How to find the centerpoint on straight lines.

[SUP]

18 hours ago, kgg said:

I figure it was placed at the 5.5" mark just to confuse the hell out of people as it has nothing to do with measurements

Ahh. That makes sense. 

Putting it in the correct position would have validated the use of the ruler though. Surprised they did not think of that.

[Samalan]

Finding the center of a line should be in your head, almost instantly, especially in leather work. Except for that rare time when the measurement needs to be closer than 1/32"

Let's do one 50" divided by 2, what comes to mind instantly, 25      . Let's do another 50 and 3/4" divided by two, half of 50 = 25, and half of 3/4= 3/8", so it's 25 and 3/8"

So let's do one a bit more difficult, 49.3/4" divided by two. Just think what's half of 40" = 20", then what's half of 9"=4.1/2" add them together and that's 24.1/2" all that's left is the .3/4" and half of that is .3/8" add that to the 1/2 and you get .7/8" add the .7/8" to the 24.1/2" and you get 24.7/8"

When I first started in my trade, over 50 years ago, a big part of my job was measurement. My boss was a tough man, and that's being nice. After a few years, I went to him for a raise. With his gruff look and voice, he said, "Raise. What makes you think you deserve a raise?" Before I could say anything, he spat out, "How many thirty seconds in nine sixteens?" I said, "I don't know." He said, "Come back when you do know, and maybe I'll give you a raise." I was very mad, but I also knew he was right. I should know that. After a very short time, I came back, and I did know and trust me, if I can figure it out, you can too, and that's for sure. In a very short time, that stuff should be second nature to you, no special rulers or any of that. You should see the measurement and boom, the center is in your head. Sorry for the story, but what's half of 9/16"? If you had to think for more than "one half" a second, you need practice!  In fact, you should not have to think at all for the answer to that.

 

 

[GerryR]

32 minutes ago, Samalan said:

 

So let's do one a bit more difficult, 49.3/4" divided by two. Just think what's half of 40" = 20", then what's half of 9"=4.1/2" add them together and that's 24.1/2" all that's left is the .3/4" and half of that is .3/8" add that to the 1/2 and you get .7/8" add the .7/8" to the 24.1/2" and you get 24.7/8"

 

7/8 + 24-1/2 = 25-3/8 ...you got ahead of yourself.  24-1/2 + 3/8 = 24-7/8 

[toxo]

8 minutes ago, GerryR said:

7/8 + 24-1/2 = 25-3/8 ...you got ahead of yourself.  24-1/2 + 3/8 = 24-7/8 

This is not a math lesson. Go buy a centre finder. 

[GerryR]

11 minutes ago, toxo said:

This is not a math lesson. Go buy a centre finder. 

@Samalan made it a math lesson, but I have a center finder.

[kgg]

1 hour ago, Samalan said:

Finding the center of a line should be in your head

Most times it is not a problem but have a seniors moment, be distracted, tired or whatever and Murphy's Law is always at the ready to kick in. You screw up and you want to kick yourself in the butt as you just screwed up the work piece. Someone else my not notice but you will.

@toxo I agree. Having a simple centre point ruler of any configuration is easier and correct everytime. Also the fractional measurements in the imperial system are not as easily divided in half as compared to the metric system. I did have a digital mic that read in both metric and imperial which is typical but this particular mic automatically showed half of the actual measurement. 

kgg 

Edited 2 hours ago by kgg

[Samalan]

That's exactly how I felt, and I didn't intend to hurt anyone's feelings. I apologize to all who are offended.

[fredk]

I work in millimetres. Its easier to divide by two. No fractions of inches to divide