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In the course of my office work as a home energy professional, I spend a lot of time working on blueprints to calculate areas and volumes and other construction details. My original calculator was the simple model 8515 calculator, the ProjectCalc from Calculated Industries, but its over 13 years old and lacks some of the nifty features of the new one, the Construction Master 5. This one was $40, but the simpler one is around $20. It came with a hard plastic case and a tough rubber case with a flip lid. The enclosed instructional CD was great, and there's a tiny pocket on the back of the calculator to slide the instruction manual into (which is still accessible when mine is on the stand).

Here is a link to it on Amazon if you're interested in reading the details and nifty new features:
http://www.amazon.com/dp/product/B0008GO6A6/ref=as_li_ss_tl?ie=UTF8&tag=g07de-20

For the stand, I wanted to be able to read the display without having to lean over and look down at it, so I raided the scrap bin and found a piece of segmented walnut & maple that fit the task perfectly. I'm not sure exactly what the angle is, but it approximates a 30-60-90. It's 2 3/4" wide, 2" tall, and overall 5" base (2" flat top). I drilled a pair of 1/2" holes to hold pencil/erasers. Rattle can gloss lacquer, and a couple strips of Velcro (my new best friend) to hold it down. The rubber feet are recessed rubber caps glued into 3/8" holes. It's substantial enough that it won't scoot around as I work the buttons.

I'll do a review later on the calculator if no one already has one posted. The handy features this on has are the ability to calculate angles and Pythagorean theorem from two inputs of a right triangle, it has a virtual paper tape, backspace key, and circular functions. It will also calculate rafters, stairs, board feet, etc.

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Now this is genious. Really nice. Another fine lil thing to use up some cut-offs, etc.
 

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Just in case anyone wonders, the yellow Dixon Ticonderoga #2 pencil is a giant pencil. Looking at the pictures above makes the calculator and stand look small. I like these fat pencils for my office and I use the triangle shaped ones in the shop. Perhaps I'll do a tool review on pencils next!
 

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Those calculators are great. Mine dissapeared from my desk so much that I sprayed it with pink marking paint and carved my name into it so I could find it in the office faster.

The stand is a great idea, I have had trouble with reading the screen in bright sun on the table. I'm always lifting and tilting it to read it.
 
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