8 Ways to Find Square Faster (+Without a Square!)

The ability to make a square corner is the first and one of the most important tools in your kit!
There are more ways to do this than you might think!

Music in this video: Black Water (Instrumental Version) - Loving Caliber

Enjoy EC? Learn about Essential Craftsman Academy!
This is the best way to support Essential Craftsman and you get a LOT of perks as a bonus.
Check it out.

PODCAST👇

If you are going to hire a contractor for a big project PLEASE read our ebook first!

Amazon Affiliate Links:

Video Equipment and Misc.

[Cowboy_moonman]

I’m starting to appreciate the beauty of math 11yrs after graduating HS. Just wish high school math class wasn’t so rushed and disconnected from real world scenarios. Would’ve been cool to have math class mixed with shop or welding/ag class.

[Maxb]

By far one of the best construction videos on YouTube of all year. Bravo.

[vincentking]

14:41 I’d like to say, this gem of a man stopping to share his journey and telling a story of it not being the square is simply the kind nudge we all need to be a bit more self aware. I’ve a few squares that are out and a few others that are “out”. I wish I’d have spent some time learning from a man that could sit me down and explain the difference in kindness. I’m hoping to learn this man’s skill but more his kindness as I engage the next generation of craftsmen.

[claudew]

Being a Machinist I've used Pythagorean Theorem many times for hole layout. BUT, now there's a APP for that. Saves a lot of time. Great video's. I watch every one.

[people]

Every wall I’ve ever squared has been done with a building calculator. On a 35’ long wall, it’s massively underrated when it comes to sheathing. Get it right the first time and ever successive sheet lands exactly where it needs to.

Lord knows I failed grade 10 math. But the basics have proven themselves time and time again within my framing world. I love this.

[adrummer]

I've always liked the 3 4 5 or even the 6 8 10 method.

The better I've gotten with math over the years, the more fun it is to do these projects! It just works!!

Also, the "golden ratio" makes beautiful furniture... and music!!

[skylinevspec]

I love the filming. It has the 90's vibe of NTSC to PAL video. Id say because of your lights and the flicker

[daiblaze]

"Now aren't you guys still depressed that you stuck on the metric system?"
This got me good!
French here so metric system all the way. I was wondering how you would work with the decimals to stay accurate. Then I saw all the calculation.
That's was a bit of a "aha" moment.
Yeah finally understand why you can stay on this system. I guess that the best is use both according to what we have in mind.
So I am now eager to learn a bit of the systems of yours. Maybe it will suit me more in woodworking.

Thanks for sharing your experience!

[utherpen]

Genuinely love watching your videos, thank you. I can't think of a more compelling demonstration for the metric system watching you fathom the fractions 😀

[kendavis]

I'm old enough to recall those days when we had geometry classes in high school that taught us these lessons.
Thanks again, for teaching folks some basic math. (Though that might not have been your intent. Still valuable!)
3/4/5 is easier, but perhaps too easy for folks who may not understand squares and square roots.

[ibdiesel]

I'm a old school carpenter foreman and
the first thing I would do when starting a new job, is check Everybody's 4' Level against it's self to see if the level was true. And remember that horizontally, the level has to be checked
end for end and not flipped.

[tangarden]

Thanks for the video. Very educational. Love your teaching videos. I’m trying to learn how to square a post on frame structure. So far my efforts have been back and forth as you described in the video. I know all four batter boards have to be level across the field and to make things worse, it’s on a slope. And my string comes untied. Haven’t got that string tips video to the wood shed enough. Spent hours back and forth, resetting batter boards, straightening stakes, remeasuring etc. I used square 24 x 16 to set stakes. I’m 75 and this is all new for me. But, I enjoy doing instead of sitting. So as Dylan said “I’m pressing on”.

[kerryyeroyan]

Very essential math!
Making this kind of content and information available in such an easy to understand and view format (Youtube) is an incredible advantage to guys that are in these trades now. I wish I had these options all those years ago.

[bradley]

Thank you for the lesson on correcting an inaccurate square. I love learning new things, and I have thrown a few away. Three, four, five - six, eight, ten— the simple beauty of the Pathagoras Theorem. Doesn't matter what math system is applied. As for all the math that would depress me, it does shine a favourable light on the metric system. Use the system, and you will quickly learn the simplicity of the number ten.

[williammrdeza]

Great information as usual, Scott! Thank you.

[TheRealFOSFOR]

There actually is an easier and maybe even more convenient way to make perpendicular line straight from the point where you need it. It's hard to explain without an image. But here we go: put the compass somewhere above the existing line. Draw a circle (an arc at specific areas is enough) so that the circle intersects the line at two points. Draw a straight line through one of the intersections and the centre of the circle. Lastly, draw the perpendicular line by going through the last two intersections on the circle.

[herzogsbuick]

it's been a while since i caught one of your videos, this one is absolutely fantastic. one recommendation: video chapters, so we know where to look for each technique. thanks as always!

[horneygeorgeforge]

i dont remember if you have talked about the Tape measure, specifically the nib, that "little loose thingie" at the end and the why it is meant to be loose. after 30 plus years in plywood manufacturing, i educated the QC and my supervisor why it is so important to leave it loose, ans how to test the accuracy of a tape by burning an inch or a foot.. and sometimes if they are dropped that can get bent as well. a 1/16 of an inch either way, can bite you.. just a thought keep having FUN!

[LongLeggedListener]

Great knowledge share and video edits. Big thanks to you and the team!❤

[twwtb]

Geometry and drafting (actual paper, pencil, etc) were favorite subjects in high school many decades ago. I really enjoyed the geometric constructions and still use them today along with some basic trig functions.