Funny story. I've been in the trades all of my adult life and have been able to convey, with the space between my thumb and index finger, all the increments between 0 and 2 inches, within 1/8 inch or less of accuracy, for decades. I found over the years that my wife (a computer programmer) and I were constantly arguing about small measurements. She would say "move that over this much", while making the pinching motion that we all use for those tiny measurements, and I'd make the move and she'd say, " Dummy, that ain't far enough. I said this much" And I'd reply, "I did, I moved it exactly that much" and she'd say, "the hell you did!" and then I'd walk away while shouting over my shoulder, "Move it yourself, then!" Later, after we cooled off, she might ask me if I wanted a slice of pie and I'd tell her I did and she'd ask, "is this big enough?" and I'd say "cut about this much more" and she'd give me a much bigger piece than I asked for. "Honey," I'd say "are you tryin' to make me fat? I didn't want that much." She'd say, "Then why did you tell me to cut it that big if you didn't want it that big?" and I'd respond and she'd retort and back and forth, etc, etc, until we were mad at each other again. Then one day I challenged her to show me what the she thought a half inch was and she pressed her thumb and fingertip together real tight and said "That much, you dummy!" And at that point I figured it out. She was measuring between the inside surfaces of her beautiful long nails, NOT between the pads of her fingers. I explained that she was supposed to use the finger TIPS as the reference and we have been in total marital bliss ever since. We had that talk this morning.

I used hand measurements when I ran snares on my trap line. The loop had to be a certain size for above and another for below water. 👍

Been using 2 double hand spreads to make a yard for 50 years. Recently used it to make a ‘yard’ stick on the trail and estimated a rustic bridge span to be 54 feet.

Having 12" shoes helps pace off quick measurements on floors. My index fingertip is 3/4"wide x 1/2" deep. There are MANY body measurements you can use. Cooks cup their hand and accurately measure out fractions of teaspoons and tablespoons. You can stand against a wall or door jamb and estimate the height of an opening or object very accurately. Standing with your arms spread out, measure your fingertip to tip. You can quickly measure windows, doors, etc. know your relaxed stride so you can pace off distances. Plumbers and pipefitters can measure pipes by wrapping their grip around the pipe. HVAC techs can measure larger diameter ducts by walking their pinky to thumb to get a circumference. Great stuff!

You're spot on Herrick. I did survey and engineer work for about 15 years and used body measurements almost every day, either to "get close" before needing to measure more precisely or for things that didnt require as precise of a measurement. Besides the ones you used, I often use the first joint of my index finger, 1". As I'm 5' 6" tall, i know my double arm span is the same, so i use that when measuring out rope, wire, weed eater string, etc. When surveying and looking through an instrument scope, i knew the rough size of my rodman and could give him a better idea of how far to move left or right. Roughly 2' wide at shoulders. So if my line was at the edge of his shoulder, then I could tell him to move right or left a foot. And in zooming in for precision work to mark a spot, once he put his hand down on the block to be marked, you could tell by how many fingers and stuff like that. These are absolutely valid ways to measure. I always called it body parts measurement, but hand measure works too. Great tips.

Just found your site and love it. I have been a furniture and cabinet maker for ever, and use hand measuring to find stock lengths to use and also on site a lot to get better info to plan the job. My elbow to top finger is 18" as well. The only thing that gave me fingernails on a chalk board is when you snap your tape back and let it slam home. You would get teased about that in a shop. We always slow it down with our index finger under the blade. I think you know that you tip will get damaged. I can tell you are a great carpenter so keep up the awesome videos and thanks for all of the help .

From tip of nose to end of thumb on outstretched arm - 1 yard ( 36 inches). Perfect for quick measuring rope, string or cable. From thumb to thumb with outstretched arms will give you a fathom or 6 feet ( if you want to know how deep you're going to sink). And the widest part of the palm including the thumb will give you 4 inches (or 1 hand if you're measuring horses)

Another handy one is from your pinched fingers holding a rope or wire to the center of your chest most people it's 36in but mine is 32. Over the years I learned what spot to hold it on my chest so it's 36 in and I can measure out 100 ft of rope and not be off by more than 1 ft or less

Your height equals your wingspan, middle fingertip to middle fingertip, approximately. Super useful for checking lengths of extension cords or measuring rope.

Thank you for the tips...👍👍👍👍👍👏👏👏😀😀😀😀😀🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇

Good to know. Thank you

Hmmm. Very clean and smooth hands you got. Never seen a craftsman hand like that.

@herrickkimball

Жыл бұрын

Then you haven’t seen the hands of a retired carpenter who hasn’t worked in the trades for 20+ years. Calluses are not permanent. 🤣

@johnostambaugh8638

Жыл бұрын

@@herrickkimball 33 years as a union elevator installer. Still using my tools at 74 years old this week by using prybars moving a 1800 pound safe by myself. Still got them because I still love to make/do things.

@ruidadgmailcanada8508

7 ай бұрын

@@herrickkimball ..speaking of which, can you do a video on what works well for hand maintenance? Dryness, callouses, gloves.

One measure I use is the width across my 4 non-thumb fingers. 3 inches for me.

Thanks!

Good idea

Length of hand from wrist crease to tip of middle finger is one I use often. Hand over hand to measure longer lengths.

Thanks

A Country Boy will Survive....

I'd wager: carpenter casually leans their elbow against the door, "that's about a 34" door."

@kikijewell2967

Жыл бұрын

Yes yes I know you can develop an "eye" for measurements. Still, there's a lot of casual trickery going on in that field as well, especially my generation.

In 60 yrs of construction I have never seen anybody do this.

For Romex learn to use your wingspan at the largest size

Jeez, I’ve spent my life around and in the construction community and never one time did I ever see such things.

@shadowulf

Жыл бұрын

That's funny, my father was a contractor and he and my uncles taught me this when I was a kid. As an electrician, I use this method for rough cuts on wire and device placement

@WORDversesWORLD

Жыл бұрын

@@shadowulf Yankee, right?

@WORDversesWORLD

Жыл бұрын

@@shadowulf Oh, and nobody ever uses a tap measure or fingers to rough in a house, we use a measuring stick to keep everything at the exact same height, you can’t!

@shadowulf

Жыл бұрын

@@WORDversesWORLD Nope Okies

@shadowulf

Жыл бұрын

@@WORDversesWORLD They are called "story poles"

Is that rock wool sidewall insulation?

As a former painter, we always carried plenty of caulk.

Law enforcement officers do something similar by having witnesses describe suspects by comparing them them to themself and.or their partner or even someone else on the scene. "Stand about as far from me as the suspect. Was the he/she taller than me, shorter than me, or about the same? Was the person heavier than me, lighter than me or about the same? Older than me, younger than me or about the same? " Or, think about someone you know and do the same thing.

Like it

I love the 'talking about scars' comment. Oh yeah, who has the best story.

The digits on ur fingers are approx 3"..an inch per digit

Is your friend Bob the same guy who made the Bob Rule / Ruler ?

I’m even better than that. As a HVAC sheet metal guy, I can tell how long, the diameter and gauge of the pipe by the ring of the metal.

Being a carpenter for 46 years, I can give you any measurement within a 1/8” up to 12” and within 1/4” up to 3’ or so.

Typical 18” bar chainsaw is 4’.from the tip of your right elbow to the tip of the bar.

I have used this method for years. Good advice. But close only counts in horseshoes, hand grenades, and atom bombs.

You forgot about measuring your feet

Elbow to finger tips is a cubit. Dates back to biblical times🙂

Or maybe just keep a tape or stick with you

Bob the builder ???

I do this all the time. A fathom is the length of rope I can stretch out between my hands with my arms spread wide. A foot is well, about, what? I use my thumb to measure an inch quite often. I step off yards like an old school football referee. I throw this at fans of the metric system all the time. What biological measurement gives a reasonably precise unit in metric? None. It is based on a particular wavelength of light or some such drivel. Plus, there are only two types of countries in the world... those that use metric, and those that have landed men on the moon. Just sayin.

FF to 1:05 to skip the unnecessary introduction.