looking for accurate measurents i can do on my own
I am asuming that you do not own a "chop saw" and will using hand tools. I shall list the esential tools you will reqire:
Hand saw or tennon saw
Pencil
A combination square
Tape measure
The 1st task will be to check that you have one square end to the piece of wood you want to cut. You establish the by to use of your square held against the cut end. The use of the square should prove obvious as you proceed.
By now you should be aware of how to use your square and tape + the pencil to measure from an existing square cut edge or to create one using your Saw - square - pencil . Just doing the basic tasks that I have described above should provoke further questions, please fèel free to ask them.
Persiveer and you will soon get the hand of things.