Johnson CALC-1500 User manual

CALC-1500
Construction Master
Calculator
Operator's Manual

CONSTRUCTION
MASTER CALCULATOR
Key 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

TABLE OF CONTENTS
GETTING STARTED ..............................1
Key Definitions/Functions ........................... 1
Basic Function Keys.................................1
Dimension Keys....................................2
Arc/Circle Keys ....................................3
Right Triangle/Roof Framing Keys ....................4
Stair Layout Key ...................................6
Stair Settings ......................................7
Miscellaneous Functions ............................7
Paperless Tape Example ............................9
Preference Setting ................................10
Entering Dimensions ...............................11
Linear Dimensions..................................11
Square and Cubic Dimensions.......................12
Linear Conversions ................................12
Square and Cubic Conversions....................... 13
Basic Math Operations ............................. 13
EXAMPLES ..................................14
Adding and Subtracting Strings of Dimensions.........14
Multiplying Dimensions ............................14
Dividing Dimensions ..............................15
Percent Calculations ...............................15
Square Area ......................................16
Rectangular Area and Volume.......................16

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Entering Square and Cubic and
Adding a Waste Allowance ......................... 17
Weight Conversions ............................... 17
Weight per Volume ...............................18
Using the Memory ................................19
Board Feet and Cost ...............................20
Carpentry — Calculating Number of Studs ............20
Baluster Spacing .................................. 21
Circle Area and Circumference ......................22
Arc Angle or Degree ...............................22
Concrete Volume for Driveway ......................23
Concrete Columns .................................23
Complex Concrete Volume ..........................24
Right Angle/Framing ..............................26
Squaring-Up a Foundation .........................27
Pitch — Converting Roof Angle ......................27
Converting Slope .................................28
Common Rafter Length ............................28
Regular Hip/Valley and Jack Rafters..................29
Irregular Hip/Valley ...............................31
Rake-Wall — With Base ............................32
Stairs............................................34
Stairs — Given Rise and Run ........................34
Stairs — Given Only the Floor-to-Floor Rise;
Entering Other Than 7-1/2 Inch Desired Riser Height ....36
TABLE OF CONTENTS

TABLE OF CONTENTS
APPENDIX ..................................37
Setting Fractional Resolution........................37
Default Settings ..................................38
Auto Shut-O.....................................38
Accuracy/Errors ...................................39
Battery ..........................................40
Replacing the Battery .............................40
Reset ...........................................40
AREA AND VOLUME FORMULAS ...................41
Area Formulas ....................................41
Volume Formulas .................................42
WARRANTY AND REGISTRATION ..................43

© 2022 Johnson Level & Tool — 1
GETTING STARTED
KEY DEFINTIONS / FUNCTIONS
BASIC FUNCTION KEYS
Arithmetic
operation keys.
0—9Keys used for entering
and numbers.
Percent Key: Four-function (+, –, x, ÷) percent key.
O Key: Turns all power o, clearing all non-
permanent registers.
On/Clear Key: Turns on power. Pressing once
clears the display. Pressing twice clears all
temporary values.
Convert Key: Used with the dimensional keys to
convert between dimensions or with other keys
to access special functions.
Square Root Key: Used to find the Square Root
of a non-dimensional or area value.
Recall Key: Used with other keys to recall stored
values and settings.
Memory Key: Adds the displayed value to
Memory. Clears when the calculator is shut o.
+
%
Off
On/C
Conv
√x
÷−=
•
×
M+
Rcl

© 2022 Johnson Level & Tool — 2
GETTING STARTED
Memory Minus (M–): Subtracts the
displayed value from Memory.
Memory Clear : Clears Memory without
changing current display.
Memory Clear : Clears Memory and
displays Memory Total.
DIMENSION KEYS
Yards Key: Enters or converts to Yards.
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.,
2 Feet 8 Inch 1 /2 ). Repeated presses
during conversions toggle between Fractional
and Decimal Feet.
Inch Key: Enters or converts to Inches. Entry
can be whole or decimal numbers. Also used
with the /key for entering fractional inch
values (e.g., 6 Inch 1 /2). Repeated
presses during conversions toggle between
Fractional and Decimal Inches.
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) is not
entered, the calculator's fractional accuracy setting
is automatically used.
Feet
Yds
Conv
Conv
Rcl
M+
Rcl
Rcl
Inch
/

© 2022 Johnson Level & Tool — 3
GETTING STARTED
Meters Key: Enters or converts to Meters.
Centimeters Key: Enters or converts to
Centimeters.
Millimeters Key: Enters or converts
to Millimeters.
Board Feet (Bd Ft): Enters or converts Cubic
values to Board Feet. One Board Foot is equal
to 144 Cubic Inches.
Weight Key: Enters or converts (a volume
value) to Tons, Pounds, Metric Tons or
Kilograms. Repeated presses will cycle
through these units.
ARC/CIRCLE KEYS
Circle Key: Calculates Circle Area and
Circumference based on entered Diameter.
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).
m
cm
mm
Bd Ft
Weight
Circ
CircConv

© 2022 Johnson Level & Tool — 4
GETTING STARTED
RIGHT TRIANGLE/ROOF FRAMING KEYS
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.
Enters Pitch Ratio (e.g., •5 8 3
Conv Pitch ).
Rise Key: Enters or calculates the Rise or
vertical leg (height) of a Right Triangle.
Run Key: Enters or calculates the Run or
horizontal leg (base) of a Right Triangle.
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/Valley Key: Calculates length of the
Regular or Irregular Hip/Valley rafter.
Pitch
Rise
Run
Diag
Hip/V
Conv Pitch

© 2022 Johnson Level & Tool — 5
GETTING STARTED
Irregular Pitch: Enters Irregular Pitch
used to calculate lengths of the
Irregular Hip/Valley and Jack rafters.
Jack Key: Calculates Jack rafter lengths on
the Regular-pitched roof side.
Irregular Jack: Calculates Jack rafter
lengths on the Irregular-pitched
roof side.
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.
Hip/V
R/Wall
Jack
Conv
Conv
Jack

© 2022 Johnson Level & Tool — 6
GETTING STARTED
STAIR LAYOUT KEY
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
Stair

© 2022 Johnson Level & Tool — 7
GETTING STARTED
STAIR SETTINGS
You may set “desired Riser height” and “desired Tread
width” to any value by using the following keys:
Riser Height: Stores a desired Riser
height other than 7-1/2" (default).
For example, enter 4 Inches: 4 Inch
Conv 7 .
Tread Width: Stores a desired Tread width
other than 10" (default). For example,
enter 24 Inches: 2 4 Inch Conv 9 .
MISCELLANEOUS FUNCTIONS
Backspace Key: Used to delete entries
one keystroke at a time (unlike the On/C
function, which deletes the entire entry).
1/x: Finds the reciprocal of a number
(e.g., 8 Conv ÷ 0.125).
Clear All: Returns all stored values to
the default settings. (Does not aect
Preference Settings.)
(+/–) Toggle
Pi (π) 3.141593
Conv
Conv
Conv
Conv
Conv
Conv
÷
×
–
+
7
9

© 2022 Johnson Level & Tool — 8
GETTING STARTED
x2:Squares a linear or non-dimensional
value.
Total Cost: Based on entry of per unit cost.
Store Weight per Volume: Stores a new
Weight per Volume value as listed below:
Note: After entering a value and pressing
Conv 0, continue pressing the 0digit
key until you’ve reached the desired
Weight per Volume format. To recall your
setting, press Rcl 0.
• Ton Per CU YD
• LB Per CU YD
• LB Per CU FEET
• MET Ton Per CU M
• kG Per CU M
This value is stored until you change it or
perform a Clear All ( Conv ×).
On-Center Spacing (o.c.): Stores a new
on-center spacing (e.g., 2 4 Inch Conv
5 ). The value is used for jack and rake
wall stud calculations. Default is 16".
Conv
Conv
Conv
Conv
•
0
5
√x

© 2022 Johnson Level & Tool — 9
GETTING STARTED
Paperless Tape: Useful for checking
figures, as it scrolls through your past 20
entries or calculations. Press Rcl =to
access Paperless Tape mode. Press +
or − to scroll forward or backward.
Press =to exit mode and continue
with a new entry or calculation.
See example below.
PAPERLESS TAPE EXAMPLE
Add 6 Feet, 5 Feet and 4 Feet, then access the paperless
tape mode and scroll back through your entries. Then,
back up one entry, exit the tape mode and add 10 Feet
to the total.
KEYSTROKE DISPLAY
0
6 FEET 0 INCH
11 FEET 0 INCH
15 FEET 0 INCH
TTL = 15 FEET 0 INCH
01 6 FEET 0 INCH
02 + 5 FEET 0 INCH
03 + 4 FEET 0 INCH
02 + 5 FEET 0 INCH
TTL = 15 FEET 0 INCH
25 FEET 0 INCH
Rcl
On/C
Rcl
+
+
+
−
=
6
5
4
On/C
=
Feet
+ =
1 0 Feet
Feet
Feet
+
+
=
=

© 2022 Johnson Level & Tool — 10
GETTING STARTED
PREFERENCE SETTINGS
Press , then %, then keep pressing %to toggle
through the main settings. Press the key to advance
within sub-setting. Use the key to back up. Press the
key to exit Preferences.
PRESS AND: SETTING — FUNCTION
First press of %: Fractional Resolution:
– 1/16
+ – 1/32
+ – 1/64
+ – 1/2
+ – 1/4
+ – 1/8
+ – 1/16 (repeats options)
Second press of %: Area Displays:
– Std.
+ – 0 SQ FEET
+ – 0 SQ YD
+ – 0 SQ M
+ – Std. (repeats options)
Third press of %: Volume Displays:
– Std.
+ – 0 CU YD
+ – 0 CU FEET
+ – 0 CU M
+ – Std. (repeats options)
Fourth press of %: Meter Linear Displays:
– 0.000 M
+ – FLOAt M (floating point)
+ – 0.000 M (repeats options)
Conv
Conv
−
+
On/C

© 2022 Johnson Level & Tool — 11
GETTING STARTED
PRESS Conv AND: SETTING — FUNCTION
Fifth press of %: Decimal Degree Displays:
– 0.00º
+ – FLOAt (floating point)
+ – 0.00º (repeats options)
Sixth press of %: Fractional Mode:
– Std.
+ – COnSt
+ – Std. (repeats options)
ENTERING DIMENSIONS
LINEAR DIMENSIONS
When entering Feet-Inch values, enter dimensions from
largest to smallest — Feet before Inches, Inches before
Fractions. Enter Fractions by entering the numerator (top
number), pressing /(Fraction Bar key) and then the
denominator (bottom number).
Note: If a denominator is not entered, the fractional
setting value is used.
Examples of how linear dimensions are entered (press
On/C after each entry):
DIMENSIONS KEYSTROKE
6 Yards 6Yds
5 Feet 1-1/2 Inch 5Feet 1Inch 1/2
58.5 Meters 58•5m

© 2022 Johnson Level & Tool — 12
GETTING STARTED
SQUARE AND CUBIC DIMENSIONS
Examples of how Square and Cubic dimensions are
entered (press On/C after each entry):
DIMENSIONS KEYSTROKE
25 Cubic Yards 25Yds Yds Yds
18 Square Feet 18Feet Feet
17 Square Meters 17mm
LINEAR CONVERSIONS
Convert 6 Feet 2 Inches:
KEYSTROKE DISPLAY
On/C On/C 0
6Feet 2Inch 6 FEET 2 INCH
Conv Yds 2.055556 YD
Conv Inch 74 INCH
Conv m1.880 M
Conv cm 187.96 CM
Conv mm 1879.6 MM
Convert 15 Feet 3-3/4 Inches to Decimal Feet:
KEYSTROKE DISPLAY
On/C On/C 0
15Feet 3Inch 3/415 FEET 3-3/4 INCH
Conv Feet 15.3125 FEET
Convert 18.25 Feet to Feet-Inches:
KEYSTROKE DISPLAY
On/C On/C 0
18•25Feet 18.25 FEET
Conv Feet 18 FEET 3 INCH

© 2022 Johnson Level & Tool — 13
GETTING STARTED
SQUARE AND CUBIC CONVERSIONS
Convert 25 Square Feet to Square Yards:
KEYSTROKE DISPLAY
On/C On/C 0
25Feet Feet 25 SQ FEET
Conv Yds 2.777778 SQ YD
(2.8 square yards)
Convert 75 Square Yards to Square Feet:
KEYSTROKE DISPLAY
On/C On/C 0
75Yds Yds 75 SQ YD
Conv Feet 675 SQ FEET
Convert 50 Cubic Feet to Cubic Yards:
KEYSTROKE DISPLAY
On/C On/C 0
50Feet Feet Feet 50 CU FEET
Conv Yds 1.851852 CU YD
BASIC MATH OPERATIONS
Your calculator uses standard chaining logic, which simply
means that you enter your first value, the operator
(+, –, ×, ÷), the second value and then the Equals
sign ( =).
A. 3+2=5.
B. 3–2=1.
C. 3×2=6.
D. 3÷2=1.5
This feature also makes the calculator simple to use for
dimensional applications.

© 2022 Johnson Level & Tool — 14
EXAMPLES
ADDING AND SUBTRACTING
STRINGS OF DIMENSIONS
Add the following measurements:
• 15 Feet 3-3/4 Inches
• 11 Feet 5-1/4 Inches
• 18.25 Inches
Then subtract 2-1/8 Inches:
KEYSTROKE DISPLAY
On/C On/C 0
15Feet 3Inch 3/4+15 FEET 3-3/4 INCH
11Feet 5Inch 1/4+26 FEET 9 INCH
18•25Inch =28 FEET 3-1/4 INCH
–2Inch 1/8=28 FEET 1-1/8 INCH
MULTIPLYING DIMENSIONS
What is the perimeter of a room with three walls which
measure 6 Feet 2-1/2 Inches each?
KEYSTROKE DISPLAY
3×6Feet 2Inch 1/2=18 FEET 7-1/2 INCH
Multiply 5 Feet 3 Inches by 11 Feet 6-1/2 Inches:
KEYSTROKE DISPLAY
5Feet 3Inch ×11Feet 6Inch 1/2=
60.59375 SQ FEET

© 2022 Johnson Level & Tool — 15
EXAMPLES
DIVIDING DIMENSIONS
Divide 20 Feet 6-1/2 Inches into thirds (divide by 3):
KEYSTROKE DISPLAY
On/C On/C 0
2 0 Feet 6Inch 1/2÷3=6 FEET 10-3/16 INCH
How many 3-Foot 6-Inch pieces can you cut from one
25-foot board?
KEYSTROKE DISPLAY
On/C On/C 0
25Feet ÷3Feet 6Inch =7.142857
(or 7 whole pieces)
PERCENT CALCULATIONS
Add a 10% waste allowance to 2.39 Cubic Yards:
KEYSTROKE DISPLAY
On/C On/C 0
2•39Yds Yds Yds =10%2.629 CU YD
What is 25% of $1,575?
KEYSTROKE DISPLAY
On/C On/C 0
1575×25%393.75