Square not square?

[Richardsth]

Can anyone recommend a decent carpenters try square that is actually square? The brass plate on my twenty year old square has fallen off and all the ones that I've read reviews on complain about them not being square. I admit that they are the cheapest brand, so I'm prepared to pay for a decent square, but which one and where from?

 

[Sideways]

I'd buy a good rafter square withba machined aluminium edge. Empire, hultafors, maybe milwaukee. Yes it's an aluminium thing so the edge will wear if you use a knife to mark, but there is no joint to slop and wear so it will stay as good as when it was made. If you ding it,.stone the burrs off.
Otherwise, spend £100 and get a quality combination square with hardened steel rule that won't wear. Their usability is excellent.

 

[paulrbarnard]

Benchdogs are square but a bit spendy.

 

[Beau]

When I was training carpenters squares were considered a no no as they were so inaccurate. We all used engineering squares. Mind you i've had to send one those back as it was so out of tolerance

Inaccuracy creeps into our work regardless but it's nice to know your square is square and any error is of your own doing.

 

[Doug71]

Engineers squares for me, nice and square on all sides and not too expensive.

 

[Orraloon]

I got a stanley combination square back in 1975 after buying my first house and finding I had some home improvements to do. Start of building up a set of tools. I replaced it about 5 years ago when the brass screw/hook thingie broke. Replaced it with an empire combination. Now nither of those are high end but they both were square and I knew how to check them and keep them square. I think for general woodworking a combination square is the way to go as it is so much more than just a square. Its a square to start with, a depth gauge, marks miters, a marking gauge, a measuring tool, I set the table saw and router up with it and I am sure to think so something else. I do have other squares but the combination is the workhorse of squares.
Regards
John

 

[niall Y]

I'd buy a good rafter square withba machined aluminium edge. Empire, hultafors, maybe milwaukee. Yes it's an aluminium thing so the edge will wear if you use a knife to mark, but there is no joint to slop and wear so it will stay as good as when it was made. If you ding it,.stone the burrs off.

I have found roofing squares very useful for marking up boards. However, I have realised that their inside and outside edges are not necessarily aligned with each other. One has to choose which edge to rely on, either the outside one or inside one, and not intermix the two.

 

[HamsterJam]

Flinn and Garlick have a selection of good squares that won’t break the bank….
https://www.flinn-garlick-saws.co.uk/product/joseph-marples-try-square-diamond-washers-brass-rivets/

Also…
https://www.classichandtools.com/joseph-marples-trial-1-9-try-square/p790

I have a couple of Bahco combination squares from Axi which are pretty accurate too…
https://www.axminstertools.com/bahco-combination-squares-ax898881

 

[Bingy man]

I’m for the engineering squares my favourite is moore and wright they are not bank breakers but reading the specs tells me the square I’m buying is guaranteed square on the external and internal faces . Woodpeckers offer the same guarantee but they are expensive .for general work where accuracy is not as important I use a combi square ( Stanley)

 

[Peter Sefton]

I have chosen not to stock the Marples square as I have not had good experience with them, but these get very good customer reviews.

https://woodworkersworkshop.co.uk/igaging-precision-combination-square-300mm-12-dual-scale/

https://woodworkersworkshop.co.uk/verum-precision-engineers-square-150mm-6/

Cheers

Peter

 

[imageel]

I have for years used an unbranded set bought at Screwfix for >£30 and found them to be more than accurate enough for woodworking purposes. The range of sizes are handy for tight jobs and for setting blades/platforms square on chopsaws, jigsaws etc.
Can't see them available now but these look similar

 

[johnnyb]

It's important not to buy a square and expect it to be right. It's important to check it before hand. You may find a decent used one of generally better quality than many brands. I do find combi squares are my goto forsaking engineering precision for overall usefulness(slightly). Super precision is definitely not required. Have to say I was disappointed with woodpecker clamping squares accuracy and sold them on whilst in good condition. They are one piece of alloy and they were all out exactly the same amount t. 8 thou over 8 inch open isn't much but a bit to much. My current is a 70s Moore and Wright set with centre finder and angle. The centre finder is an excellent saddle square as well.

 

[--Tom--]

So long as the joint is solid careful filing can be used to readjust an out of square square.

Light weight squares can also be fashioned from wood. Pretty sure there’s a the woodwright’s shop episode where Roy Underhill makes one

 

[Ollie78]

Starret combi squares are properly square, I have the flat plate veritas one that is square also.
Any engineers square should be certified within a tolerance there are different classes of accuracy but if it is BS or DIN certified it is square.
I don`t trust wooden try square style ones at all.

 

[Amplidyne]

Always used an engineer's square for most things. I've also got a Nobex square similar to this one.

https://www.tool-shop.co.uk/nobex-oc-200-octo-200-folding-square-200mm-8inch

I've found they're very good. Mine's a 150mm I've had for years. Does 45 and 90 degrees.