Changing my view on story sticks

[smorris]

I've always considered story sticks to be an interesting historic item but not of much use to me. I've had to change that view after my latest project.

I've been building a set of stackable barrister bookcases for my son in law school. I decided as an experiment to try a story stick as there are 4 carcasses that all need to align perfectly when they stack. Having put all my measurements on the stick I set out on the project. The first thing I noted was I wasn't constantly looking for the tape measure and trying to read all those little 32's lines which has gotten more difficult in recent years.

I then decided there was no reason couldn't write notes on it which doesn't work very well on a tape measure.

I also took my dovetail saw and put a small kerf cut on one side of the stick for each line which my pencil or marking knife fit into nicely.

I ended up making 2 for the project because before I started I realized that starting on the end could be a problem if I dropped it on end halfway through and malformed the end.

So, I'm a believer now and have a use for all those 4' x 3/4 x 3/8 basswood strips left over from the shutters I made a year ago. As a bonus I have an archive plan of the bookcase if I ever need to make another. Mark me down as a believer!

[cabinetman]

Story sticks don't lie. They work good for what you did, and they work well for laying out a whole kitchen. If they are marked and noted correctly they do tell a story.

.

[pelligrini]

I've always liked them, and use them quite often. Most of mine are basswood too, left over strips from my architectural model building days. I normally use two thin strips and a couple metal office binder clips to make them adjustable. The sliding strips makes inside measurements easy and accurate.