Jodee from Inspire Woodcraft shared the woodworking tip featured in this video.
The video demonstrates a simple, repeatable marking system built around a “modified crow’s foot” that Jodee uses for most layout tasks in the shop, not just cutting. The approach keeps marks clear, minimizes ambiguity, and reduces the need for multiple marking conventions.
Watch the full video and subscribe to Inspire Woodcraft:
The Modified Crow’s Foot
Jodee’s modified crow’s foot is made by approaching the intended mark, pulling back slightly toward the tape, and cutting back down to form a V so the two pencil strokes meet at a single, precise point. This single-point reference avoids the fat, ambiguous lines that sometimes happen when a pencil leg slips under tape or a traditional tick is overdrawn.
The V-shaped mark serves as a clear anchor for later measurements and connections, making it faster to line up a ruler or square without second-guessing which edge to use. Because the mark is a single continuous pencil stroke, it stays neat and consistent across many parts and layouts.
Using the Mark for Cutting and Layout
For cuts, Jodee follows the crow’s foot with a simple follow-up like an X or a diagonal slash to indicate the waste side, so the intended cut line is unambiguous. The X can be placed on one side or the other, and multiple staged locations can be marked quickly to show where parts or joinery will go.
Compared with traditional tick marks—which can create multiple potential endpoints—the crow’s foot plus an indicator makes connecting the dots straightforward. That clarity speeds layout work and reduces mistakes when parts are trimmed, joined, or cut to length.
Alternatives and Community Ideas
Viewers suggested other quick indicators that achieve the same goal, such as writing a P on the waste side or using a small crook or R-like mark to show which side is waste and which is the reference. These variations work well as long as the extra stroke is placed consistently and does not conflict with other layout markings.
Jodee appreciates these community ideas and notes they can be mixed into the basic system depending on personal preference and habit. The key is consistency: whichever follow-up mark a woodworker chooses should be recognizable at a glance and used the same way every time.
Why This System Works
Jodee uses this marking approach across roughly 90% of everyday shop tasks because it reduces confusion and the need for multiple marking systems. It streamlines work from simple trims to more complex layout jobs without creating cluttered or ambiguous pencil marks.
The system is adaptable and can be applied to joining, trimming, staging parts, and cutting, making it a versatile shop habit that saves time and reduces errors.
Adapting the follow-up indicator—X, P, slashes, or a crook—lets each woodworker tailor the method to their workflow while keeping the underlying principle intact.
Support Jodee by visiting his online store here: https://inspirewoodcraft.com/collections/all.