I posted this information in another thread, but thought that creating a new one would make this information more accessible to people browsing or searching this forum.

The Woodwise stair jig does not come with instructions, so I had to do a little research and experimentation to come up with the following procedure on how to use it to measure a tread. Hopefully this information will be of help to anyone who has bought this tool or is considering buying one and others will chime in with their thoughts and experiences using this tool.

Basically the tool is a sliding steal bar with two aluminum "flippers" attached to each end, like any other stair guage. The flippers are squared at one end and pointed at the other. The bar has a spring that you can use to put tension on the flippers. You can see a picture of the tool at this site: http://www.woodwise.com/tools/jig.html .

Based on my discussion with the supplier and some experimentation, my understanding is that you follow this procedure:

1) Place the tool on the tread with the square ends of the flippers pointed toward the riser and the pointed ends out toward the front of the step.

2- Loosen the wing nuts that secure the flippers and slide the bar out to push the flippers flush to the skirt on boths sides of the tread.

3- Before tightening the knob that secures the sliding bar, push a little more to put the bar's spring tension on the flippers.

4- Tighten knob that secures the bar

5- After confirming that the flippers are flush with the skirt on each side, tighten the wing nuts that secure the flippers.

6- Loosen the knob on the bar to relieve the spring tension and then retighten knob to secure the bar (this establishes the width of the tread).

7- Use a bit of tape or a pencil to mark the location of the front of the tread on each flipper.

8- To prevent scratching the skirts, you can use the bar's spring tension in the other direction to push the bar inward as you lift the tool off the tread.

Now you have the correct measurement for the back, front, and sides of the tread.