Find the Center of a Board WITH NO ARITHMETIC!

[@TheMrmack070]

For years I would measure the width of a piece of metal and divide it in half then try to mark it perfect. But when you start getting in to fractions and do the math and try to find center it's never exact. Now I will use your way forever thank you .

[@Vid_Master]

Yep agreed, I use that same "simple" method of dividing in half and then half the time it doesnt work because I made a mistake LOL

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Sorry that I hadn't seen this before! I agree, whenever you add math into measurements, it's easy to make errors or not be as precise. Using the object itself or geometry a lot of times will solve the problem. Thanks for watching and writing! DFJ

[@abebeaku8369]

You're not the sharpest tool in a tool box 😂 ... just kidding

[@ronfox5519]

Your method of dividing the width in half can work very well if you add 1 step to the process. That step is to mark your dimension from both edges. If there is no error, the two marks will lay on top of each other as one. However, if you are off a little, your error will show up as 2lines with the center of the board exactly halfway between them. Use this method enough, and you will learn to trust it to the point that you don't even bother measuring first. You just eyeball the middle and make your marks, then split the difference between them. And same can be done with a tape measure on the length of the board or sheet. Also, you can make or buy a centering jig that are real handy.

[@karlforster4907]

Same here. Not any more

[@anthonyemmm]

I wish I had you as a mentor growing up. Guys like you have so much knowledge to share! Thank you!!!

[@1000sfgardens]

Anthony M , Aw garsh. Thanks for watching and writing! Sounds like you have some natural curiosity and life experience that you could be mentoring yourself! Best, dfj

[@tientrinh943]

Try to meet more people

[@A3Kr0n]

I watched ONE video on finding the center of a circle and now I'm bombarded with videos on how to find the center of something. This is madness!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Sorry to hear you are getting bombarded. It happens to us all unfortunately. Even is this video wasn't helpful to you, perhaps there are more in our catalog that might interest you. Best regards, DFJ

[@djparsons7363]

So how do you find the center of the Universe? Asking for a friend.

[@matrix64]

Yes, that’s called KZbin profiling

[@gr8dvd]

You can never be too ‘centered’ 😀

[@taradactyl5690]

@@djparsons7363 Ted Nugent wrote a song about taking "A Journey To The Center Of Your Mind".

[@nwrasch]

Why hasn't this man won a Nobel prize for this video?!?! Brilliant!

[@imfrommanndame]

Because this isn't novel. Babylonians probably learned this from prehistoric humans.

[@thomasschwarting5108]

Simplicity at it's finest! (Why didn't I think of it!)

[@DrLumpyDMus]

Because we'd have to give a Nobel prize to eleven gazillion math teachers. You had this in grade school. You were busy thinking of Tide Pods or Call of Duty.

[@ejicon3099]

Excellent instructions. My local woodworking shop constantly tries to sell me a plastic centering jig that I've refused to purchase every time. This works MUCH BETTER. Thank You.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad it helped! Best, DFJ

[@egomaniac247]

You posted this video 5 years ago and here I am 5 years later thankful that you did! Learned something new today from you!

[@RKSingh-pi4dq]

This is a great Video. Thank you for posting. I squared up the end of the board and used that as my starting point. Really appreciate you sharing this on KZbin.

[@OmegaRecon65]

I like this suggestion. It's so fast. I don't have to make a jig, & I don't have to do the fractional math in my head. Thanks for taking the time to make this video. Look forward to seeing what other videos you have to offer.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad I could be of help OmegaRecon65. Please keep watching and commenting!! Best to you, DFJ

[@trapperdan1953]

That's a no nonsense tip..... Thank you !!

[@chriserickson4417]

Yes, I did subscribe as I like your channel and your delivery. Thanks for the info/video!

[@guysolis5843]

Good to see you again. Great tip here. I remember watching your video on a drip irrigation. We used your system for the past few years and it changed the way we garden, very nice indeed.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Welcome back, Guy. Glad to hear that irrigation approach has been so helpful to you. Best Regards, DFJ

[@davide9658]

That's pretty good. You learn something new everyday. Thanks Dirt Farmer Jay.

[@tonycarubia9328]

You are a man that many can learn from. Thank you.

[@bryangonzales4883]

You’re a genius. Just found your channel and I’m glad I did. Nice work sir. Thank you.

[@Moonshinedave1]

Thanks for the video, I always use the combo square to "guess" at the center and make a mark, without changing the square I flip it over and put a mark from the other side, the exact center is halfway between the two marks.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Great tip! That's another great way to approach it and is in fact Rex Krueger's favorite way to do it. Check out his KZbin channel as well.

[@ce6827]

EXACTLY what I need to know. Thank you!

[@fredrikjaensson7350]

You need to do more videos about how to use that tool. I have just bought one, we dont use that tool in Europe, and I wants to learn all about the tricks to cut angles when i build small houses, patios and other things in my garden. Greetings from Sweden 😁👍

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Noted! Thanks for the feedback. Indeed, there are so many features built into these tools, much of which is not used. I'll put it on the list. Best Regards, DFJ

[@John-d7p]

Then, be sure to divide the width of the saw blade (kerf) and saw down the middle of the line or you'll be off-center by the width of the kerf.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Good insight!

[@6219ll-dq9ij]

Nice technique farmer Jay, many thanks.

[@coreygrua3271]

It is nice to see you on You Tube again Jay. This is a top notch idea. I’m missing the Tooele Transcript articles. Thanks for all the tips from you and Maggie over the years. Your sharing is truly a gift.

[@1000sfgardens]

Corey Grua Great to hear from you! Hope all is well for you. Thanks for the kind words and support. We are doing well. Thanks for watching and writing!

[@Toolsish76]

Omg that's so easy I been wasting so much time trying to calculate the exact middle I could have literally saved hours and hours. Thank you so much. I subscribed immediately after seeing that trick.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad it helped! Thanks for being one of our subscriber/viewer family. Best, DFJ

[@donnier3284]

Wow! I know this video has been posted for a while, but I just found it. Great video! I wish I could work with you for a while. I could learn many things for carpentry.

[@shobitakudtarkar6964]

The board knows Why do you need to know! You are an enlightened being

[@BADUH9]

The Donald Trump of woodworkin x,D

[@Mpafanai46]

The coolest trick for finding the center of the small task

[@l.p.amador2261]

Excellent!! Thank you for passing on the knowledge to others. Highly appreciated....

[@DirtFarmerJay]

My pleasure!

[@jayumble8390]

Love this! Thank you!!

[@mousepolice55]

Thank you thank you from the bottom of my math incompetent heart! You are amazing, you saved me from what would have been curse words, tears and finally a brain explosion and still no middle. You have a new subscriber. I'm looking forward to looking at past and new videos from you. Thanks again kind sir.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

mousepolice55 - welcome to our viewer family! I'm glad to hear that we could help. Best, DFJ

[@connorweaver2067]

Cheers from England. Great energy and straight to the point. Subscribed!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks for watching, commenting and subscribing connor weaver. We love to hear from our subscribers from ALL over the world. I have a French subscriber that has recently caused me to figure out how to use Google Translate to respond to his comments. So much fun!! Best to you Connor. Dirt Farmer Maggie.

[@dariode70]

Dude absolutely genius 100% Newbie woodworker so much appreciated. Subscriber for life lol...

[@3AMREVIEWS]

Simple and Brilliant!

[@natewu2442]

Just seeing you with the speed square, I immediately knew what you were going to do. I didn't even need to watch your video. I figured you'd just check the end of the board for square and use the edge instead of making an unnecessary reference line. Hopefully you learned something.

[@marcobrownstone]

I've been doing the Math thing for years and this is much easier. Thank you!

[@toddspires603]

Thank you for the video. I felt silly looking for this info. You put me at ease.

[@XwpisONOMA]

Simple is beautiful - Thank you DirtFarmerJay !!!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Our pleasure! - DFJ

[@kurtreinhardt6789]

Best trick I've seen in yrs - thanks

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad you like it.

[@Helaires]

Sooo easy. Thank you!

[@RelateGREAT]

I like this one! I've used lots of methods and have never seen this one before.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad you like it! Thanks for taking time to write. Best, DFJ

[@Memento-Mori-2022]

Jesus Christ, Farmer Jay you saved me headaches ! was about make a jig or buy one you made it simple, thank you and God bless you sir.

[@maxinenall9950]

Fantastic idea 👍 I'm always trying to figure the fractions 😱 I'm doing some remodeling right now and this will help me to get the cut exact 😁 thanks 😊

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad it was helpful!

[@flewggle]

Exactly what I was looking for. Thanks.

[@G.I.JeffsWorkbench]

Great trick. I’ll be using it and passing it on. Thanks for sharing.

[@phillipmonroy]

Thank you for the video!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

You're welcome!

[@user-ov7su1lg3h]

Thank you, DFJ!

[@bucky2292]

well done Jay! thanks !!

[@dannybutler5219]

Wow! And so simple!! THANK YOU!!

[@jbourdier6824]

you are a genius. thanks for such a great short video. Keep them coming.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks for watching and commenting J Bourdier. I don't know about the genius part but I sure enjoy helping my viewers "just do it yourself!". Best, DFJ

[@sandydobbie1255]

Great advice so simple and accurate !!,

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad you think so!

[@TrieuNguyen-mn8bq]

I learned something! Thank you.

[@seymourscagnetti1413]

Genius. Congrats! Cheers.

[@shafqatmustafa9166]

Man I like your style, your work and your background music...awesome

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad you enjoy it!

[@46bovine]

Neat stuff, Jay. Thanks.

[@nikkarel515]

simple and effective! Thanks Farmer!

[@naturalmystics-kd9vt]

Thank you never too old to learn new things you are great I subscribe in a minute

[@magicrobharv]

Wow !!! I never saw that before. Great tip!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad it was helpful! Best, DFJ

[@tommythiel9268]

This is great 👍 thank you

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad you liked it!

[@QNSwebmaster]

Excellent trick

[@johnsmall9729]

Thanks DJ 👍 Gonna try this technique on a board with (unequal) curves on both sides. Should be intarestin!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

How did it turn out?

[@johnsmall9729]

@@DirtFarmerJay I'm replacing the coverboards of a sailboat, using the existing as templates. The coverboard is curved (unequally) on the inboard and gunwale side. I don't have boards wide enough to do a coverboard in one piece, so I needed to split them down the middle. Today I used your method to help make a line down the middle. Of course I had to manually adjust the line with offsets to get a smooth centered line.Then banged in a row of nails to hold a curved batten in place which guides a hand-held jigsaw cut. I will mark-up and cut the new boards roughly to size based on the templates, then attach them to the templates and use a router with flush trim bit to get exact copies. Then I will edge-glue those to get full-size coverboards. All good fun! Thanks for saving me much head-scratching. Cheers!

[@crappo8459]

Thanks for sharing

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks for watching!

[@gregschlierf2931]

This is AWESOME. Will save me a ton of time.

[@milesbenton7217]

Great tip! Thanks!

[@johnedwardkeoniambrose1151]

I've used a piece of paper before to do that, edge of the board to other edge ..fold paper in half and X marks the spot, ..works great if you are without a tape

[@1000sfgardens]

John Ambrose that's a great idea, thx for sharing it!

[@victorj.garcia9861]

Men.. I have to give you a lot of blessings and thanks, that's awesome! You open my mind... fast and easy.. thanks again for share it..

[@robrourke5197]

Thanks for that , it looks easier than splitting it by numbers.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad to help!

[@Mastering3d]

So simple none of us new about it Until now genius ;p Thanks for sharing .

[@cesarromeromunoz1907]

Amazing, thank you very much 😃👍

[@rodjohnson2632]

Although I've known of other pretty simple methods for years, somehow I never thought of or came across this one, which just might be the simplest and best of all! Thanks!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Excellent!

[@llajeunesse4668]

I knew it was easy, but I can’t never remember. Thank you for sharing

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad it was helpful! Thanks for watching and commenting L Lajeuesse. Best, DFJ

[@gusloader123]

Very good tip, and 100 percent more understandable than some longwinded, confusing wannabe Einstein people on You Tube. I just liked it and subscribed.

[@PBS-nm1uu]

You sir are the best, looking forward to seeing more videos.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks so much. I'm glad you liked the video. Keep watching and commenting PBS#007. Best, DFJ

[@mandovapehater6988]

Pretty slick trick!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad you like it!

[@williamhollaway2198]

Awesome brother. Thanx for sharing.

[@JoseHernandez-im4wz]

Exelent trick...! Thanks

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad you liked it!

[@benkanobe7500]

Too cool for school! You just earned a subscriber!!!!

[@BrandonCabanillas]

Great advice. Ty

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ValioMadre7]

Ah toda madre. Gracias Dirt.

[@mauricebate5069]

Nice one farmer Jay 👍

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks 👍

[@miguelmartin4243]

Great tip

[@michaelmcdonough1989]

Great method Jay thanks

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Michael, we can all use simple techniques that make things easier without giving up accuracy or craftsmanship. Thanks for watching! Best, DFJ

[@MoldyBones27]

This was actually pretty handy. I felt like a dummy even looking up “how to find the center of a board” however I’m glad I did.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

I'm glad you did too! Thanks for watching and writing. Keep it up! Best to you and yours, DFJ

[@jtsands2008]

Duh... why didn't I think of that. :-) Great tip DFJ. Love the video.

[@carlpayne8008]

Thank Jay nice tip👍

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad you liked it.

[@JonDunnmusician]

You are correct to introduce such a clear solution, however you are incorrect about the source- geometry is part of mathematics Cheers

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Love it. Perhaps I should have said without calculations. Best, DFJ

[@JonDunnmusician]

@DirtFarmerJay Thank you my friend & fellow woodworker. Moreover, you can tell an intelligent, evolved compassionate person when they take criticism and turn it into a positive- standing ovation

[@chadturner9712]

Simple and practical. Why didn’t I think of that 😮

[@binopaalmeida2806]

Very smart. Thank you!

[@josephmccain8151]

my my my learn something new every day thank you mr. dirt farmer i knew you had some good wisdom when i saw your name @

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad to help! Thanks for writing!

[@petewoodhead52]

Thanks Jay!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

You're welcome! Best, DFJ

[@ephraim.1964]

That was awesome info, thank you for sharing!

[@davidclark9086]

Very informative.

[@mikenathaniel1521]

Thanks Brother!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

You bet!

[@frankjones8633]

This was GREAT!! Thanks so much!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad you enjoyed it, Frank. Best, DFJ

[@TheGoatShowMan]

Tip-O-the-day! Well done sir!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks! 👍

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad you like it!

[@trentthompson2928]

Thanks Jay!!!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad to help.

[@getyourfeelgoodbackbjones1576]

Thank you so much! That was very simple!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

THANK YOU. We highly value the "thanks" we get from our viewers....like YOU! Best to you. DirtFarmer Maggie.

[@Lolita327]

"Without math", proceeds to use math. He just found the the point at which he could then draw perpendicular bisector of the line segment he drew first. HS Geometry However, learning how to use a combo square or speed square for such tricks was to me the high point of the video. Very cool.

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Love it!

[@larryzielinski7067]

I learned that in woodshop my freshman year of HS in the late 80s. Sad shop class is not even available at many HS now.

[@johnmay371]

Thank you ....Great method

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad it was helpful!

[@Jerrden]

Life saver!

[@peanutbutter2597]

Wow ! 🤩 great idea thank

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Glad you like it!

[@DaveSteen]

Good information!

[@paulwingfield6381]

Just love learning things from wise older folks!!

[@DirtFarmerJay]

Thanks Paul Wingfield. I was fortunate to have a father that taught me a LOT of things. My hope it to pass along the favor with those whose father was either absent or not interested in doing things himself. Best to you, DFJ

[@paulwingfield6381]

@@DirtFarmerJay Wow! So interesting that you mentioned to help people where their father is absent. My father left us when I was 3 and didn't have a father role and now have the blessing to learn from people like you who posts these kind of videos! Thank you so much and wish you the best!

[@_1ben]

great tip thank you