How to Make Pieces Fit Perfectly! (Measure and Scribe at the Same Time)

How to Make Pieces Fit Perfectly! (Measure and Scribe at the Same Time) We'll show you a cool trick to help make all your cuts fit tighter and look more professional!

Anyone who works (or lives) in old homes knows how frustrating it can be to try and fit a perfectly square piece into a corner that is anything but- and adjusting your piece to fit the space can be equally infuriating. After all, how do you mark and measure a piece that doesn't have any right angles?

Luckily, if you've got a few basic tools hanging around you can both measure AND scribe your piece to fit perfectly AT THE SAME TIME. Oh, and the best part? Its so easy that you'll be able to do it yourself in no time.

From floating shelves to countertops, even stair treads and risers- this technique can be used to help you make virtually anything fit better. Give it a try, and be sure to let us know how it goes!

Looking for more 'infotainment' from the Refresh guys? Follow the links below for more DIY-friendly home renovation tips, as well as tons of satisfying, easy to watch videos on our other social media pages!

[wombat]

Awesome tip! Can't believe all these years of doing this stuff more difficult....there is an easier way! Huge thank you for sharing this one!

[maryhansen]

Great video: Short, simple and to the point! Beautiful results!

[leodabelstein]

This worked like a gem for built in floating shelves I'm doing thank you for that amazing trick!

[jenniferhiggins]

Thank you for making this simple for the people who aren’t expert carpenters, and not having to buy unnecessary tools for one project.

[sixteeschyl]

Gorgeous result, friend. Once countertype is scribed to fit, just give the aperture of the alcove one last measure to make sure before the final cut 👌

[artillerystudio]

If it’s a shelf you are putting up what do you put the paper on to figure all this out ?

[samgregg]

Nice approach. Well explained. Thanks!

[davidscott]

Another great tip, explained very clearly. Thank you.

[jcode]

What is the point of marking underneath the paper? I get scribing the sides but how do you get an even reveal on the front if the back wall is bowed?

[LukaszLukowski-dc]

Amazing, thank you, very very helpful

[treystills]

Awesome!!!! Thank you so much for sharing. Great on IG even better on YT

[gullenator]

I’ve seen this done a lot of different ways and this is by far the best method that I’ve seen. Thanks for sharing! What do you do if the back wall also needs scribed?

[morokeiboethia]

Just curious have you tried using those digital angle finders for square/rectangle shaped cutouts that don't necessarily have 90 corners? I picked up one made by Husky that was $20 and it's extremely accurate and is my favorite tool for gauging corner angles. They make a manual / non digital version angle finders but the problem with those is they only give you a physical scribe of the angle when you lock the 2 legs but they don't give you numerical degrees so if you're doing 2 pieces of molding thats joining on a wall corner to make an angle of X-degrees you dont know what to evenly split that angle at for the 2 work pieces so you kinda need a protractor to then read the manual angle finder but you lose a little accuracy doing that as well as time. The digital angle finder is the best of both worlds b/c it does the same thing as the manual one but also tells you how many degrees with a numerical reading so you can from there easily calculate in your head what to set miter angle to with your miter saw. But for what you're doing in the video all you would need are the angles on the corners and lengths of 3 of the 4 sides.

[jayjohal]

Do I fit the wall brackets first at the sides so I can rest the template onto??

[kimama]

Mind blown. Im trying to do this for a closet to go up against the wall but i cant figure out how to transition this to that. Any thoughts?

[StuckInTheMddle]

Great video and way of scribing that is a bit easier for the basic DIY’er. Would have been a nice addition if you had shown how you cut the piece without chipping (tape?)

[chrisblack]

I have two questions. First, will this method work on counter tops with a built in backsplash? Second, how would you use this method on a countertop that is 14 feet long? (Would you use a piece of paper that is 8 feet, or can you use one the size in this video?).

[charliehiggins]

You don't mention nor do you show which saw you use to make your cut. Wouldn't the tear out be different for a jig, track (circular), or table saw? I'm guessing an average homeowner, for whom you're producing this video, would use a circular saw. Even with a finish blade, it would be more advantageous to mark and cut on the bottom of your finish material so the top stays protected from tear out. This would change your order of operations. It seems like a critical detail.

[ChestnutRidgeWorkshop]

What's that tool harness you're wearing? I love that it's shoulder only, I want one!

[CRDT]

great video ! - can I ask what tool vest you are using, please?