How To Find the CENTER OF A BOARD--2 Super-Fast + Easy TIPS!! (Diagonal Method/Double Pull) #shorts

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Frequently on a job site or project, you'll need to find the center of a board so you can either split it evenly in two, or mount hardware at a center alignment. This #short video from The Honest Carpenter will show you 2 extremely easy ways to do just that!

How To Find the CENTER OF A BOARD--2 Super-Fast + Easy TIPS!! (Diagonal Method/Double Pull) #shorts

The coolest method for this is an old classic, famous amongst many good carpenters and woodworkers:

1) Pull a diagonal measurement from one edge of the board across to the either.
2) Align the far edge with a number easily divisible by 2.
3) Make a mark at HALF of that number.

That's your center point! You can then pull a horizontal measurement from the edge of the board to that mark in order to find your actual center number.

But, I actually tend to use a different method on the job site. The "double-pull" method:

1) Find the total overall width or length of your board.
2) Drop the fraction.
3) Divide that number by 2.
4) Pull the half-number from one edge of the board and make a mark.
5) Pull the half-number from the other edge and make a mark.
6) Just place a new mark between those two previous marks by eye.

That's the center of your board!

I also like to use this method to just check for center on a previously pulled measurement. The center of a board should always read the same from both ends.

Thanks for watching!
The Honest Carpenter

[Sam_Francis]

To easily get the middle distance using head math, just double the denominator.
16 3/8 -> 8 3/16

[dannyps]

You would imagine using the metric system would be alot easier than all that

[MartinDeHill]

As someone who uses metric, I had *NO IDEA* it could be hard to find the center.

[ramonaguirre]

just make an X in middle from corner to corner no measuring tape needed. 💪🏼👽

[NWGR]

I've always used the first method; less steps involved, less chance for compounding error.
The first method can be used for laying out evenly spaced objects too; just tilt until you get a measurement that's divisible by the number of sections you need.
Great tips either way! Keep it up! Will you be building some projects in your new shop, and will we get a tour?

[brianj.simpson]

Center of a board is different from the center of an edge. Easiest way: The intersection of 2 diagonal lines from opposite corners will mark the center of a board and a line from that intersection perpendicular to an edge will bisect the edge.

[paulparoma]

Nothing like the English units for truly precise measurement.

[viltsz]

i'm european and i'm use metric. For me to find board center is so much easier.

[sullysullivan]

Or just use a straight edge from one corner to the opposite corner in a diagonal line then same with the last two corners, you'll get the center of the board where the lines cross. No need to measure and so much quicker.

[aurora]

You could also take a straight edge to draw the diagonals (or just the middle of them) if the board isn't very long. The diagonals of a rectangle are at the center of the rectangle

[kylebarreto]

The 1st way sounds absolutely ridiculous! The 2nd way sounds absolutely genius!

[MrNside]

Just measure across, halve the integer and double the bottom number of the fraction. So 16 3/8, center is 8 3/16. If it's an odd number to start with, add the half inch to the fraction. So 9 3/4 is 4 3/8+4/8, or 4 7/8. Just remember 1/2 = 2/4, 4/8, 8/16, and 16/32.

[AddyAdderson]

My uncle, a cabinet maker, says the second method is known as "measure twice, screw up once".

[terrenomic]

I use the 2nd type. The first one is ...amazing trick. So dumbfounded of me as slant measure is not my accuracy choice. Great advice.

[derekbaker]

For those of us in the Metric part of the world that first one is pretty handy!

[MrFPSWisconsin]

I always pulled two of the same measurements in a big room - say 60 and 60 and then measured between the two marks. Super easy for laying out a big measurement instead of trying to measure the full distance.

[gfotinakes]

I liked both of your methods, thanks. I often have small pieces of wood. To find the center, I cut a piece of paper to the exact size of the wood then just fold the paper in half.

[foldedtowel]

It’s amazing how everyone is coming here for carpentry but by the time the clip is over everyone is a damn mathematician.

[garywilliams]

Great tips - so simple to use; thanks for sharing 👍

[budgetaudiophilelife-long]

🤗THANKS ETHAN….FOR HELPING US 👍I have used this old trick for many years ( the 2nd one) for many years and I am old and retired 😉😂 but the first one is something new and I am sure it is ‘old’ for many …BUT BOTH CAN HELP MANY PEOPLE 🤗😍😍😍