Lining up holes in boards with anchor bolts

[Stephen Tashiro]

When boards are installed building construction that must line-up with achor bolts, are there any simple tricks for drilling the holes in the boards so the that they line-up with the bolts. Is it simplest just to drill big holes at the approximate locations and use big washers?

[Jamie Buxton]

If the anchor bolts are pretty much the same height, balance the mud sill on top of the bolts and give it a good whack in several places. The tops of the bolts will dent the underside of the sill to mark locations for drilling.

[Chris Damm]

If the anchor bolts are pretty much the same height, balance the mud sill on top of the bolts and give it a good whack in several places. The tops of the bolts will dent the underside of the sill to mark locations for drilling.

That's the way I've always done it!

[David Larsen]

Lay the bottom plate next to the anchor bolts and use your speed square to mark the left and right sides of the bolt then measure in from the outside of the wall to the center of the anchor bolt and transfer this measurement to your plate. Sure beats trying to balance the plate on the top of the bolts and trying to guesstimate the position while you whack it.