Read about this trick for laying out stair stringers with a framing square and a couple of clamps instead of those little stair gauge buttons

I was reading some old Fine Homebuilding forum post from like 2012 last night and this guy was saying he ditched the stair gauge buttons years ago because they slip too easy. He just clamps a straightedge to the square at the right measurement and runs it down the board. Tried it this morning on a set of 7 risers for a porch rebuild and it was way faster. No adjusting the buttons every time they bump loose. Anyone else do this or am I late to the party?

2 comments

2 Comments

alicec8624d ago

Wait, plywood? That's genius actually. Why have I never thought of that.

abby_chen25d ago

Can't believe you're just now trying this. I switched like five years ago and never looked back. Those stupid gauge buttons are the worst invention for framing squares. They always slip when you're pressing down hard on the layout. Clamping a straightedge is the only way to go for accurate cuts. I use a scrap piece of plywood cut to length and clamp it on both sides of the square. Holds solid every time.