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(More customer reviews)Fine Homebuilding recently ran an article about framing a dormer that included step-by-step instructions about how to use this calculator to generate complete measurements to do much of the framing in advance on the ground. After reading the article and watching a framer I sometimes work with use one to run circles around truss manufacturing company representatives, I decided it was time to buy one for my own use.
I have a science background so I initially leaned toward buying the more expensive trig model, but decided on the regular one because it has the following features not available on the trig model: quantity estimators for various sizes of drywall sheets; volume estimators for concrete footers, slabs, & circular piers; and estimators for various sizes of brick and blocks. I carry a Palm Pilot with me that has trig functions in case I need them, but for the remodeling work I do, I haven't needed any trig values now that I no longer manually do trig calculations. The calculator can generate angles, hypotenuse lengths, side lengths, areas, volumes, etc. based on a few known quantities. For example, if two sides of a triangle (can be regular sides or one side and a hypotenuse) are known, it'll give the angle / pitch. Likewise, if the angle and one side are known it'll generate lengths for the other two sides. I've found that I no longer have a need for trig values since blueprints and field measurements only involve lengths and angles / pitches which this calculator is set up to work with.
A different reviewer was bothered that this calculator rounded to the nearest 1/16th of an inch. That's the default factory setting, but it can easily be changed to a different accuracy level all the way down to 1/64th of an inch. I keep mine set to 1/32th of an inch.
I've been using the Construction Master Pro on the job for about a month now and it has really sped up my calculations as well as helped avoid errors, especially when I'm tired. I occasionally use it to determine quantities of shingles and bricks needed for a job or to do complex calculations involving a variety of angles (it has crown molding functions for irregular walls that have replaced the charts I used to carry in my truck), but most of the time I use it for simple calculations like dividing measurements.
Here are two examples: I needed to put in a diagonal brace for a two-piece rack that held trim for a job so I just measured the height of one side of the rack and the horizontal distance between the two supports and the calculator gave me the length and plumb cut angles for my diagonal brace that went from the top of one side to the bottom of the other. This took about 10 seconds and my piece fit perfectly. To determine the number of shingles I needed for a roof, I entered length and width of the area below the roof and the roof's pitch and it calculated the area of the sloped roof as well as the number of squares and bundles of materials.
Other features that I find useful include: stair calculations (with some powerful features including limiting maximum riser heights, specifying various tread lengths, limiting the number of risers, etc.), hip / valley roof framing calculations, estimating the number of studs needed for a job, calculating rake wall stud cut angles and lengths, arc calculations, and squaring calculations (no more need to use multiples of 3-4-5; any numbers will do). Features I probably won't use much include board foot calculations, conical volumes, and tonnage calculations.
This calculator isn't a substitute for good construction knowledge and the ability to visualize the process, but it sure can help take these skills to the next level.
Click Here to see more reviews about: Calculated Industries 4065 Construction Master Pro Advanced Construction Math Calculator
Advanced construction/math calculator is packed with solutions for building professionals. Calculates sheets of building material needed, solutions for stairs, roofing materials, compound miter cut angles, materials estimates and more. Also features cost per unit, multiple memory, exponential notation, backspace, user preferences. Stores last 20 entries. Standard calculations and auto shutoff.Perfect for completing layouts, bids and estimates. Calculates: dimensional math and conversions, right angle solutions, area and volume solutions, and various special functions. Model 4065.
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