“All of these numbers became a calculator for the carpenters who were calculating the hypotenuse of triangles and common rafters and hips and valleys, who were doing the math without the benefit of a calculator and didn’t have time to do everything longhand every time—but could have if they needed to.”
Read Don Dunkley’s outstanding framing square article here.
A framing square has a table for laying out knee-brace lengths. I was today years old when I learned that.
The Essential Craftsman teaches you how to check your square for true and—AND—how to fix it if it is out of whack. Are you kidding me?
Scott Wadsworth, sir, impressive.