Customer Reviews

Calculated Industries 4065 Construction Master Pro Advanced Construction Math Calculator

5 star:		(17)
4 star:		(6)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Fine Homebuilding recently ran an article about framing a dormer that included step-by-step instructions about how to use this calculator to generate complete measurements to do much of the framing in advance on the ground. After reading the article and watching a framer I sometimes work with use one to run circles around truss manufacturing company representatives, I decided it was time to buy one for my own use.

I have a science background so I initially leaned toward buying the more expensive trig model, but decided on the regular one because it has the following features not available on the trig model: quantity estimators for various sizes of drywall sheets; volume estimators for concrete footers, slabs, & circular piers; and estimators for various sizes of brick and blocks. I carry a Palm Pilot with me that has trig functions in case I need them, but for the remodeling work I do, I haven't needed any trig values now that I no longer manually do trig calculations. The calculator can generate angles, hypotenuse lengths, side lengths, areas, volumes, etc. based on a few known quantities. For example, if two sides of a triangle (can be regular sides or one side and a hypotenuse) are known, it'll give the angle / pitch. Likewise, if the angle and one side are known it'll generate lengths for the other two sides. I've found that I no longer have a need for trig values since blueprints and field measurements only involve lengths and angles / pitches which this calculator is set up to work with.

A different reviewer was bothered that this calculator rounded to the nearest 1/16th of an inch. That's the default factory setting, but it can easily be changed to a different accuracy level all the way down to 1/64th of an inch. I keep mine set to 1/32th of an inch.

I've been using the Construction Master Pro on the job for about a month now and it has really sped up my calculations as well as helped avoid errors, especially when I'm tired. I occasionally use it to determine quantities of shingles and bricks needed for a job or to do complex calculations involving a variety of angles (it has crown molding functions for irregular walls that have replaced the charts I used to carry in my truck), but most of the time I use it for simple calculations like dividing measurements.

Here are two examples: I needed to put in a diagonal brace for a two-piece rack that held trim for a job so I just measured the height of one side of the rack and the horizontal distance between the two supports and the calculator gave me the length and plumb cut angles for my diagonal brace that went from the top of one side to the bottom of the other. This took about 10 seconds and my piece fit perfectly. To determine the number of shingles I needed for a roof, I entered length and width of the area below the roof and the roof's pitch and it calculated the area of the sloped roof as well as the number of squares and bundles of materials.

Other features that I find useful include: stair calculations (with some powerful features including limiting maximum riser heights, specifying various tread lengths, limiting the number of risers, etc.), hip / valley roof framing calculations, estimating the number of studs needed for a job, calculating rake wall stud cut angles and lengths, arc calculations, and squaring calculations (no more need to use multiples of 3-4-5; any numbers will do). Features I probably won't use much include board foot calculations, conical volumes, and tonnage calculations.

This calculator isn't a substitute for good construction knowledge and the ability to visualize the process, but it sure can help take these skills to the next level.

I bought this calculator for basic imperial (foot/inch) measurement system entry and math, including fractions, but have found that it excels in the feature set it offers - including circle, arc, area, volume, and right angle calculations. It also has a good conversion capability from imperial measurements to metric.

The calculations used by the built-in keys (e.g., for stairs, rafters, blocks, compound miter cuts, etc.) use common-sense default values - like 16" OC stud spacing, 6'8" stairway headroom, 16" blocks, 7 1/2" stair risers, etc. - but can be easily changed with a couple of simple keystrokes.

I found the built-in calcs very easy to learn and use. A lot of the dedicated function keys give you the results you want by just pushing the button more than once. Enter run and rise, for example, then push "DIAG" and it shows you the diagonal. Another push of "DIAG" gives you the plumb cut, and a third press gives you the level cut. Enter a circle diameter into "CIRC" and a press gives you area and a second press circumference. The rafter and jack calculations are particularly impressive, as successive presses give you the lengths of the entire series for the run, plus hip and valley lengths and bevels, all without entering any additional information.

The calculator is very flexible - you can enter values in any unit. Pitch, for example, can be entered in feet, inches per foot, degrees in two different formats, and so on. You can solve for missing values. Using pitch as an example again, if you enter pitch in degrees, along with the run, a press of "RISE" will solve for the rise.

The calculator itself is feather-weight, but appears to be made of a tough plastic. A slide-on cover is included, by the way - I didn't see the need to buy the flip-open optional cover. Whoever designed this calculator thought it out. There is actually storage for the printed pocket guide in the form of a built-in pocket on the back of the calculator. The slide-on cover also has basic instructions and a list of the default calculation values printed on it.

My only real complaint is that the printing above the keys for alternate functions accessed by the "CONV" and "STOR" key are light and hard to read. No problem in daylight, but indoor lighting makes it hard to read them. The keys themselves are good-sized, have a slightly rubbery texture, and have a good feel to them. The display is easy to read.

This is an excellent calculator, and it should satisfy anyone for virtually all routine carpentry, woodworking, and cabinetmaking needs. I went back and forth a few time trying to decide between this model and the trig model, but this one has some built in calcs the trig model does not have, and I've found that this model's right triangle, circle/arc, and degree entry capabilities meet my geometric needs.

Amazon had the best price on this calculator that I'd seen to-date at the time I bought it.

The calculator is fantastic. All I I'm going to say is don't buy the Armadillo case as is suggested. This package includes an Armadillo case.

I am a home designer and I have used the construction master calculators for over 15 years. If you are doing any kind of calculations for construction this is the calculator for me. I have had contractors call me to figure things that they are struggling with and in a matter of a few minutes I can give them the answer. It is amazing how easy it is to use and learn the formulas. The booklet gives real life problems and walks you through step by step how to solve it. I love being able to enter in information in feet and inches then converting to decimal with the push of a button. I went to school and learned the formulas in geometry and trig. but I don't use them any more this calculator is much easier and faster because you enter things in the way you think. This is a great calculator I highly recomend it.

stairs check, pitch check, volume check, doing it all in fractions check...just makes life easier even if you don't do rafters or loading equations...I bought the set that you get a CD with a compter program for your desktop also....lets me leave the calc in the truck so i have her with me when I need her

I was completely satisfied with the recent purchase of the Construction Master Pro from Amazon. It arrived early, and in the original packaging, and works great. I would definitely recommend this company from anyone looking for the same device. Well done!

I've tried out 3 or 4 of these and this is the best I've used. The cover design works really well, too. Worth the money.

I purchased this calculator for work, as I work for a commercial general contractor. The calculator is very helpful and functional, but is fairly expensive. Be sure that you will use a lot of its features before you purchase. I needed it for takeoffs, shop drawing review, and general purpose use. You may want to look at the other models available on Amazon, as there are simpler ones that are smaller and can fit in your pocket for out in the field. Overall, it is a good product with a handy guide that tucks in the back of the calculator.

Great product for calculation of surfacearea and lenghts, i recommand it to people who have to work on quotation and drafting

Once you learn the controls to this calculator you'll love using it to solve a lot of your dimensioning problems. It also comes with a little instruction guide which is great because trying to remember all of the commands is almost impossible. You definitely won't regret buying this compared to a normal calculator neither because it easily does a lot of the work for you like you can easily go from feet to yards and even to meters with just the press of a button.