Here are some Marking Hacks Every DIYer Should Know! Markers are a staple for any home decorator looking to get creative with their paint. From adding stripes and polka dots to creating colorful backgrounds, you can do it all with markers. But if your project involves more than just drawing on the walls, you might need these marking hacks every DIYer should know!
Learn the Basics
I’ve always been a big believer in the power of knowing your tools and how to use them well. The better you know what they can do for you, the more likely it is that whatever project comes up will be done just right! One way I make sure my projects are perfect when using circular saws or miter saws (or any kind!) is by marking where I want the blade to cut on both sides of my board so there’s no favoritism going on based off which side has an inch less than its partner piece. Plus, if some old-fashioned math skills come into play later down the line, at least all measurements should add up correctly; making things easier as we go along with this.
Way to Mark Cylinders
With nothing but a straight edge, it’s notoriously difficult to mark cuts on curved surfaces. Dropping the measuring tape or ruler can give you a line to mark against, but rolling and shifting are very easy due to how smooth most of these materials are.
Use some angle iron for multiple touchpoints in order to stabilize your lines as well as make drawing with pencils/markers much easier! If there’s a need for measurement, put one end of the measure onto flat surface of angle-iron– it makes this tricky job simple!
Hack that Tool
Don’t let your specialized tools intimidate you. Changing up the situation and using what’s available to get a job done is one of life’s many lessons in resourcefulness, not laziness. Keep some duct tape at the ready or use that old t-shirt instead of cutting through fabric for more professional results with no additional cost!
While Marking, Tack Trim in Place
If you’re like me, the hardest part of installing trim is transferring measurements from stairs to saw station. Eliminate that risk with this simple hack! Set your trim in place and make a mark directly on the wall where it will be installed. If there’s too much wobble for placement without nails or screws (and we all know how difficult those can be!), set it temporarily with brad nails which are easy to pop out once you remove them later down before installation starts.
Don’t Trust Factory Edges
It can be tricky to draw a straight line on freshly cut boards for the perfect fit. After all, your fresh board’s factory edge may not be as accurate as you think! If this is your predicament and time isn’t of the essence, take out one of those expensive self-healing cutting mats or use another foolproof measuring device from around your workspace (i.e., a taut string). But if it’s an emergency situation that requires quick action when accuracy matters most? Try using something like old pieces of wood with which you’ve had some practice drawing lines before so they’re more reliably true than what might come off the stack at hand – after all no one said life was easy!
Learn How To Mark Out With a Chalk Line
Marking out your projects has never been so easy. Whether it’s determining plum, laying out floor patterns for tile or hardwood, marking angle cuts on drywall-chalk lines are the most important job site skill to learn! They’re also an amazing tool that you just can’t go without in any DIYer’s tool belt. Our favorite hack? Slitting a chalk line around corners and walls before measuring where you want to cut with tape measure (and then using scissors). For more line marking solutions, check out Suburban Line Marking.
