Hey, Dan, I need one of those! Sounds like a marketable tool to me, especially if you could keep the cost under, say, $20.
An improvement for the next prototype could also be a detachable, adjustable arm with a similar 1-5/8 in. socket on one end that could be used for, say, framing walls with studs on 16 in. centers. I have something similar that I made out of wood, but it's heavy and a bit awkward to use. As a matter of fact, I have an entire box full of wood that, most people, would consider scrap. But each piece has been cut to an exact length to serve a specific repetitive measuring or positioning function. Darrin Porter Senior Technical Engineer United Ocean Services, L.L.C. 1300 East 8th Avenue Tampa, Florida 33605 (813) 209-4247 (office)(813) 744-0011 (cellular phone) (813) 242-4849 (fax) [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]> ________________________________ From: blindhandyman@yahoogroups.com [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Dan Rossi Sent: Friday, October 17, 2008 10:40 AM To: BlindHandyman@yahoogroups.com Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Framing jig. While framing out the deck and landings, I kept wishing for a jig that I could slide over the rim joist. It would have a 1.5 inch wide slot on one side that would go over the perpendicular joist,and a quarter or half inch slot on the rim joist side that would be exactly in the middle. You would then know where to start your nails or screws to go through the face of the rim joist and into the end of the support joist. I tried building one out of wood but it didn't work all that well. I was just handed the exact thing I had designed in my head. A young woman here at work is taking a welding class. We were chatting one day and she said if I had any projects or ideas, she could try and do it for practice in her class. I sketched out my design, and she and her instructor made a perfect prototype of my design. Just imagine a 4.5 inch wide, 20 inch long flat piece of eighth inch Aluminum. Bend it into a square shaped U with 1 5/8 inches between the two legs. Cut a 1/4 inch slot down the middle of one leg. Cut the other leg down the middle and fold little wings back so that you open a 1 5/8 wide slot with wings sticking out perpendicular to the slot. The wings are half of 1 5/8 or about 13/16 inches long. I used 1 5/8 inches rather than 1 1/2 inches just for some leeway in dimensional lumber. So, now if I am doing some work like framing, I just drop the jig over the two perpendicular joists and I know exactly where to place the screws or nails. Way cool! -- Blue skies. Dan Rossi Carnegie Mellon University. E-Mail: [EMAIL PROTECTED]<mailto:dr25%40andrew.cmu.edu> Tel: (412) 268-9081 [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
