Watched an old timer square a wall with a 3-4-5 triangle last Thursday

I was framing a basement remodel near Akron and this guy in his 70s walked through, didn't say a word, just whipped out a tape and chalk line. He checked my corner with a 3-4-5 and it was off by a half inch, then he walked off. Any of you guys still use that method over a speed square for big layouts?

3 comments

3 Comments

dixon.james1mo ago

Two days ago I was laying out a patio slab and an old guy with a leather belt and a pencil behind his ear stopped his truck just to watch me. He didn't say anything either, just squinted at my lines and drove off. I checked with a 3-4-5 after he left and sure enough I was off by a quarter inch. There's something about those old timers that makes you feel like a kid playing with toys. I still use a speed square for quick cuts but for anything over 8 feet I'll pull out the tape and do it the old way. That half inch you were off could have haunted you for the rest of the job.

the_rowan1mo ago

Man that line about feeling like a kid playing with toys really hit home for me. @dixon.james I've had basically the same thing happen except the old guy rolled down his window and just said "nice try" before driving away. I stood there for a solid minute wondering if he was being sarcastic or if my whole layout was trash. Turns out he was right. I was off by almost the same amount you were. Your mileage may vary on this but I swear those guys can smell bad measurements from like half a block away. I still use my speed square for small stuff but when I'm marking out anything over 6 feet I switch to the old tape and chalk line method too. It feels slower but I've messed up fewer patios that way.

bennett.harper1mo ago

Is that really true though? I've had old timers tell me their methods were gospel and then watched them lay out a crooked foundation because they refused to use anything but a frayed rope. @dixon.james I'm not saying your old guy was wrong but sometimes they're just stuck in their ways and that "nice try" attitude comes from being too stubborn to learn.