MDF as Measuring Stick

[jstockman]

Guys,

I an new to woodworking.  So I will need a lot of help.

Questeion - Rather than using a tape measure to measure out a repetitive cut, can I cut a piece of 1/2 inch MDF and use this.  For example.  Lets say I am building cabinet carcases that is 31 inches high.  Rather that measuring out this on a tape measure for each cut, can I cut a strip of MDF that length and use it.

What are pros and cons? 

Thx a bunch for your replies.

Jim

 

[ajones]

I use story sticks all the time,much better than a tape, my new festool parallel fence is a really fancy story stick a bit of scrap mdf's a lot cheaper [big grin]

 

[Brice Burrell]

Jim, the short answer is yes, this is a great method for reliable measurements time after time. Try doing an internet search for "story stick" for all the info you'll ever want and more on this idea. Good luck.

 

[rwdawson]

Jim,

What you are thinking about doing is transferring dimensions rather than measuring them.  Measure once, transfer many times, if you will.  This is generally considered to be a much better approach to layout and marking up.

Search this forum for "story pole" and "story board."  There are many other places on the web where the same search will provide more information. Jim Tolpin discusses them in his classic book, "Measure Twice, Cut Once."  Just about any book that deals with making kitchen cabinets gives some time to this very useful technique.

If you are new to wookworking and have already come up with this technique, you are off to a flying start.

Good luck,

Richard

 

[Brice Burrell]

.....Search this forum for "story pole" and "story board."  There are many other places on the web where the same search will provide more information.....

Thanks Richard, that's what I should have posted above.

 

[Jesse Cloud]

Since you began your post with "I'm new to woodworking and need lots of advice", I'm going to offer some that is very basic, please don't be offended if you already know this....

The best way to ensure that all repetitive cuts are done the same is to have a setup that guarantees it and make all the cuts with the same setup.  The simplest example is to set the fence on the tablesaw to 31 and make all the 31 inch cuts at the same time.

On the Festool MFT, there are adjustable stops that slide on the fence, or you can clamp a piece of wood to 31 inches from the kerf in the MFT.

If you are just clamping a guiderail onto a sheet of plywood, make that MDF story stick, but make it a "T square".  Attach a piece of mdf at 90 degrees to the longer piece you will use to measure with.  Measure 31 inches from the inside of the intersection and cut the long piece.  Now you can firmly place the t square against the edge of the ply.  Otherwise there may be a little variation depending on whether you consistently place the story stick exactly on the edge of the ply.

Also, if you are using sheetgoods, do not assume they are square.  Search for threads on squaring plywood for details of how to make it square before you cut your carcass pieces.

 

[cje]

I had to cut some 16 8x4's of 12mm and 16mm MDF into some 340 pieces for a modular boxing system I developed for my wife's artwork.
I used maxcut to optimize the cutting plans. Then I used MDF story sticks (as the previous posts in this thread learned me they're called) for all the measuing, some 10 different sizes.
maxcut optimized in a way that cutting the same size repeatedly hardly occurred.
All the cutting went smooth, using my ATF65 and the guide rail.

There's one huge caveat though. One of mine appeared to be 407m in stead of the planned 417mm.
I got away with it by slightly adapting one of the router jigs when creating all the joining features of the panels, but it wasn't nice to find out after all the cutting was finished.
So, measure, measure again, cut, check and recheck the length of your story stick. And then check again.

Good luck, CJ

 

[rwdawson]

.....Search this forum for "story pole" and "story board."  There are many other places on the web where the same search will provide more information.....

Thanks Richard, that's what I should have posted above.

Brice,

Actually I should have included story stick in the list.  It shows up rather often.

Richard

 

[jstockman]

Guys,

Thank-you for all the input.  As I said I am new to woodworking and like a dry spoung in a desert for wisdom and knowledge.

Thx again.

Jim