fitting irregular pieces

[Tom Hintz (Guest)]

I have found a way of fitting things like shelves, panels or anything else that needs a close fit between other parts but is a pain to measure up. Use those little sticky notes and a pice of cardboard.
I have a story with pictures about the process on my site at:
http://www.newwoodworker.com/notefitng.html

Now I fit like I know what I am doing!

Tom Hintz
www.newwoodworker.com

[woodchuck1954]

The fastest way is to have a circle compass,with a pencil on one end. You have a thin lip of wood,on the front edge of the shelf,cabinet or whatever. You use the compass by getting close to the wall and put the pointed end to the wall,the pencil on the wood. You simply scribe a line down the full length,then sand,plane or saw along the scribe line,instant fit. The easiest way to accomplish this is to have a face frame that sticks out past the box. Then you only trim the frame. You only need about 1/4".

[Tom Hintz (Guest)]

To fint one piece against another, or another object, I doo use the compass. But when you have to fit something within more than one piece, especially where you can't get the piece in to start with to do the compass deal, these note papers work great.

Tom Hintz
www.newwoodworker.com