I was watching This Old House the other day (one of my favorite shows) and saw a great trick for laying out railing spindles that I wish I had know about years ago. If you have ever had to build a railing you know how hard it is to get the spindles spaced perfectly even across a length a railing, here is a trick that makes it a piece of cake.

To get setup get a roll of white elastic, 3/4" wide works well. Lay it out on a flat surface so it is just tight, but not stretched to much. Make marks across the elastics with a black marker every 3".

Now take a section of railing that is cut to the desired length, hold one end of the elastic at one end of the railing and stretch the other end until one of your marks is on the other end of the railing. The marks on the elastic will now me perfectly spaced along the length of the railing. If the spacing is to close, just stretch the elastic until the next mark lines up with the end. You can keep stretching and un-stretching the elastic until you get the desired spacing, then just transfer the marks from the elastic to the railing.

That's a very clever solution.  The way I have always done it is to pick a "full inch" spacing (no fractions of inches) that gives me the proper number of spindles AND IS A LITTLE LONGER THAN THE ACTUAL RAILING.  I then angle the tape measure from the railing until the number of spindles lines up with the actual length of the railing (think "right triangle").  Now making marks perpendicular from the railing to the "full inch increments" on the tape measure will give you even spacing and the proper number of spindles.  Your idea (or "This Old House's") makes it all a little easier, though.  We are, of course, assuming the elastic stretches linearly, but as they say, "It's close enough for theatre!"  Thanks for the tip.