Dividing a piece of timber into equal parts has never been easier, thanks to this useful trick.
If you’ve ever had to divide a piece of timber into equal parts, you’ll know that it can be quite frustrating especially when the timber isn’t an even number and you’re dividing by more than two. Here’s the solution:
In this example we have a piece of plywood that is 350 mm wide. We need to divide it into four equal parts, which means three lines and three cuts. We could use a calculator to divide 350 mm by four to get 87.5 mm, and then use a tape measure to measure 87.5 mm, but that gets fiddly.
Instead, round off the 350 to a larger number that is easily divisible by four such as 400. If you divide 400 by four you get 100.
Take your tape measure and put one end at one far corner of the board. Angle the tape measure so that the 400 mm mark is on the close side of the board. Make marks every 100 mm (100 mm, 200 mm and 300 mm).
Move the end of the tape measure to the opposite corner of the far edge and once again angle the tape measure until the 400 mm mark is on the close edge and make marks at 100 mm, 200 mm and 300 mm.
All that’s left to do is join the marks up with a straight ruler and your board is equally divided and ready to be cut.
Another quick trick brought to you by the Builders workshop.
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