Equipment

For most crosscuts in timber, a sharp pencil is the quicker and more forgiving marking tool. A knife line is […]

What a housing joint is A housing joint, also called a dado, is a straight-sided groove cut across the grain

A combination square is useful for more than marking a 90-degree line. Its ruler can measure timber thickness, and the

Mixed-unit site work is common: plans may be in millimetres, existing construction may be in inches, and imported hardware can

Dividers and compasses can both transfer the shape of a curved timber profile, but they do different jobs. Dividers carry

A sliding bevel is a simple tool, but on a roof it has to do more than copy one angle.

Tools and setup A folding rule can measure a recessed opening accurately, but the jointed sections make it less forgiving

What the shoulder does A shoulder is the line where a rail’s full-depth section meets a reduced section, such as

A try square and a framing square can both help you check a door frame, but they suit different parts

A marking knife earns its place when a pencil line is too broad or a saw needs a clean shoulder