The Most Underrated Tool In Woodworking

[@charlesmccoy6078]

For the most part, just supporting the other comments on the dividers. Luckily I watched this video just a few days before cutting dados for two new cabinets, for my wife's bathroom. Thanks for making me look like a hero. The shelves were perfectly aligned and the dividers worked magnificent.

[@awlthatwoodcrafts8911]

I love learning about methods that don't require measuring or math. Not that I'm lazy or don't understand enough math, it's that these techniques actually produce very accurate results and it's all based on the pieces you're working with at that moment. I've been watching some videos recently on the J-Woodworking channel and his "measurements" are always just laying one piece over another and striking a line. So simple, yet so accurate.

[@patrickbink4617]

Just yesterday I came across my dad's old and rusted "spring divider" and thought of it as a compass. I thought, "I wonder if I would ever use this?". Then today I see this video and found out just how useful that tool can be. Time to take the time to clean it up and bring it into my shop. Jodee, Thank you for this excellent and instructive video.

[@terristroh3965]

Now I get it! I usually use the diagonal ruler and find a measurement that divides by how many I need it to.

[@melainekerfaou8418]

If I may suggest an improvement: instead of guesswork iterations to get the spacing just right, you could do it systematically, even in just one iteration for okay accuracy: after eyeballing the first setting, count how many rotations (or how many quarter turns) of the screw are needed to fall on the right mark at the end of the last segment. If you were dividing by N, this adjustment corresponds to N times the adjustment that was actually needed; so now reset the dividers to their previous length (either rolling back the correction or using the marks on the wood) and adjust by only 1/N of the correction. If it's not an easily divisible number, pick a good enough approximation and repeat the process.

[@gbear056]

I’ve learned one very important thing watching this video: never skip ANY of your videos!

[@recursoshumanosdesalud2823]

WoW !!! this was a TED talk about Compass, dividers, and calipers!!! wonderful!! A+

[@didiermory9517]

Another great video. I truly enjoy how beneficial your explanations/intructions are. Will be getting a divider or two in the near future.

[@vtlynch92]

This is an incredible demonstration of an alternative to measuring. I never even considered you could use geometry *instead of* measuring. This is great for people who find numbers challenging or think more visually. Also great to see how these can be used for mid-field board layout in ways that rulers are challenging.

[@mikerobertson5919]

The less measuring, the more accurate in my experience.

[@lincolndickerson1293]

As it turns out I am pretty good at math but the speed in which the marking and layout can be done with these tools fantastic. Walking the dividers across the piece is far faster than marking and double checking. Great information and explanation!

[@jimscott64]

Hey that was a really good video. I have always hated laying out screw holes and other things like that and never thought about using dividers, which I already have but have never used. Will be using them all the time now thanks to your video. Thanks very much for showing us that stuff. Really good stuff to know.

[@torinhalsey6313]

Another useful and educational video. You have a talent for succinctly explaining your topic. This method looks a lot easier than how I would have done it.

[@richardc6932]

Based on your recommendation in the video, I have ordered two of these dividers from Amazon. Hopefully the quality and accuracy are better than the reviews that I have read to date. At the selling price I don’t expect them to be up there with the level of a Starrett product but it would be nice to have a decent quality pair that might spend their life in a dark bottom drawer of my tool cabinet.

[@Jake_Cotumaccio]

Great info as always, thanks man. You’ve probably seen these, but Woodpeckers (and I’m sure other companies) make an equal spacing divider tool that expands like an accordion and does something similar. I’m not sure if you can use it to create a divot for a drill bit to reference, but it’s another cool tool you might like. Izzy Swan uses his a lot if you want to check that out.

[@krisfreyermuth935]

You can also get these at www.chipsfly.com/point-2-point-layout-tool.html

[@pipwerks]

“I might skip this video, those compass things have never been helpful for me.” 11 minutes later: “Dang, I need to buy some spring dividers!” Great tips, as always, Jodee!

[@arlintaylor9774]

Thank you for the information on the pencil.

[@terrmaso]

Great technique. 👍 I am not a math fan either and am always looking for an effective work around. I last used my engineers compass to lay out 5 point stars for some TX flags I was making. I found it quicker and more accurate than using a computer as every one I tried to print as a template wound up being off. Started using the compass and making adjustments and everything was as it should be. Wasn't aware of the uses of the "extra" tips until now. My brain tends to categorize things and assign their "proper" use, so I will miss added benefits. Thanks for keeping it simple.

[@stefaneriksson9634]

To divide by 5 I angle a ruler until I get something that is easily divided by 5. E.g to divide 264,5mm, angle the ruler until you get 300. Mark the 60mm intervals. Easypeasy.

[@BrianBarth]

Came here to suggest the same thing. I taught this method to a bunch of 9yr olds a few months ago.

[@JimPepperTactical]

Works very well! His way is more precise tho, IF you need it

[@melainekerfaou8418]

But then the marks are slanted, and I may not be able to reach in with my small square.

[@danpatch4751]

Excellent video, many tools are forgotten or never included in teaching of their use.

[@oscar-kibet]

This is truly a fine tool.Will place the order.

[@francomacedo2025]

I did learn something today. Thanks for the video.

[@skippylippy547]

Love this channel. I always learn new interesting ways to do things. Thank you!

[@MCsCreations]

Pretty fantastic tips, dude! Thanks a lot! 😃 I just bought one a few weeks ago to use for dovetails... Now I'm going to use for screws as well! 😃 Anyway, stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[@glenschumannGlensWorkshop]

Thanks. I have dividers, but do not use them much. Now I have a better idea as to how they can be useful.

[@BretClements]

Great info! You constantly amaze me with the knowledge you share. Thanks so much and keep it coming!

[@manofpower]

Good explanation...

[@chanel45151]

Really appreciate the education, thanks.

[@AB-ye7bw]

Well done! I’m on board 👍

[@prabhani1]

Thank you a great video. I was wondering what the name of that red pocket ruler is?

[@shadbakht]

Silly question: why would you countersink hopes when you can just use tapered screws?

[@paulwhealy5243]

Countersink creates a hole to fit the tapered screw head. Just screwing down a tapered screw very tight will crush the wood and it will splinter around the head. Will look terrible. If you are using oak or maple hardwood you probably won’t be able to tighten the screw flush to the surface. Screw might snap off first. Most countersinks for woodworking are angled to match the slope of wood screws - for a perfect flush fit.

[@shadbakht]

@@paulwhealy5243 ok thank you

[@johnleonard5857]

Great use for setting up screw locations.

[@wolfman75]

Thank You For The Great Info!!!! 👍😎

[@artvisionman]

Thanks Bros ,great video, look simple tool & method !But strange I never thought of it before 。

[@steveparkes1266]

Really well explained, thanks for sharing 👍

[@iakkatz128]

Actually the compass gives you a more accurate equal repeated sections than a ruler as we are talking points not lines. Its also faster. In the past most workers in a woodshop would have little or no schooling and they built beautiful furniture anyway. Story sticks for example use no measurements. Very informative and well presented. Thank you.

[@HarveyJohnWillmott]

What brand are they? They look nice. Also, what brand compass do you use?

[@hughtempleton8640]

Brilliant video 👍

[@maxc1520]

Excellent video, thanks a lot !

[@TrackstarPre]

Great vid! What little square are you using?

[@nefariousyawn]

Again, excellent carpenter's applied metrology.

[@configuremakeinstall]

Great clip as always.

[@haukefrahmann7849]

Which Pencil width und wich hardness to you use for the "normal marking" stuff?

[@richardc6932]

A little OCD here. I can’t find the dividers with brass componets. Where did you find those?

[@HWCism]

Nice job, thanks. Very practical

[@johnmack537]

Try an Engineer’s Scale ruler. Measure your initial distance on the 1:10 scale. Need to divide in half? Switch to the 1:20 scale and find your initial measurement. Need thirds? Switch to the 1:30 scale. And so on for dividing into 4ths, 5ths and 6ths. With practice (and a little math) you can divide into 8ths, 10ths, 12ths etc. All with NO “trial and error”!

[@makermark67]

Really like the compass set up with the pen, great tip. And man, you REALLY don't like math!! 😂😂. Another great video, keep doin what you do!

[@robm9772]

Can’t tell you how many times I’ve struggled with a tape measure and doing math in my head trying to get my exposed screws to be evenly spaced. Thanks for this!

[@karlriley1314]

What you really need it an EQUAL SPACE DIVIDER TOOL that expands like an accordion.

[@noelcolontoledo3054]

Great video, brother. Keep it up. 🤙🏽

[@hassanal-mosawi4235]

Thanks for sharing those tips!

[@MikeTaylorToolworks]

So brilliant!!

[@عليعباس-ج4ص3ض]

Excellent details

[@bullwinkle7542]

What size is it 8 inches or 12 I’ll get that mechanical pencil

[@FernandoM-8]

Do you know the maker of the dividers? Looks like the taytools link doesn’t work

[@jerryhoogeveen]

This was a good one! Thanks

[@vigrue-kingofscrew4804]

Great video!

[@BillizMuzic]

Omg thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@alpacamale2909]

how can you tell you are taking steps in a straight line, better use a ruler and make a straight line before taking the steps, and how do you know your other lines are in a perfect 90 degree angle without a set square? maybe experience?

[@melainekerfaou8418]

As long as it is straightish, the inaccuracy will be minimal. For instance, a 6-degree error in straightness (you'd have to be drunk to wander by that much) will mess up your measurement/division by no more than half a percent.

[@oakcool]

Nice, and a good reminder that simple tools can do wonders. I will say that a ruler with millimeters as you used would give you a high precision way faster, and yes most likely the measurement of your piece is divisible by 5, considering that the metric system is based on 10. I would spend a little time trying to learn it and start using it instead of imperial, you will see it will be way more precise.

[@thomasroach4791]

I usually use my digital caliper on anything less than 6"...I hate math 🤣. I like this method, especially for anything that is going to be exposed on a commission/production piece.

[@BillizMuzic]

Calipers?

[@andyman90125]

PLYWOOD teetering, if plywood is SOOO stable...why does it always cup and warp?!

[@muhammedrahil125]

Y dont u use a compass

[@garyjones7268]

People dont understand why they actual give you the curve needed for shelves or if you have certain sizing and spacing. Or holes and square pattern needed. I use for many projects. And i use like 5 different ones and sizes.

[@mosfet500]

The most underrated woodworking tool is the hand scraper. Know how to use and sharpen it and it works wonders!

[@ViewtifulJosh388]

Simply round up from 264.5 mm to 265 mm (I know it has to be precise but, c'mon, by .5mm? heck, there could be human error in that measurement) and divide that by 5 on your phone and keep adding 53 to the equation until you reach 265 (which you shouldn't cuz it's the other end). Way easier and faster. It's a good idea, but when you're using mm-- c'mon.

[@J_punkt_O_punkt]

Easier and faster for one board/edge. But probably not very precise as you can intruduce errors every time you measure. If you have a second edge with the same measurements, you are probably already faster with dividers. Well, most boxes have four sides... I personally use my old high-school compass with a second sharp point. But if you have heavy-duty dividers they also give you a little mark that allows you to put your drill bit in. When i - as a metric loving european - first saw people using dividers for dovetails, i chuckled. Then i tried it and now i do my dovetails this way.

[@sanderd17]

It's odd this doesn't use the traditional high-school math way of doing this with a compass and a ruler, but rather a numerical approximation technique (sneaking up on your correct divider setting). For some reason, the high-school math way expects it to be easy to draw parallel lines. While there's no woodworking tool that easily achieves this.

[@jimcarter4929]

Takes six divisions for five evenly divided screws.

[@Joemama-km9np]

fraction calculator on phone!

[@partsdave8943]

Nice! I tend to do things the hard way. This is a much better way, and takes less brain power!

[@philanders6902]

Hey ... you're lefthanded ... ;) ... looks so strange if someone does things true mirrored ;)

[@zachofall]

Seems like it takes a lot longer than just doing math and marking, unless you're repeating measurements

[@grantliddiard7742]

Could you let me know when you make something. I’m over tutorials. Cheers

[@gregmize01]

he's got the best tips channel around, move along. there's plenty of other channels out there for projects. Cheers

[@TimBall62]

OMG! Just use a calculator, even your phone has a calculator nowadays.

[@Andyloveswood]

Really? You can't divide 10 (and a tiny bit more) by 5 in your head? 10 ⅜ / 5 is just 2 ignore the ⅜. Besides, it's shop furniture! Space them by eye, and use your time and effort for something a lot more important.

[@Jake_Cotumaccio]

Obviously he can, but that’s not the point of the video. He’s demonstrating how to use a useful tool, not saying that they’re necessary (or even ideal) to use in this situation. Sure, spacing them roughly equally would be faster and nobody would be able to tell the difference if they’re off by a fraction. If being precise or practicing with a new tool is something he enjoys doing, then that is a good use of his time in my opinion.

[@PowerScissor]

I have many dividers, and the math is always faster. Any process that requires you to "guess" first and then adjust just doesn't compute in my head. 10⅜ ÷ 5 is close enough to 2 1/16 and much faster than guessing first. If you hate math, just a dedicated shop calculator seems faster than guessing and using a divider.