Sam Clark’s article Ticksticking inspired this solution to a common measuring problem. I needed to mount a wooden plate from which to hang a light fixture. I wanted to use four existing holes in the ceiling, which were by no means square to each other, to mount the plate. The problem was how to mark the hole locations on the plate for drilling.
My solution, shown in the drawing, was to hold the plate in position on the ceiling and lightly draw its perimeter. Then I removed the plate and, using a straightedge, drew four lines passing through the existing holes. These lines extended just past the perimeter line. Next I held the plate against the ceiling and I transferred the marks onto the edge of the plate, as shown in the drawing. When I connected the marks on the plate with a straightedge, the intersections of the lines marked precisely the location of the holes.
Barry Kline, Cleveland Heights, OH
Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #32
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Nice technique. In this day of lasers, another possibility is to use a plumb beam laser.
I needed to do an accurate layout for can light holes in the ceiling and it would have been easier to do the layout on the floor and transfer the locations to the ceiling with a laser, but I found mine wasn't leveling any more, so I had to use an old fashioned plumb bob.