Precision measurements are one of the key ingredients in successful woodworking. A miscalculation or improper measurement can ruin a project.
To improve your chances of taking a perfectly accurate measurement each and every time, it is a wise choice to opt for digital measuring tools. Using digital instead of analog measuring tools will add a level of consistency to your work that simply isn't possible otherwise.
Fortunately, the serious woodworker will find that there are a great number of digital measurement tools on the market today. Depending on the type of work you do, you may be able to get by with just one of these tools - or you may need several. Below you will find a list of some of the most-helpful digital measurement tools for woodworkers.
1. Digital Sliding T-Bevel Gauge
A quality sliding T-bevel, such as the one from General Tools, is nearly a must-have for any serious woodworker. Finding the right angles are a crucial element of any woodworking job, as you want to bring together the various pieces of your project perfectly at the corners. Without the ability to accurat
ely measure angles, you would be left to make educated guesses - and guessing should never be in a woodworkers mind.
Some of the projects that this tool will help with include crown moldings, door frames, trim, and more. Since it does inside and outside angles as well as offering a full 360oF measuring range, you will find that this tool is extremely versatile. It is easy to learn how to take accurate measurements with a digital T-bevel, and it is sure to find a permanent place in your toolbox after just a couple of uses.
2. Digital Calipers
Another essential pieces of gear for a woodworker is a quality set of digital calipers. This is a simple tool to use, as you just need to slide the calipers around the object in question in order to receive an accurate measurement. Finding the thickness of a piece of wood, or the size of a gap between two pieces of wood, is the strength of this tool. Many models are accurate to within 1/1000th of an inch, meaning you can extract a far more-accurate measurement by using digital calipers than you would ever be able to achieve with an analog model.
Even if you aren't sure that you absolutely need a set of digital calipers to complete your projects, you may want to pick up one of these handy units anyway. They are a tool that certainly fits into the category of 'used more than expected'. As with the T-bevel listed above, it is only a matter of time before you find that the digital calipers are being pulled from your toolbox time after time.
3. Moisture Meter
Depending on the type of wood you work with, and where it has been sourced from, you may need to check the moisture level within the wood before starting a project. It is important to know just how wet or dry your wood is at the start of the job, as it might need to be dried out before you are able to work with it. Wet wood is going to behave differently than dry wood, and it will also shrink over time as the water evaporates. By adding a digital moisture meter to your toolbox, you can avoid frustrating outcomes as a result of moisture within a piece of wood. Simply use the meter as described in the instructions to take a reading within the piece of wood you need to measure. Thanks to the digital readout, this measurement should be highly accurate and you should be able to proceed on the job with confidence.
Digital measurement is not just the wave of the future - it is the wave of the present as well. Analog tools are a thing of the past, as the digital measuring tool versions can do everything the older models could do, only with more accuracy. You don't want to have your skills as a woodworker limited due to faulty measurements, so fill up your toolbox with the proper digital measuring tools and finish your projects with confidence.
ely measure angles, you would be left to make educated guesses - and guessing should never be in a woodworkers mind.
he calipers around the object in question in order to receive an accurate measurement. Finding the thickness of a piece of wood, or the size of a gap between two pieces of wood, is the strength of this tool. Many models are accurate to within 1/1000th of an inch, meaning you can extract a far more-accurate measurement by using digital calipers than you would ever be able to achieve with an analog model.
an avoid frustrating outcomes as a result of moisture within a piece of wood. Simply use the meter as described in the instructions to take a reading within the piece of wood you need to measure. Thanks to the digital readout, this measurement should be highly accurate and you should be able to proceed on the job with confidence.