Update: A client in Denver asked me why I don't use a story stick for every job

I was finishing up a kitchen install last month and the homeowner, an older guy who used to do some woodworking, saw me checking a cabinet run with my tape. He just said, 'You know, my granddad would have cut a stick for that whole wall.' I kind of brushed it off, but it stuck with me. So on my next project, a built-in bookcase, I tried it. I cut a piece of scrap plywood to the exact total length of the run, then marked every shelf, divider, and cabinet right on that one stick. It took maybe ten extra minutes. The difference was huge. No adding up a bunch of small measurements, no math errors. Every piece came out dead on. I felt like an idiot for not doing it years ago. Has anyone else gone back to this old school method and found it actually saves time?

3 comments

3 Comments

tessa1771mo ago

My grandpa called that a story pole, not a stick.

marymorgan21d ago

Hmm, does it really matter what you call it if it gets the job done? In my experience, a stick and a pole aren't really the same thing. A story pole is usually a long, skinny piece of wood, while a story stick can be anything from a twig to a 2x4. I've seen guys mark up a scrap of plywood and call it a story board. The name just depends on your grandpa's rules, I guess. But to me, calling it a pole feels more official, like you're using a real tool instead of just a broken broom handle. So I get where you're coming from, but I'd argue they're different tools for the same messy job.

river_bailey21mo ago

Story pole, story stick, whatever. It's just a piece of wood that makes you feel dumb for ever trusting a tape measure.