Inside Measuring Tool??

 
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Old 03-22-2008, 06:55 PM   #1
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Inside Measuring Tool??


Hey guys I was wondering if anyone has seen a measuring tool for measuring inside distances? For example, I was hanging a couple door slabs today in an older croaked house. I used my tape to measure several points on the inside of the jamb, but because the trim had no egress I had to bend the tape inside.It would have been nice and more accurate to have a tool to measure inside to inside. Anyone have any tips, tricks, or tool recomendations?



Thanks, Dave

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Old 03-22-2008, 06:57 PM   #2
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


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Originally Posted by dkillianjr View Post
Hey guys I was wondering if anyone has seen a measuring tool for measuring inside distances? For example, I was hanging a couple door slabs today in an older croaked house. I used my tape to measure several points on the inside of the jamb, but because the trim had no egress I had to bend the tape inside.It would have been nice and more accurate to have a tool to measure inside to inside. Anyone have any tips, tricks, or tool recomendations?



Thanks, Dave
Check out the Disto brand
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Old 03-22-2008, 07:04 PM   #3
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


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Originally Posted by rbsremodeling View Post
Check out the Disto brand
Oh I did, they sure are nice. Its either between the bosch, stabila or disto. This money is burning a hole in my pocket


But I was thinking something more for smaller distances maybe some old trick or an expandable ruler or something?




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Old 03-22-2008, 07:57 PM   #4
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


folding wood rule with extension should help
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Old 03-22-2008, 10:14 PM   #5
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


Use what is called a story stick. Two pieces of wood each slightly shorter than the opening. Put them side by side and spread them to the width of the opening, clamp them together and then measure the resulting length.
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Old 03-22-2008, 10:25 PM   #6
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


just put tape inside, measure plus the case.
stanley 12' is 2" case and 25' is 3"
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Old 03-23-2008, 01:07 AM   #7
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


Absolutely accurate....
Butt tape to one end make a mark
at 2'. (arbitrarily)
Turn the tape around, butt the tape,
measure to the mark.
Add 2'.
Viola!
Alternate...
Make a mark(1',2'...whatever)
on a piece of 1X1, butt it to
one end, butt the tape to the
other end, measure and add (1',2',whatever).
Also works with a folding rule
as long as the opening is
less than 12'.
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Last edited by neolitic; 03-23-2008 at 01:12 AM.
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Old 03-23-2008, 01:43 AM   #8
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


I thought that's what God made the folding wood rule for?
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Old 03-23-2008, 08:50 AM   #9
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


I always measure from one point outwards to an even inch as close as I can get, then make a mark, then reverse the tape and measure the remaining side and add to the first. Never been wrong yet.
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Old 03-23-2008, 08:53 AM   #10
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


Quote:
Originally Posted by CJ Handyman View Post
Use what is called a story stick. Two pieces of wood each slightly shorter than the opening. Put them side by side and spread them to the width of the opening, clamp them together and then measure the resulting length.
We also have done this too when we do remodeling. Instaed of measuring every stud with 2 men, just use 2 pieces of wood, place on bottom plate, butt to top plate, clamp, mark stud, cut, install. Simplest one man operation ever invented!
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Old 03-23-2008, 09:14 AM   #11
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


Measuring from one side and making a mark, then measuring from the other side and adding the first measurement works fine, - - if there's someplace to make a mark. But sometimes you need to measure in an 'open' space. One quick and accurate way that hasn't been mentioned is to keep a few 'set' spacer boards handy. If you held, say, a (exact-sized) 10" 1 X 2 against one side of the opening and then pulled your tape to it, - - you'd get a straight read instead of having to curl your tape. Then you would just add the 10" to whatever your exact reading was.

It's probably most convenient to use a 10" if you're reading in inches, - - or a 12" if you're reading in feet.
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Old 03-23-2008, 09:37 AM   #12
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


Quote:
Originally Posted by CJ Handyman View Post
Use what is called a story stick. Two pieces of wood each slightly shorter than the opening. Put them side by side and spread them to the width of the opening, clamp them together and then measure the resulting length.
I have used a slightly different version of this, (it also helps to find low spots on the floor, when installing cabinets.)

Example, 32" wide door opening, get 2 pieces of wood 24" long +/-, lay them out on the ground so they overlap, and create a 32" long total length, I then put a arbitrary line across both pieces of wood, then transpose hash marks on both sides of one line at 1/8, 1/4, 3/8, etc.

Take the two pieces of wood, extend them out to the jamb, and add or subtract from 32" based on how the hash marks line up.
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Old 03-23-2008, 10:02 AM   #13
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


Quote:
Originally Posted by neolitic View Post
Absolutely accurate....
Alternate...
Make a mark(1',2'...whatever)
on a piece of 1X1, butt it to
one end, butt the tape to the
other end, measure and add (1',2',whatever).
Also works with a folding rule
as long as the opening is
less than 12'.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom R View Post
Measuring from one side and making a mark, then measuring from the other side and adding the first measurement works fine, - - if there's someplace to make a mark. But sometimes you need to measure in an 'open' space. One quick and accurate way that hasn't been mentioned is to keep a few 'set' spacer boards handy. If you held, say, a (exact-sized) 10" 1 X 2 against one side of the opening and then pulled your tape to it, - - you'd get a straight read instead of having to curl your tape. Then you would just add the 10" to whatever your exact reading was.

It's probably most convenient to use a 10" if you're reading in inches, - - or a 12" if you're reading in feet.
"Two people divided by a common language."

Happy Easter!
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Old 03-23-2008, 10:11 AM   #14
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


Quote:
Originally Posted by neolitic View Post
"Two people divided by a common language."

Happy Easter!

Sorry about that, - - take it as a compliment, though, - - I tend to skip over your posts sometimes 'cuz I already know you know what you're talking about . . .

Happy EASTER!!
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Old 03-23-2008, 10:18 AM   #15
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


Quote:
Originally Posted by Tom R View Post
Sorry about that, - - take it as a compliment, though, - - I tend to skip over your posts sometimes 'cuz I already know you know what you're talking about . . .
Happy EASTER!!
You usually explain it better
anyway.
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Old 03-23-2008, 10:21 AM   #16
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


I use this. It's made from a dedicated parts kit at Lee Valley. Comes in real handy for inside measurements and diagonals.
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Old 03-23-2008, 11:31 AM   #17
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


"I thought that's what God made the folding wood rule for?"

......that and scratching my back......
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Old 03-23-2008, 02:58 PM   #18
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


Thanks guys, for the tips. Robbie, that thing looks pretty neat, I'm gonna check that out. Its funny, after hearing you guys responses I think oh ya I have done that before, I swear my memory is being erased daily I will have to dust the cobwebs off of my wood rule



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Old 03-23-2008, 03:09 PM   #19
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


Quote:
Originally Posted by dkillianjr View Post
Thanks guys, for the tips. Robbie, that thing looks pretty neat, I'm gonna check that out. Its funny, after hearing you guys responses I think oh ya I have done that before, I swear my memory is being erased daily I will have to dust the cobwebs off of my wood rule
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Old 03-23-2008, 06:43 PM   #20
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Re: Inside Measuring Tool??


I use a Lufkin folding rule with the slide extension, just don't forget to add the slide measurement like I did once, ur twice. But seriously I like it and use it alot, cost only about $18.00.

Eddy
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