One of my goals this year has been to acquire some of the tools I often find myself needing. Instead of just working around the problem or "making do" with what I have I decided to invest the time in making the tool if practical, or buying one if I could afford it. To this end I recently found myself reaching for the tape measure to check that a cabinet frame was square. "Ok," I thought, "now is the time to make those pinch sticks that have been on your wish list for some time."
What are pinch sticks, you ask? The name sounds a bit painful, but these are really nothing more than an adjustable length rod, usually two sticks that slide with some way of fixing the desired length. They have a number of uses, mainly focused on limiting the number of times information is transferred, thereby limiting the opportunity for errors. They increase accuracy and speed up the process.
I made three sets of pinch sticks, each with a different range. The shortest covers from 10" - 15", the medium from 13" - 21" and the longest from 18" - 30". This gives a full range of 10" - 30" and should cover most of the work I do.
Each is composed of two sticks that slide in a fixed groove. I began with cherry strips and cut a shallow groove down the length of these. One stick gets a maple insert into the groove that provides a track for the other to slide. The tips are purple heart, both for contrast and durability. When closed the points slide back over the cherry end of the opposing stick to protect the points. The sticks are bound together with brass fittings made from plumbing couplings. One of these has a thumb screw that can be tightened to lock the pair in place. Both rings have a small screw that fixes their position on a stick. What this means is the sticks slide through the rings but the rings never actually move relative to the stick where they are attached.
As for their use, I show a couple of examples. For me the most common use will be to check squareness by comparing the diagonals. Once the points of the stick just touch on the inside corners of the frame you know it's square. I set the length at the time I'm dry fitting a case, then check this during glue up to make sure I remain square.
Another common use is to "measure" an inside length in order to transfer this distance. For example, you could capture the distance from side to side of the frame and then use the stick to set the table saw to this length. Faster, more accurate and less error-prone than measuring.
In case you're wondering the cabinet is the frame of a spice box I'm making. So far, this little project has prompted me to make two dado saws, panel gauges and now pinch sticks. I've spent more time on the tools than on the cabinet, but I don't mind. It's all enjoyable.
Stay safe and Happy New Year!
What are pinch sticks, you ask? The name sounds a bit painful, but these are really nothing more than an adjustable length rod, usually two sticks that slide with some way of fixing the desired length. They have a number of uses, mainly focused on limiting the number of times information is transferred, thereby limiting the opportunity for errors. They increase accuracy and speed up the process.
I made three sets of pinch sticks, each with a different range. The shortest covers from 10" - 15", the medium from 13" - 21" and the longest from 18" - 30". This gives a full range of 10" - 30" and should cover most of the work I do.
Each is composed of two sticks that slide in a fixed groove. I began with cherry strips and cut a shallow groove down the length of these. One stick gets a maple insert into the groove that provides a track for the other to slide. The tips are purple heart, both for contrast and durability. When closed the points slide back over the cherry end of the opposing stick to protect the points. The sticks are bound together with brass fittings made from plumbing couplings. One of these has a thumb screw that can be tightened to lock the pair in place. Both rings have a small screw that fixes their position on a stick. What this means is the sticks slide through the rings but the rings never actually move relative to the stick where they are attached.
As for their use, I show a couple of examples. For me the most common use will be to check squareness by comparing the diagonals. Once the points of the stick just touch on the inside corners of the frame you know it's square. I set the length at the time I'm dry fitting a case, then check this during glue up to make sure I remain square.
Another common use is to "measure" an inside length in order to transfer this distance. For example, you could capture the distance from side to side of the frame and then use the stick to set the table saw to this length. Faster, more accurate and less error-prone than measuring.
In case you're wondering the cabinet is the frame of a spice box I'm making. So far, this little project has prompted me to make two dado saws, panel gauges and now pinch sticks. I've spent more time on the tools than on the cabinet, but I don't mind. It's all enjoyable.
Stay safe and Happy New Year!