The term “rule of thumb” likely began with carpentry. Carpenters may have used the first joint of their thumbs to estimate an inch. So the “rule” part of the phrase actually refers to measurement, but the term has come to mean some technique, method or knowledge derived from experience and practice rather than from some formal code or law.
And here are some rules of thumb to help in your projects.
1. Don’t hit your thumb! A little obvious, but we couldn’t resist. Actually, the worst damage to your thumb (and fingers) can happen not when you’re holding the nail, but when your hand happens to be nearby and you’re driving a heavy framing nail. A glancing blow can end up a couple of inches away, so keep that in mind.
2. The opening for a toilet flange should have its center one foot away from the wall behind the toilet.
3. When mixing concrete, the cement/sand/gravel ratio is 1:2:3. You can measure it with a shovel.
4. When ordering material, allow 10 to 20 percent for waste.
5. When measuring for kitchen cabinets, first find the high spot in the room. Measure up from there to establish the height of the cabinets.
6. Measure twice, cut once
7. When sanding, start with 80-grit garnet paper for the initial work, then go over it with 120-grit, and finish things up with 180-grit.
8. A power saw blade is usually 1/8″ thick. To shorten a piece that’s just a little too big, use half the thickness of the blade.
9. Board thickness may not always be exact. If you’re dadoing for a perfect fit, double-check the wood or plywood thickness first.
Stay tuned for more rules of thumb.