Often I need to measure an existing building by myself. With my hand held laser I have no problem measureing the inside of a structure or measuring the outside if there are corners that create a target. The problem arises when it is a streight wall.
I need some way to temporarily attach a target, say to a masony wall. Something quick and easy that just sticks to the wall for a few minuets that does no harm or leaves no residue. A magnet that works on brick would be nice.
From building boxes and fitting face frames to installing doors and drawers, these techniques could be used for lots of cabinet projects.
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Replies
A collins mitre clamp
or similar, that you can make up with commercial ceiling wire.
The collins clamp might open enough to capture one brick. But in a pinch, you can make a stay put by bending some comm. drop ceiling wire.
The loop on the end is the ticket-slide a pc of notepad cardbd in the slot.
How about two bookends? Or, two bricks? Two L-shaped pieces of plywood?
Sounds like a job for ........
Duct tape!
Sticky putty?
What am I missing here?
All my measuring tapes have little hooks on the ends to catch the outside corners of things.
My 12', 25', 50', 100', and that big old 300' or whatever it is...they all have that hook right there.
Ya gotta read the post before you reply
What am I missing here?
He's using something like a Bosch Rangefinder, not a tape.
In your haste to reach your 3,000,000th post you missed that.
Joe H
no, I didn't miss it
I was making the point that there is no sense in using an expensive modern typoe tool when it does not make the job easier or faster.
Bought the toys
Gotta use them even if it's more difficult.
I have one of those rangefinders, they're trick.
But they do need a target.
Joe H
You're half right
He's gonna use the fancy electronic tool but you are on the right track. All he needs to do is use that hooky thing on the end of a tape to hold a bit of cardboard in place. See.... he keeps tension on the tape, the card stays put, he backs away to the point of measurement, then using his free hand on the electronic gizmo he measures the wall.
Bonus: He gets a second opinion should he care to look.
Wad of BluTak in a "snack
Wad of BluTak in a "snack size" ziplock bag has many uses.
A couple of hte "Command" stick-on hooks also useful.
The last poster mentioned a bluetak. I think my kids call this funtak. It holds pretty well and comes off easily. You can get it from stationary stores.
I bought a cheapy lazer (that I haven't used yet). It came with a bunch of those 3M gooey strips that are removable if you pull on the tab. I don't see why you couldn't use those with a regular unit, maybe with the assistance of some sort of mounting plate.