It usually takes two people to hang fascia boards. Even then it can be pretty precarious out there on the end of a rafter, straining to support a heavy fascia board with one hand, while trying to line up a mitered corner and sink a galvanized 16d nail with the other hand. With the help of the simple jig in the drawing, even one person can do it.
I tack one jig near each end of the fascia. I drive the nails just far enough to support the weight of the fascia. Then I lower the fascia into the slots in the jigs (the slots should be a little oversize to prevent binding). The jigs hold the fascia in approximately the right place while I adjust it for alignment and nail it in place.
—Neal Bahrman, Ventura, CA
Edited and Illustrated by Charles Miller
From Fine Homebuilding #53
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I guess that works, so long as the fascia isn't bowed. But I'm sure after decades of installing fascia, you've never run into that problem, so your device would work perfectly.
Great idea. I work alone and jigs like these help a lot. Bowed stock is always a problem. Don't see where that changes any with the use of a jig.
Looks like something John Carroll would come up with. He'd probably clamp the positioning bracket to the rafter tail, which would probably make it easier to position the bracket accurately.
I highly recommend Carroll's book, "Working Alone." Even if you're not working alone, Carroll has dozens of tips to make your life easier. Having only 2 hands can be really frustrating- Carroll will teach you ideas that will give you that 3rd hand we all need sometimes.