Finding the center of a circle

[mickyd]

reible posted a pretty classy way to find the center of a circle using a gorgeous brass Wood Lathe Center Finder (http://www.shopsmith.net/forums/showthread.htm?t=4452).

Here's a much less classy (aka cheap) most of the time "close enough" version is you don't have anything as spectacular.
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Where the lines bisect is .........the center.

[curiousgeorge]

Thanks, Mike. That is simple, easy to remember and a lot cheaper than having to buy a center finder.

[mickyd]

Thanks, Mike. That is simple, easy to remember and a lot cheaper than having to buy a center finder.

Then there is the good old "eyeball" method. No photos needed to demonstrate that!! :D I think I'll just have to try that vs. the geometry method above just to see how close I can get.

[charlese]

Then there is the good old "eyeball" method. No photos needed to demonstrate that!! :D I think I'll just have to try that vs. the geometry method above just to see how close I can get.
My experience is this method works better with larger circles, and with smaller ones it doesn't matter as much anyway.;)

[fjimp]

You folks are far classier than I am. I just measure across the widest point of the circle with my tape measure that once you read the width shows the center or 1/2 way point for that particular length. fjimp

[rdewinter]

I wish I would have known how my geometry studies could come in handy some day. It's sad that I forgot (or maybe I didn't study hard enough) so much of my mathematics. Thanks for the great tip Mike.

Bob
San Diego

[dusty]

I wish I would have known how my geometry studies could come in handy some day. It's sad that I forgot (or maybe I didn't study hard enough) so much of my mathematics. Thanks for the great tip Mike.

Bob
San Diego

That is so true and I think universally applicable. If only my geometry and algebra teachers had known how to show me that this stuff was going to help me to do something other than graduate.

I refer to a high school math book probably once a week (at least).

[mickyd]

That is so true and I think universally applicable. If only my geometry and algebra teachers had known how to show me that this stuff was going to help me to do something other than graduate.

I refer to a high school math book probably once a week (at least).
Is that school book on a papyrus scroll or carved in stone? I am not sure what the technology was back in those days :D . (sorry dusty...I just couldn't resist!!)