How to Square a Square Fix It

What do you do if your square is not square? There are several methods to squaring a square. today we are going to look at fixing your square.

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[AllanMacMillan]

I think you approached this topic from the right angle.

[johnford]

I inherited my grandfather's framing square and after using it for about a decade, I tested it and learned it was out of square. I used a punch and was convinced I did something wrong when it required 4 or 5 punches to bring it back to square. Your video was very reassuring that I probably didn't do anything wrong. Thank you.

[schm]

Yes, I got a bunch of classic squares with riveted wooden beams from the flea market; one was even trash-picked. I filed them and now they are plenty square enough. Thanks for sharing these kinds of information.

[Pikeandglaive]

I actually have a hand made wooden square for my traditional tool box. I had to re-square it a few times over the years, I always just used a file and some sand-paper.

[kencarlile]

What a timely video... I noticed that two of my squares may be out of square, assuming I can trust my little machinist's square. Which apparently I shouldn't!

[JustinShaedo]

I've also found inherited a Square from my grandfather. It's always just been ornamental, but now I can at least attempt to square my Square and put it squarely back to use. Thank you for enabling this.

[adammono]

A great video with some great techniques! Now I can go to my box of old squares that need squaring...

[DetroitSicilian]

Thanks for “squaring” me away with this. It will help me with one I got from my dad. Great video.

[Bpt]

I was just given a couple of antique squares & now I'm going to go find out if they're square or not. Thank you!

[derekrobertson]

I wish you had done this video last year, I chucked a couple of squares as they were not square. At least they were only cheep ones. I do have a starrett one that is not square. At least I know what to do now, thank you.

[mogul]

My square was unsquare!!!! (Anitque wood brass beautifull mystery brand tri) thanks for not only showing checking but fixing as well. Its now perfect!!

[LaraCroftCP]

Every of the five machinist squares i inheritaced from my grandfather were out of square. i should really restore them!

[att]

Genius video, so simple but so helpful. And possibly a new level of dad jokes subtly thrown in... 👍

[robertmoore]

Thanks James, it had never occurred to me that you could do this but I have now re-squared all of my unsquare squares👍

[RDurantWorkshop]

I had a project where I needed a new carpenter's square. I was suspicious of the Irwin squares so I purchased two of them. When testing at home, neither were square. So I took them back and exchanged them for 4 Irwin squares and 4 DeWalt squares. I tested them at home...none of them were square. I kept one DeWalt square and returned all of the rest. I gave up trying to find a square carpenter square after the 9th one, so just decided to fix one with a punch. Voila! But you reminded me about dropping them knocking them out of square. I recently dropped my vintage Stanley combo square and forgot all about checking for square. I shall do that tomorrow. Thank you for the reminder!

[rickkjelson]

I have a bunch of classic squares with the wood beams brass face and ateel eules. But I found is I need to be careful of those brass faces because they are often worn and uneven. I often have to bring them back to flat before I can check and adjust the actual squareness of the square

[r.parker]

I've used this method - which I learned from you in a previous video - to great effect on 3 or 4 vintage squares over the years. Thanks!

[justplanebob]

I remember your other video on this some time back. I checked mine then but I have since purchased a couple of antique squares at tool meets. I need to check these new to me squares. Crazy question: Have you ever "re-inked" the markings in very old squares or rules? I have some that are very hard to read without a spotlight.

[Bargle]

Yup, I've got a vintage square (brass and rosewood handle) that's out of square. Filing it back true is on my never ending small job list.

[JimHill-hpof]

Thanks much for the file method, a quick project to bring things back on the 90.