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Step 1
Use a carpenter square to check the factory edges of wood in order to see if they are square. Take the long edge of a carpenter square and slide it over the outside edge of the wood, lining it up evenly with the edge of the piece of wood. Now line up the other edge of the carpenter square with the other end of the factory wood's edge. If the wood is square, they will match the carpenter square exactly.
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Step 2
Learn to use the measurements on a carpenter square. Of course, there are several tools for measuring, but the carpenter square is easy for measuring because the measurements are imprinted on the square itself.
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Step 3
Notice that the carpenter square has two sets of measurements: one on the inside of the square and one on the outside of the square. The inside measurements start with zero and graduate up. The outside also starts at zero and graduates up. For example, in marking a piece of wood at 12 inches, use the inside portion of the square. This way, you can hook the square over the end of the board. The square acts as a stop, giving you an exact measurement.
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Step 4
Lay out step treads with a carpenter square. It's one of the handiest tools for this job. In laying out step treads, the rise of a step is how high you must pick your foot up in order to walk up the steps. Use the outside of your carpenter square. For example, using a 7-inch rise and a 10-inch step, lay out your rise first at 7 inches. Then, pulling your square on the outside 10-inch mark, mark both lines so that they intersect. Repeat for as many steps as you need.
