Truing a framing square

[transatlantic]

Just wondering if anyone has had any luck with truing a framing square using the hammer/punch method?

I've tried on both a steel and aluminium square and i can't see any notable difference?

 

[ED65]

Just to check, how much were your squares out by? There's sure to be a limit to how much you can adjust them by although I can't remember what it's supposed to be.

If they wouldn't adjust at all, Chris Schwarz has written that some squares resist being tweaked for reasons he couldn't identify.

 

[MikeG.]

Yes, I have. My very basic advice is that if it doesn't work, get a bigger punch, and a bigger hammer!

 

[custard]

I've never done it, but I've seen it done. Hefty wallops, working equally from each side. Worked a treat!

 

[transatlantic]

I was just using a small punch like you would use for marking holes to be drilled and a normal household hammer. Both squares I have are out by about 1mm ... too much to correct?

One question though, should you be punching the same hole over and over? or making a new one each time next to the last one?

 

[MikeG.]

Multiple.

 

[transatlantic]

Multiple.

hmm ok - that is what I was doing.

 

[rafezetter]

Multiple punches and of a reasonable size along the inner or outer corner depending and along the "mitre" axis - here's a pic of mine done by me, it needed opening by about 3mm or so iirc.

The framing square is also old, bought from Bristol Designs after cheaper new ones were just rubbish, mentioned because the steel might be different and thus easier to manipulate, you can see the punches clearly - I also used an anvil as a backer, which may have helped (hammer).

I think I had to add one on the outer corner to adjust it back a tad.

 

[transatlantic]

Ah ok. Thanks. My punches are much smaller than that. Guess I need a bigger punch!