#scriberule

Scribe rule involves stacking the members of a particular frame on top of each other and then vertically transcribing the positions of the joints. One advantage of using scribe rule over other systems, such as square or mill rule, is it takes into account every piece of wood is slightly different, so by laying out each frame full scale, allowances can be made for the irregularities within each timber. Before stacking the timbers accurately, careful reference lines, seen here in blue chalk, have to be made on each timber. Being able to predict the direction of shrinkage can help to chose each timbers orientation.