Good books/webpages on laying out straight and level? V. advanced skills

[greenbuggy]

While perusing this thread (http://weldingweb.com/showthread.php?t=23879) I was wondering if there are any good books or webpages out there that show more advanced skills/tips/tricks/shortcuts to laying out, cutting, welding and generally keeping straight and level the projects a guy is working with in metal?

I'm looking for a bit more advanced than just "measure twice cut once" more like how best to mark pieces to be cut, kerf width and similar, as well maybe how to best select tools to keep the job measured right and square (besides just avoiding the cheap HF stuff in lieu of starrett etc)? Anyone? Bueller?

[jamz]

I could scan my 2 or 3 layout books from 2nd year for ya if you want... its more about creating shapes and crap using a protracter and a straight edge..

[greenbuggy]

Originally Posted by jamz

I could scan my 2 or 3 layout books from 2nd year for ya if you want... its more about creating shapes and crap using a protracter and a straight edge..

I'd appreciate that, another thing that I should mention is that I'd like to improve consistency of my cuts, that is that I don't like seeing a different length for a bunch of (supposedly) same-length cuts...though it might not matter in the application I hate cutting some rebar to a given size, and when comparing it discover that two pieces are 1/8" off. A lot of the time I'll tend to the larger size in case I need to do some grinding to doctor my cuts but I know that my consistency isn't always the greatest. Marking methods?

[bebo]

Consistent cuts depend on consistent and accurate methods. Use whatever marking tool will give the thinnest and most easily visible line. I use an ultrafine sharpie marker for aluminum and cold rolled steel, and a sharpened soapstone for hot rolled. After you have marked your measurement, lay the straight edge on the parent material, mark your line, and be sure to preserve the line as you cut. That way you are assured of not cutting too short. The best way to get accurate and repeatable cuts is to mount a stop on your cutting tool. I recently made 35 firepit/grills and needed 350 identical pieces of 1/2" round hot rolled rod. I clamped a stop onto my portaband and it was a simple matter of sliding the rod in until it hit the stop, clamping it down, and cutting. And make sure your workspace is well lit. Shadows cast by your straight edge will increase inaccuracies. Check out http://www.lindsaybks.com for all kinds of cool books

[farmersamm]

If you're cutting with a torch there's no way you're gonna be dead on. Best to err on the side of too much metal left after the cut. Maybe 1/16 or thereabouts.

Square up one end of the stock, and grind to fit. Or if it's multiple pieces of identical cuts, again square up both ends of an "index" piece of stock as a standard, square up one end of the other pieces of stock, then clamp all pieces one by one to your "index" piece, and grind to match. I haven't found any shortcuts when you want to be right on.

If you're cutting with a machine, again index the machine. A stop, fixture, whatever....think about it, and you'll come up with something. It might be as simple as clamping a piece of angle iron on the cutting table.

You can mark everything to the 9's, and if you don't machine, or torch it right, it's all in the crapper

[DAKW]

a 16th shy is easy to fill, a 16th over you have a lot of grinding and fitting to do or you tell yourself its ok and then it forces everything out of square.