measurement you wanna subtract from. In this case, let's pick 51 5/8. From that, let's pick another number we wanna subtract, let's say about 11 1/16. You line those up, read the number directly across from it, and you have your answer, 40 9/16.
The cool thing about this is you can use it to add dimensions, too. In our case, let's pick any two numbers. We can pick 8 1/8 and add to it 38 7/8, and your answer is gonna be where the tip of the tape crosses the main part of the tape below.
This challenge is typically not needed when using metric tape measures. Having lived overseas for a number of years I converted to metric use and have almost never used inched and feet since. I invite woodworkers to give the metric system a try for a week to see how you like it.
It's a slide rule! (Now where did I put my K&E?)
Very helpful, very simple, very easy to do. Wish I'd have known this little tip 50 years ago. Never to late to learn though.