Can you check if your board’s edge is perfectly 90 degrees vertical to its face , without a woodworking square ? No you cannot do that correctly and be 100% accurate .
Can you make your joints fit very tight together , without the squares ? No you cannot do that and be correct and 100% accurate .
Can you make , 90o marks on your boards , without the squares ? No you cannot do that with profesionalism , either and that’s why the squares keep us company to carpentry , since the “beginning of time” .
No matter if you’re an amateur woodworker or a pro carpenter, the correct checking of your wood’s verticality is a basic column in woodworking , as you can also see in this clarifying article .
There are many types and styles of squares and let’s see some that i suggest you highly to get .
The POWERTEC 80005 L Square Ruler Set ( a column tool ) .
If you want a very fine 3 pieces square set of anodized aluminum square and spending less than 20 bucks , this powertec square set( from 1” – 16” inches ) is ideal for a pro or an amateur carpenter and see it in Amazon in here .
What Benefits will you get from this ?
1) They’re perfectly angled in both sides with clear markings .
2) It’s lightweight , but well made from anodized aluminum .
3) They’re very precise from the 1/16″ !!
4) They’re easy to read , easy to use , even in the inner corner for all of these 3 pieces .
Something to be aware off :
As all the aluminum woodworking tools ( and not only ) , you should be kind of careful using your , marking knives to mark wood , in order not to damage the aluminum . Remember aluminum isn’t steal . It’s softer and it can be damaged by a harder metal or a fall off a table , et.c .
The SWANSON 7″ & 12”, Speed Square .
I also recommend you to have this very reliable speed square from Swanson , which comes together with the “blue book” ( with many roof & stairway layouts ) and you can check its price on Amazon here .
The craftmanship for these 2 are very elite and there’re very easy to use , read and handle to square your timber .
Your wood board’s cutting will be a “piece of cake” , when you use them as a saw guide . You can use them as a saw guide , a protractor or mark your angles and be certain that accuracy is done .
There very well made and will be inside your toolbox for many years .
What are the Advantages of these Speed squares :
1) Very well built , from heavy duty aluminum , but not heavy . Remember this is a speed square . You need speed and easiness in your verticality checking and marking .
2) Many and easy to read gradations , to measure and mark with reliabilty and correctly , outside and inside marks . Maybe more features that you’ll need , but it’s ok .
3) You can easily use it as a saw guide , with perfect cutting results .
4) The gradations and features are laser engraved to the metal , so it won’t fade or damaged , by the heavy – duty use . This is a very significant advantage in my opinion .
The IRWIN 12-inch Combination Square . ( low price choice )
Combination squares are the more modern squares you can have and i suggest you to have some of them , because there’re very helpful . The sliding bar allows you to measure and mark in many lengths and the bearing surface gives you the ability to mark in 90o and in 45o degrees .
Remember that you can also see the depth of a mortise joint with a combination square , fast and easy .
This Irwin square is a very nice choice and you can check its price on Amazon here .
What are the benefits of this Square :
1) It’s very well made , from stainless steel blade and cast zinc body . No rust themes in here and it also feels nice in hands .
2) The measuring scale , accuracy and characters are very well made and easy to read .
3) It does the job you want and you can have it in your pockets .
4) The sliding movement is smooth and accurate and the level tool also helps the most .
The Empire Level E255 6-Inch Pocket Combination Square .
I highly suggest you , except the 12″ combination square , to also have a 6-inch combination square , in order to cover all your needs .
This Empire Level combination square , has all the above Irwin’s advantages and i think it’s a very smart value for money choice . You can check it here on Amazon .
The below combination square , is one of my favorite ones and if you can affort it , i highly recommened them , to you . Yes , there are kind of more expensive .
The Starrett Steel Combination Square with Square Head – 12″ .
The approach for this 12″ Starrett is the seeking of perfection in all of its features . The steel is perfect and with perfect finishing and it’s herdened for smoothness and accuracy when you make adjustments .
You won’t have wear – rust or whatever else with this type of square’s steel . This square is designed to last for ever for ever for sure .
You’ll enjoy and get the most of sensation when you’ll make adjustments with it , feeling the smoothness combined with the best of accuracy . The color os black and aluminum for the blade .
You can see its price on Amazon in here .
Yes it’s expensive , but the results and the sensation you’ll get working with it , will surely worth every penny .
Double Squares .
The double squares are the same with the combination squares , but without the 45o degrees surface .
It’s nice to have one , there’re very easy to handle and use and you can have them in your pockets too .
This double square comes again from the Starrett and the 1880’s heavy history of the company , guarantees the quality of the square . You can have it in here from Amazon .
Framing Squares .
Except the 6-inches , the 12-inches , the 16-inches , the combination and double squares , the framing squares , which are the biggest / longest ones , are a “must” for all woodworkers .
Using a framing square , you can mark and crosscut your big and tough wooden board . You can do your big mass timber framing and even if there aren’t for highly precision jobs , they are great square helpers .
I recommend you this 24 x 16 inch Starrett Professional Framing Square , which is very well made , thick enough as a framing square should be and the markings are easy to read .
Make your buying checks , here on Amazon .
Buying Bevel Squares .
Every carpenter should have a bevel square , or T-bevel squares as you may have heard them . Using these bevel squares , you can easiuly “hold” and transfer angles , during your woodworking projects .
Many use them to create their dovetail joints , except their dovetail makers .
This Swanson 9″ with wooden handle one is a very nice choice and you can check it on Amazon in here .
What you should be careful in here :
When you lock your blade to your angle , the blade must be locked there and not moved , even for a tiny mm. If this happens , you’ll “lose” the angle you want to tranfer . So check the locking mechanism to be tight and strong .
Keep woodworking and gain happiness from it .
