ABC OF THE STEEL SQUARE 7$ 



torn of the timber to obtain the necessary bevels 

 for the cutting lines. 



Regarding this question of preparing rafters 

 for a common roof, an "old hand" in the use of 

 the steel square writes to me to say : "I do not 

 fhink that any simpler method can be given for 

 finding the bevels at the heel and point of raft- 

 ers than that which you have explained in your 

 books, but I do think that the following method 

 for obtaining lengths of rafters, is somewhat 

 better than yours, particularly when employed 

 for estimating purposes. The most common 

 width of buildings in my locality is 24 ft., and 

 with your permission I purpose to take that 

 width for the practical test of my method. As 

 you have given several ways by which the sam 

 result can be obtained, I will ask you to compare 

 them with mine. 



Finding the length of the hypothenuse by the 

 old rule, we obtcain for one-quarter-inch pitch 

 13:4.99, or, as near as it can be used on the 

 square 13 feet, 5 inches. 



Allowing one inch to the foot and trying you** 

 method we find, as a result, 13 inches and 7-16 

 scant, or 13 feet, 5 inches. This is a very simple 

 method, and when the rule is kept perfectly 

 straight, the results are very satisfactory. 



By my way I simply multiply the width of the 



