point 2 point layout measuring tool

"Point 2 Point

Now, for this reinforced carcass butt joint, I need to space the screws equidistantly. So the two outside screws are an inch in from the ends, therefore I take away two inches from the width, then divide this measurement by four because I want three screws spaced in between the outside two. Oh dear, it's a bit of an awkward number to divide evenly, so I'll have to work it out on the back of this piece of sandpaper. Now then, seven into nine goes once, carry the two... why isn't there any lead in this pencil...' If this comedy of errors seems even vaguely familiar, you may be interested in one of the latest inventions from the clever people at M.POWER.

The Point-2-Point has been devised for the multiple marking of equally distanced points, prior to drilling holes for screws, bolts or dowels, biscuiting, pinning and so on. It is made up of eight stainless steel double-ended 'fingers,' which are loose riveted to a sliding cantilever arrangement - a bit like the type of mechanism used for cartoon cuckoo clocks! There are four round knurled brass nuts that lock the mechanism while set for marking.

To operate the device, you place it on to the board you need to divide and stretch or contract it until there is a finger point at each end of the distance you're dividing. If you want to divide the distance by three, you position it so that there are two fingers (and therefore three equal lengths) between the end points, and so on. Obviously, the mechanism will only stretch so far, so if you're marking a small number of divisions across a large distance, you may have to count every second or third finger.

There are right-angled cut-outs on one end of the fingers, and you should use the mechanism so that these face the hand you write with (it can be used left or right-handed). The brass locking nuts are then secured, and the desired divisions marked with a pencil against the cut-outs.

Sounds simple? It is. Even so, the manufacturer recommends that the Point-2-Point is not used for marking out high-tolerance joints such as dovetails or finger joints - there is a small amount of play in the mechanism's rivets, and this could be enough to throw out your measurements.

Although it may appear to be a little Heath Robinson in appearance, the Point-2-Point was in actual fact rather effective to use. However, the manufacturer's concern regarding its use for super-accurate marking-out purposes are justified, as a tiny amount of play (and flexing of the whole assembly) is noticeable. When it's fully extended, however, you can mark boards that are just a touch short of two feet - and for that kind of convenience, you can forgive a little inaccuracy.

Point-2-Point is of good design and very well a manufactured It certainly is a handy tool, and could be used for trades and crafts that are not just wood-related - marking rivet spacings on sheet metal for fabrication comes to mind. In many ways, it beats the regular methods of dividing a line, be it with a calculator or geometry tools and techniques, but could be deemed rather a luxury workshop purchase. Nevertheless, it's priced at under a tenner - which means that as indulgences go, it's a fairly inexpensive one.