Tools: my plans for the Minimax don't come with angles or lengths indicated for many of the support structures. The main sizes are there, but not the incidental ones. So here are a few tools I recommend for after you draw out what is being built on your build table.
1: Protractor. get one that is metal with well defined edges. Also, get one that shows both angles, from 0-180 and 180-0. This is important as many saws only go so far in their cutting angle, so sometimes you have to use the opposite angle and figure it out.
2: Carpenter's square. Use to extend lines to use for measuring. So many uses, no excuse not to have one.
3: Rafter square. Again, many uses. I'll show you a trick here. It is dangerous, so be very careful if you decide to use this. Many of you know that a chop saw, or miter saw only goes from about 49 degrees one way to 40 degrees the other way. Well, some of our cuts require a 56 or 65 degree cut. So how do you do this? you use your rafter square. Place the square on the bed of the saw. Be sure to block up the back end of the square to make it so that the flat part (your new cutting fence) is square with the bed. Then just subtract 45 from whatever angle you need. If you need a 65 degree angle, you would take out 45 (because of your square) and use 20 degrees.
CLAMP THE SQUARE AND BOARD YOU ARE CUTTING DOWN. THAT SPINNING THING THAT CUTS WOOD ALSO CUTS FLESH, AND IT DOESN'T GIVE A CRAP ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT USE IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
CLAMP THE SQUARE AND BOARD YOU ARE CUTTING DOWN. THAT SPINNING THING THAT CUTS WOOD ALSO CUTS FLESH, AND IT DOESN'T GIVE A CRAP ABOUT YOUR FEELINGS. THIS IS EXTREMELY DANGEROUS. DO NOT USE IF YOU ARE NOT COMFORTABLE WITH THIS IDEA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!