door bottom

Common Options

If the bottom of a door is sticking, close it as far as possible. Set a compass to the correct height above the floor--usually the thickness of the threshold plus 1/8 inch for clearance. Hold the compass point on the floor and the pencil end of the compass on the door. Move the compass along the floor, scribing a parallel cutoff line on the door.

irregular cuts

For a complicated contour cut, use a compass that can be tightened firmly so it won't collapse or expand as you trace the contour. Place the new material next to the object it will fit around. Set the compass to the greatest width to be cut off. Take care to hold the two compass points on the same plane (in this case, parallel to the floor) as you make the mark.

odd angles

If you want to duplicate an angle that is neither 45 nor 90 degrees, use a sliding T-bevel. Loosen the wing nut so the blade can be moved without difficulty. Hold the handle against one edge and move the blade until it rests firmly against the other edge. Tighten the wing nut firmly. The tool holds the angle you need, allowing you to transfer it to the wood you are cutting. When making an inside measurement, as shown above, extend the blade fully to ensure an accurate reading.

compass

To mark small circles -- for boards that will be cut to accept pipes, lighting fixtures, etc. -- a simple compass will do the job. Mark a spot at the center of the hole and set the compass width to one-half the diameter of the hole. For accuracy, be sure the compass is tightly clamped in position and hold it as perpendicular to the surface as possible.

dividers

If you need to mark a series of equidistant points along a straight line, use dividers. Steel pins at the base of each leg grip the surface of the material you're measuring for good control. Use a swiveling motion as you step from one leg to the other leg.

center point

If you need to find the exact center point of a board, doing it with math can be confusing--what's half of 9-3/8 inches, for instance? To quickly find the center point, open your compass to a bit more than half the board's width and make two arcing marks as shown. The line between the points where the curved lines intersect is the center of the board.

tool

A compass works well for small circles, but if you have to cut out for a sink or another large, round object, you will have to use a little ingenuity. Make your own compass out of a pencil, brad, and string. Be sure to hold the pencil vertical as you draw.

For greater accuracy, make a notch at one end of a small piece of wood. Nail the wood piece in place with a brad at the center of the circle. The notch holds the pencil in place for a smooth, accurate line.

Sometimes, you may be able to find a round household object, such as a can, a bucket, or a wastebasket, that is close enough to the correct size. Place it on the work and trace around it.