Center Finders

Posted by Easy WoodCraft on

Mar 10, 2016

Finding the center of a work-piece is a common layout task. It's so common that a number of tool manufacturers make plastic center finders, like the one shown in the top photo, specifically for this task. These simple tools have lips on two adjacent sides to quickly position the work piece.

Basic use

To use a center finder like the one shown here, press the edges of the work piece up against the lips of the center finder. Then butt a pencil or marking knife up against the center cutout and draw along this to mark a line on the work piece. Next, rotate the work piece 90 degrees and make another mark. Where the lines intersect is dead center.

SHOP-MADE CENTER MARKER

In addition to finding the center of a work piece, you 11 often need to find the center on the edge of a board. The simplest and most accurate way I've found to do this is to make your own center marker. This is nothing more than a scrap of wood with a pair of dowels (or better yet, steel pins) and a hole in it for a pencil. The challenge is locating the pencil dead center. To do this, start by marking out and drilling the dowel holes (or use short lengths of 1/4" steel rod). Then install the dowels with glue (or epoxy for the metal rods). Now use these to locate dead center. Simply place a metal rule on edge between the dowels on a diagonal and make marks in both directions. Drill a hole for the pencil where the lines cross.
NOTE:
For maximum accuracy, size this hole to accept a mechanical pencil.

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