How to Make a Ten Foot Straightedge

Purchasing a straightedge can be expensive and it may be difficult finding a 10-footer at most retail locations. Building the invaluable tool at home is a task that can be accomplished by woodworkers with even just a little experience. Use three boards of lumber that are each more than 10-feet long. Hardwoods like maple or mahogany would make a good choice. Select pieces of lumber that are 1/2-inch to 3/4-inch thick and 3 to 4 inches wide. Select pieces that are well-seasoned, straight-grained and that are already reasonably straight. The task may take some time, but you'll have three 10-foot straightedges ready for use when you are finished.

Lumber
Saw
Colored chalk
Hand plane

Instructions

- 1
  Cut the pieces of lumber so each is exactly 10 feet long. Label the pieces of lumber and mark the edges intended for use as straightedges. Number the boards 1 through 3. Label the separate ends of each piece with an A and a B. This will help you keep track of the pieces when you compare them later on.
- 2
  Rub colored chalk along the edge of piece number one that is intended for use as a straightedge. In this step, use piece No. 1 as the reference piece against which you check straightness of the other two pieces. Press the edge of piece No. 1 against the edge intended for use as a straightedge of piece No. 2. Match end A of piece No. 1 against end A of piece No. 2. The chalk from the reference piece will transfer to the high spots on the edge of piece No. 2.
- 3
  Remove the high spots from piece No. 2 using a hand planer. Work slowly, removing small amounts of material at a time. When finished planing, flip one of the pieces so that end A of piece No. 1 lines up with end B of piece No. 2. Remove the high spots marked by the chalk on piece No. 2. Repeat this process, using piece No. 1 as a reference against piece No. 3.
- 4
  Rub colored chalk along the edge of piece No. 2 that is intended for use as a straightedge. Use piece No. 2 as the reference piece against which you check straightness of the other two pieces.
- 5
  Press the edge of piece No. 2 against the edge intended for use as a straightedge of piece No. 1. Match end A of piece No. 2 against end A of piece No. 1. Remove the high spots from piece No. 1 using a hand planer. When finished planing, flip one of the pieces so that end A of piece No. 2 lines up with end B of piece No. 1. Remove the high spots marked by the chalk on piece No. 1. Repeat this process, using piece No. 2 as a reference against piece No. 3.
- 6
  Rub colored chalk along the edge of piece No. 3 that is intended for use as a straightedge. Use piece No. 3 as the reference piece against which you check straightness of the other two pieces.
- 7
  Press the edge of piece No. 3 against the edge intended for use as a straightedge of piece No. 1. Match end A of piece No. 3 against end A of piece No. 1. Remove the high spots from piece No. 1 using a hand planer. When finished planing, flip one of the pieces so that end A of piece No. 2 lines up with end B of piece No. 1. Remove the high spots marked by the chalk on piece No. 1. Repeat this process, using piece No. 3 as a reference against piece No. 2.

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