Johnson Level & Tool CALC-1500 User manual

Instruction Manual
CALC-1500
Building Calculator

2 © 2023 Johnson Level & Tool
Building Calculator
Product Features
• Pre-programmed right angle and stair calculations including
pitch, rise and run
• Accurate stair, rafter, roof and framing calculations
• Easily calculate linear, area and volume
• Durable protective case for construction environments
• Complete rafter, circular, rake wall and board feet calculations

© 2023 Johnson Level & Tool 3
Table of Contents
Building Calculator.....................................2
Key Descriptions.......................................5
Calculator Function Keys...................................... 5
Length Keys ................................................6
Arc/Circle Keys ...............................................7
Right Triangle/Roof Framing Keys...............................7
Stair Layout Keys............................................ 9
Stair Default Values..........................................9
Stair Settings ...............................................10
Additional Functions.........................................11
User Settings ...............................................13
Using the Memory...........................................15
Basic Functions....................................... 16
Entering Dimensions.........................................16
Basic Math Operations .......................................16
Adding and Subtracting Dimensions ...........................17
Multiplying Dimensions ......................................17
Dividing Dimensions.........................................18
Calculating Percentages ......................................18
Calculating Square Area ......................................19
Calculating Rectangular Area and Volume.......................19
Adding a Waste Allowance to Squared and Cubic Units...........20
Converting Weight .........................................20
Converting Length Measurements .............................21
Converting Area Measurement ............................... 22
Sample Project Calculations ............................. 23
Board Feet and Cost .........................................23
Carpentry: Calculating Number of Studs ........................23
Baluster Spacing ........................................... 24

4 © 2023 Johnson Level & Tool
Table of Contents
Circle Area and Circumference................................ 25
Arc Angle or Degree ........................................ 25
Concrete Volume for Driveway ............................... 26
Concrete Columns .......................................... 26
Complex Concrete Volume ....................................27
Right Angle/Framing ....................................... 28
Squaring-Up a Foundation .................................. 29
Pitch — Converting Roof Angle .............................. 29
Converting Slope ........................................... 30
Common Rafter Length ....................................30
Regular Hip/Valley and Jack Rafters............................31
Irregular Hip/Valley..........................................33
Rake-Wall — With Base ..................................... 34
Stairs..................................................... 36
Stairs — Given Rise and Run ..................................37
Stairs — Given Only the Floor-to-Floor Rise; Entering Other Than
7-1/2 Inch ................................................. 38
Appendix ...........................................39
Default Settings............................................ 39
Setting Custom Fractional Resolution..........................40
Display Capacity and Errors ...................................41
Auto-Shut off...............................................41
Battery ................................................... 42
Replacing the Battery....................................... 42
Reset..................................................... 42
Area and Volume .....................................43
Area...................................................... 43
Volume ...................................................44

© 2023 Johnson Level & Tool 5
Key Descriptions
CALCULATOR FUNCTION KEYS
Off O Key: Turns all power off, clearing all non-permanent
registers.
On/C On/Clear Key: Turns power on. Pressing once clears the
display. Pressing twice clears all temporary values.
+ −×Arithmetic operation keys.
÷=
0– 9and •Keys used for entering numbers.
%Percent Key: Four-function (+, –, x, ÷) percent key.
√x Square Root Key: Used to find the Square Root of a
non-dimensional or area value.
/Fraction Bar Key: Used to enter fractions. Fractions can be
entered as proper (1/2, 1/8, 1/16) or improper (3/2, 9/8). If the
denominator (bottom value) is not entered, the calculator’s
fractional accuracy setting is automatically used.
Conv Convert Key: Used with the dimensional keys to convert
between dimensions or with other keys to access special
functions.
M+ Memory Key: Adds the displayed value to Memory. Clears
when the calculator is shut off.
Rcl Recall Key: Used with other keys to recall stored values and
settings.

6 © 2023 Johnson Level & Tool
Key Descriptions
LENGTH KEYS
Yds Yards Key: Enters or converts to yards.
Feet Feet Key: Enters or converts to feet as whole or decimal
numbers. Also used with the Inch and /keys for entering
feet-inch values. (e.g. InchFeet /
69 1 2 )
Repeated presses during conversions toggles between
fractional and decimal feet.
Inch Inch Key: Enters or converts to inches as whole or decimal
numbers. Also used with the /key for entering fractional
inch values. (e.g. Inch /
9 1 2 ) Repeated presses
during conversions toggles between fractional and decimal
inches.
mMeters Key: Enters or converts to meters.
cm Centimeters Key: Enters or converts to centimeters.
mm Millimeters Key: Enters or converts to millimeters.
Bd Ft Board Feet (Bd Ft): Enters or converts cubic values to
board feet. One board foot is equal to 144 cubic inches.
Weight Weight Key: Enters or converts (a volume value) to tons,
pounds, metric tons or kilograms. Repeated presses will
cycle through these units.

© 2023 Johnson Level & Tool 7
Key Descriptions
ARC/CIRCLE KEYS
Circ Circle Key: Calculates circle area and circumference based on
entered diameter.
CircConv Arc: Calculates arc length or degree based on
entered diameter and arc degree or length (e.g., if
arc degree is entered, it will calculate arc length, and
vice versa).
RIGHT TRIANGLE/ROOF FRAMING KEYS
Pitch Pitch Key: This key is used to enter or calculate the pitch
(slope) of a roof (or right triangle). Pitch is the amount of
“rise” over 12 inches of “run.” Pitch may be entered as:
a dimension 8 Inch Pitch
an angle 3 0 Pitch
a ratio 0 • 7 5 Conv Pitch
a percentage 7 5 %Pitch
A pitch entry will remain in permanent storage until revised or reset.
A solution will be replaced by its entered value once the calculator
is cleared.
Conv Pitch Enters pitch ratio (e.g., •5 8 3 Conv Pitch ).
Rise Rise Key: Enters or calculates the rise or vertical leg (height)
of a right triangle.
Run Run Key: Enters or calculates the run or horizontal leg
(base) of a right triangle.

8 © 2023 Johnson Level & Tool
Key Descriptions
RIGHT TRIANGLE/ROOF FRAMING KEYS (continued)
Diag Diagonal Key: Enters or calculates the common or diagonal
leg (hypotenuse) of a right triangle. Typical applications are
“squaring” slabs or finding common rafter lengths.
Hip/V Hip/Valley Key: Calculates length of the regular or
irregular hip/valley rafter.
Hip/VConv Irregular Pitch: Enters irregular pitch used to
calculate lengths of the irregular hip/valley and
jack rafters.
Jack Jack Key: Calculates jack rafter lengths on the
regular-pitched roof side.
JackConv Irregular Jack: Calculates jack rafter lengths on the
irregular-pitched roof side.
R/Wall Rake-Wall Key: Finds the stud sizes based on entered
right triangle values and the stored on-center spacing.
If a dimensional value is entered before pressing R/Wall ,
that value is considered the base and will be added to
the stud lengths.

© 2023 Johnson Level & Tool 9
Key Descriptions
STAIR LAYOUT KEYS
Stair Stair Key: Given rise and/or run and entered/stored
variables, calculates or displays:
Press Result
1 Riser height
2 Number of risers
3 Riser overage/underage
4 Tread width
5 Number of treads
6 Tread overage/underage
7 Stringer length
8 Angle of incline
9 Stored run
10 Stored rise
11 Stored desired riser height
12 Stored desired tread width
STAIR DEFAULT VALUES
• 7-1/2" Desired riser height
• 10" Desired tread width

10 © 2023 Johnson Level & Tool
Key Descriptions
STAIR SETTINGS
You may set “desired riser height” and “desired tread width” to any
value by using the following keys:
Conv 7Riser Height: Stores a desired riser height other
than 7-1/2" (default). For example, enter 4 inches:
4 Inch Conv 7 .
Conv 9Tread Width: Stores a desired tread width other
than 10" (default). For example, enter 24 inches:
2 4 Inch Conv 9 .