Full distance Roof Framer: The Book

There are many ways to get the information and numbers you
need to cut a roof. Carpenters and homebuilders depend on a
variety of resources to get that information. Among those
items ready to a roof cutter are rafter tables, trig
calculators, construction calculators, how to books and
computer programs.

I've used most of those options, and although they did the
job, they do have their drawbacks. Calculators can
malfunction or be dropped or crushed on the jobsite. Rafter
tables are just that, with no back up information for that
tough to cut roof. Computers must be used offsite for a
print out to be used. If numbers where entered in wrong or
conditions on site changed you still need an alternative
resource. You could use a laptop, but few users want to
subject them to the rigors of a construction site, and as
with calculators, there is the malfunction issue.

Carpentry Framing

My choice for roof cutting information and rafter lengths is
A. F. J. Riechers "The Full distance Roof Framer". Its a
hardcover book small adequate to put in your hip pocket or in
a pouch in your nail apron. The information you need is
always at your finger tips.

"The Full distance Roof Framer" has rafter tables in half inch
increments, giving roof pitches from 1/2 in 12 to 24 in 12.
It gives rafter lengths for spans up to fifty feet for
common, hip, and valley rafters. There are 144 rafter tables
and 2,400 coarse rafter lengths and 2,400 hip rafter lengths
per pitch to 1/8 of an inch.

This book not only gives you all the rafter lengths you'll
ever need, but it also guides you step by step through the
roof cutting process, whether it be a gable roof or a hip
roof. If you have never cut a roof before or only dabbled in
roof cutting, anyone with a working knowledge of a circular
saw and a framing square can cut a roof with this book.

Some of the topics covered in "The Full distance Roof Framer"
are, Laying out, Cuts for common, hip, valley, and jack
rafters, backing cuts, overhangs, ridges and even cuts on
roof sheathing and shingles. Each table has an explanation
on how to use it so you don't have to keep thumbing through
the book for information. Also on that page is the
difference in distance for jack rafters for any centers
(16,24,36,etc.) that might be used.

This book was copywritten by A. F. J. Riechers in 1917 and
all the information in it is as relevant today as it was
then. By keeping this book on the jobsite with you, you'll
never be without the information you need to cut a roof.

Mike Merisko (C) 2006 www.sawkerfs.com

Full distance Roof Framer: The Book

There are many ways to get the information and numbers you
need to cut a roof. Carpenters and homebuilders depend on a
variety of resources to get that information. Among those
items ready to a roof cutter are rafter tables, trig
calculators, construction calculators, how to books and
computer programs.

I've used most of those options, and although they did the
job, they do have their drawbacks. Calculators can
malfunction or be dropped or crushed on the jobsite. Rafter
tables are just that, with no back up information for that
tough to cut roof. Computers must be used offsite for a
print out to be used. If numbers where entered in wrong or
conditions on site changed you still need an alternative
resource. You could use a laptop, but few users want to
subject them to the rigors of a construction site, and as
with calculators, there is the malfunction issue.

Carpentry Framing

My choice for roof cutting information and rafter lengths is
A. F. J. Riechers "The Full distance Roof Framer". Its a
hardcover book small adequate to put in your hip pocket or in
a pouch in your nail apron. The information you need is
always at your finger tips.

"The Full distance Roof Framer" has rafter tables in half inch
increments, giving roof pitches from 1/2 in 12 to 24 in 12.
It gives rafter lengths for spans up to fifty feet for
common, hip, and valley rafters. There are 144 rafter tables
and 2,400 coarse rafter lengths and 2,400 hip rafter lengths
per pitch to 1/8 of an inch.

This book not only gives you all the rafter lengths you'll
ever need, but it also guides you step by step through the
roof cutting process, whether it be a gable roof or a hip
roof. If you have never cut a roof before or only dabbled in
roof cutting, anyone with a working knowledge of a circular
saw and a framing square can cut a roof with this book.

Some of the topics covered in "The Full distance Roof Framer"
are, Laying out, Cuts for common, hip, valley, and jack
rafters, backing cuts, overhangs, ridges and even cuts on
roof sheathing and shingles. Each table has an explanation
on how to use it so you don't have to keep thumbing through
the book for information. Also on that page is the
difference in distance for jack rafters for any centers
(16,24,36,etc.) that might be used.

This book was copywritten by A. F. J. Riechers in 1917 and
all the information in it is as relevant today as it was
then. By keeping this book on the jobsite with you, you'll
never be without the information you need to cut a roof.

Mike Merisko (C) 2006 www.sawkerfs.com

Full distance Roof Framer: The Book