Category Archives: Design

Geometric Construction-Line Segments

Posted on May 3, 2014 by Greg Merritt

The Line Segment constructions allow you to quickly and accurately dived a line into equal parts or a desired ratio.  The equal segment construction may look familiar to those of you have used the ruler trick to divide a board … Continue reading →

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Geometric Construction-Perpendiculars

Posted on May 2, 2014 by Greg Merritt

The Perpendicular Bisector construction is one that you will use over and over once you add it to your tool kit.  On it’s own, it will allow you to establish a working center line from a baseline.  Which is one … Continue reading →

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Why All the Geometry?

Posted on May 1, 2014 by Greg Merritt

I am about to embark on a series of posts concerning geometric constructions.  I feel that it is important for every craftsperson to be able to translate their ideas into a layout drawing.  Geometry is the tool that will best enable this … Continue reading →

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The Compass

Posted on April 30, 2014 by Greg Merritt

One more tool needs to be discussed before I launch into the actual geometric constructions.  The compass.  The compass is a certain type of divider where one leg of the divider is replaced with a drawing instrument, typically a pencil. Like with … Continue reading →

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Your Most Handy Measuring Tools

Posted on April 28, 2014 by Greg Merritt

Most everyone who uses hand tools knows that you size your mortises to match your available chisels.  There are exceptions, of course, but generally this is how it’s done.  Why then do we not use our chisels to establish other … Continue reading →

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Build Yourself Trammel Points

Posted on April 27, 2014 by Greg Merritt

When you start drawing full-scale layouts on a regular basis there will soon come a time when you exceed the reach of your dividers. That is where trammel points come into play. Essentially they are just a set of movable … Continue reading →

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Dividers and a Straight Edge Are For

Posted on April 26, 2014 by Greg Merritt

In an earlier post I discussed dividers and hinted at what they could be used for.  Let me expand on that thought and give you a list. swinging an arc transferering a distance That’s it. Also, in an earlier post, … Continue reading →

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Build Yourself a Straight Edge

Posted on April 25, 2014 by Greg Merritt

Dividers let you lay down the important points in your design.  The straight edge connects the dots to give your layout form.  I know it seems a little obvious that you need a straight edge for drawing straight lines, but … Continue reading →

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Dividers-a Step Off in the Right Direction

Posted on April 24, 2014 by Greg Merritt

  Earlier I re-posted a blog entry by George Walker in which he expounded on the once highly important tool known as dividers.  This is a tool that was once so highly valued not a single artisan or scholar would be without … Continue reading →

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The Most Important Lesson in Woodworking

Posted on April 22, 2014 by Greg Merritt

To date, for me at least.  I know it’s an ambitious title for a blog post, just bear with me. There are innumerable plans, books, blog posts and videos on building stuff from wood.  Some bad, some good and some are … Continue reading →

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