Nifty use for busted tape measure / Drawing a big arc

Here's a trick I thought I'd share in the middle of the night :q

If you've got a busted tape measure, remove the tape and use it to draw your especially big arcs for templates.

- At the desired length/radius (plus 100mm...see why in a second), punch a teeny hole in the middle of the tape that is big enough for the point of your pencil/pen/texta to go through;
- With a small brad nail, secure the tape 100mm (that's why) on a piece of timber the same thickness as what you're marking on;
- Stick the bit of timber with the starting end of the measure down with double sided tape on a large flat surface (I've been using my driveway);
- Mark the start and end of your arc on the workpiece;
- Through the marking hole on the tape, check your arc by sighting the start/end marks and pivot the workpiece until it hits both marks. (Use one end mark as a reference and pivot the other around until you've got both in the 'sight'.) Remember to pull the tape taught and make sure the secured end isn't moving;
- At this point it's not necessary but it helps to have a slave hold the workpiece down....Stick your choice of drawing implement into the hole at the desired measurement and mark out your ginormous arc;
- Marvel at your handiwork;

I've been using this to mark out templates for curves on furniture legs that are in the vicinity of a 3800mm radius and it's been fantastic. Better than the ol' "pencil and string", "bend a ruler" or "masonite with string" methods (I feel).

There is a useful calculator here for determining what radius to use (what distance to put the hole in the tape at).

Enjoy :)

Nifty use for busted tape measure / Drawing a big arc