Carpenter's Calculator icon

Carpenter's Calculator

Hammerrhoid Studios
$2.99
5+ downloads

About Carpenter's Calculator

FRC = Fraction (convert to)
RFT = Rafter (after you enter the run, hit RFT, then enter pitch using NUM & DEN, then hit =)
STR = Stair (after you enter the rise, hit STR)
HIP = Hip (works like STR)
PSH = Push (saves your answer by pushing it onto a stack structure)
SVE = Save (Saves your answer for a later time)

** To enter a number in feet and inches you must enter a fractional part. If none enter 0 as numerator and any other number as denominator **

A construction calculator for carpenters, by a carpenter. It's simple and intuitive yet powerful and useful.

I was disappointed with the construction apps and online calculators I found. They were either overly complicated, requiring a ton of superfluous information, or were pricey, and the best apps seemed to be facsimiles of a physical construction calculator you would buy at Home Depot, and cost about $30.

Example of figuring common rafter:
1-1/2" ÷ 2 = 0-3/4"
PSH (to save our 1/2 ridge thickness)
CLR
15'3-1/4" (total run) ÷ 2 - POP (ridge thickness)
= 7'6-28/32"
RFT
8/12
= 9'1-7/32"

** Calculate Rafter Table values of jack rafters by entering your spacing i.e. 16" or 24", hit RFT, and enter your pitch. The value returned is the difference in size between jack rafters **

Figure 1/2 the ridge width for hips by entering:
1-3/4" (ridge width) ÷ 2 "=" -> RFT -> 12/12 -> "=" 1-1/16"

Example hip length:
1-1/2" (ridge thickness) ÷ 2 =
RFT
12/12
= 1'-1/16"
PSH (to store number)
CLR
12 (total width) ÷ 2
=
+ 1 (add 1 foot overhang)
- POP
= 6'10-15/16"
HIP
4/12
= 10'0-1/2"

** Note ** - the pitch does not have to be whole numbers, or with a 12" run. You can enter 7.8/15.632. ***** (Pitch is in inches)

** Calculate 1/2 ridge width for hips but entering 1/2 ridge width, hit RAFT, and enter 12/12 for pitch **

Example calculating risers for stairs (using decimal feet):
4
STR
6 treads at 8-0/32" with a minus 0/32 error

- Another Example Using Fractional Numbers -
15'3-5/16"
STR
25 treads at 7-11/32" with a plus 9/32 error

This app allows for easy arithmetic of decimal feet, or feet, inch and fractional inches, and the combination of the two. You can also perform 1 button conversion between the two. It's as easy as entering the length in feet, inch and fractional inches, and hitting "Dec' ". Similarly, you can just enter a number, e.g. 5.0123456, and hit "Frac" to get 5'0-5/32"

* Allow for a 1/64 error for all calculations *

This also makes using rafter tables that much easier. Whether you want to figure rafter lengths using the trigonometric ratios given, or calculating jack rafters by easily subtracting/adding the amount given in the table. You can really do it all.

A history on the bottom shows all previously entered data. A save button will save whatever answer you've gotten. A simple stack (first in, last out) data structure for temporarily storing numbers.

This app is meant to be your everyday brain saver while on the job. It functions just as a regular calculator, it's just defaulted to decimal feet, i.e. 3.5 X 2 = 7'0-0/32" -or- 7. And, 1-1/2" ÷ 2 = 0-3/4"

This app requires no permissions and collects absolutely no information.

Carpenter's Calculator Screenshots