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S&G: panel markout with chopsticks
By:mike allen
Date: 9/12/2003, 5:31 pm

not for kits or if have full size plans:

another great use for disposable chopstiks, is for holding down the long thin battens for use in s&g panel layouts when you have just offsets or points. lay the paper/card for the pattern to be made (or edge of panel) to the marking table edge(tape or clamp in place) and springclamp the ends of chopstiks opposite ea marked point with the batten restrained under/along the stik at the exact point location. the batten is held in place on the point but with ability to move and flex. lift any chopstick end to truly unweight/shape the batten at that location or add more sticks (could use any long scrap or pencils really) to lock in curves desired or locate transitions.

if use disposable chopstiks w/ the pointy ends, best and easy to mark around.
real, real, real quick to set up and take down and store, holds batten nicely(say a 1/4x1/4 cedar pc), takes little or no space and uses springclamps usually already have at hand - and no need to bring down and dirty up cutlery for the snacks.

{{drawback it that can only reach in 1’ or so from ea table edge. (but can use consecutives to reach in much farther – or longer scrap w/ bigger springclamp). but with a 2’ typ layout table no prob. from ea side.}}