Are There Straight Lines in the Universe?

Wiggle Room

by David Aston-Reese, June 08, 2007

ARE THERE STRAIGHT LINES IN THE UNIVERSE?

Can a straight line exist in the Universe? The place is full of circles and curved lines. Or, as Alan Watts says, “It wiggles!" Look at any of those beautiful Zen landscape. Where are the straight lines? Are there any straight lines? Perhaps we have been hypnotized into thinking that we see lines. And perhaps when we see a circle it is really a representation of the unity that holds this Universe together. We are what we see? But straight lines are important . . . to the intuitive carpenter straight lines are very useful. Take, for instance, this little project I recently completed:

THE TRANSFORMATION OF SCISSOR TIES

The use of Scissor Ties was the structural solution to our house addition. You probably have seen these used in those picnic shelters planted in state parks around the land. But they are uninspiring when used indoors. I will show you how they can be disguised.

THE GOAL

We will cut seven pieces of 2X8: one long piece, three Medium length pieces and three short pieces. These are woven into the empty spaces around the ties creating a solid timber appearance.

GETTING THE ANGLES.

We will make a template that will be our guide for each cut on each end of the piece. The length of the 2X8 will be determined by measuring from the point of the angle to the heel of the angle at the other end. It’s tricky, but I found there is some wiggle room.

AN EASIER WAY TO MEASURE
Measure the length starting from the cut-off end of the template shown above. Make sure you add the size of the template before making the final cut!

FILLING IN THE GAPS.

After making our templates for each of the angles and cutting our seven pieces of 2X8 fillers, we are going to install them in the spaces around the scissor ties.

FINAL TOUCHES

We will get 6” lattice pieces to install over the fill, and this will unite the pieces and give them that solid timber look. After this we will give it a coat of Minwax “Special Walnut.”

Doesn’t this look much better in this fascinating and evolving Universe in which we dwell . . .