JUNK Combination Squares - Can You Still Use Them?

I am pretty sure there are many, many woodworkers out there who have done the same thing I did, which was to purchase an inexpensive combination square, and never gave a thought to the fact that it was NOT accurate. I just assumed that when I bought one, they would be right one correct, unfortunately, I learned the hard way this is not true and wasted a lot of good lumber, and tons of time thinking I was the one making mistakes when all along it was poor machine set-ups due to a junk combination square; OK so now that we know this, where can we still use an out-of-square tool and still be confident it is not going to be affecting our work, well as it turns out there are many places and things that we build that we can use the measuring feature of a combination square without relying on its inaccurate angles, like setting up table aprons and legs, drawing parallel lines, setting blade height on a table saw. using it for an adjustable table saw stop-set on a miter gauge and more. In this video, we'll look at the difference between a junk combo square compared to the best combination squares. We'll also look at tuning a combination square.

*******More Videos on Woodworking Combination Squares******
Junk Woodworking Squares Can Ruin Your Projects / Checking Squares for Accuracy
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#Square #Woodworkingtools #Handtools

[robhoey]

Colin, you are the best teacher I've come across here on YouTube. Your calm demeanor and concern with safety is fantastic. Thanks for all you do.

[MarkMurdocca]

Excellent video! I've had a love/hate relationship with my average quality Stanley combo square for years. Love your ideas for making cheap combination square "lemonade" out of "lemons"! Now I can get my top-notch square and still have valuable uses for my Stanley.

[MASI_forging]

You are the best teacher I've ever seen on Youtube. Thang for sharing with us!

[paulsmplarchuk]

Colin... you do not know how much worked you caused me. After watching the video, I checked my working combo squares to a machinist square. Most were off a little. The one I used the most was off a lot, and my father's old German carpentry square was bang on even being 50+ years old. Next, I checked the straight edge rulers...same issue and next the 45 and 90 face of the combo square to a true straight edge...same issue. Out came my chisel sharpening stone, and I set about to make one of the combo square true in all aspects. The tough part was finding a 3/32 edge flat file. If you count the time to make it true, it is better to get a high-quality square. Now, to square up everything else.

[norm]

Wonderful information, thank you for sharing, stay warm, safe, happy and healthy. From Henrico County Virginia

[richardwestphal]

Colin I recently purchased a Freud fusion saw blade and works GREAT a real smooth cut thanks for the video

[TheGardenerNorth]

I purchased an inexpensive framing square once and learn fairly quickly that not only can they be cheaply made, but the measurement marks were out as well.

[onehandedmaker]

Hi from Australia
So many brands of squares around, good to learn what to look out for!
Like your onscreen personality fun to watch.
I have subscribed and will be watching a lot of your older videos.
Regards James
One Handed Maker

[WalterRiggs]

I bought a 10 buck Hazard Fraught combo square after having a stroke when I saw the cost of a “quality” square. I set it up and made it accurate against a Woodpecker square that serves as the reference square for the shop. It hasn’t come out of square yet. Saved myself over a hundred bucks on that one.

[sanderd]

You can actually square up a cheap combination square.

If you take out the ruler, you'll see that it rides on two nobs in the casting. Cheap squares are made from aluminium, and the nobs can be ground down easily with a small file, some sandpaper, or even by scraping the edge of the steel ruler.

You can fine-tune a combination square like that. But cheap ones go out of square after usage again. So you need to check it from time to time.

[chriscluver]

For beginners: one thing not mentioned is that cheap combination squares will have a rule (the straight ruler part) that can bend really easy. Once it bends, even a little bit, it's junk; you're never going to get that thing flat again. Often, you'll take one off the shelf at the big-box store, and it will already be bent.
A good square will have a "tempered" or "hardened" steel rule (and will be labeled as such), which will not flex without lots of force; even if you can flex it a little bit, it will go right back to it's original shape once you let go.

[MCsCreations]

Thanks for all the tips, Colin! 😊
Stay safe there with your family! 🖖😊

[nonexman]

I keep one in a drawer right next to my chop saw. I do not have a laser light showing me where the blade will cut so if it's necessary, I can draw a line where I want to cut and then bring the blade down to meet that line. Once in place, I cut. I have a very nice combination square that I use when accuracy is more important than the convenience of location.

[brucematthews]

Had to work with a friend's super cheap square a couple of weeks ago. It used a molded plastic body and the rule was soft and had a bend to it. For what I was doing it was OK but I felt a little "dirty" while using it.... 😁

But it did teach me that if I need to check a cheap square that I needed to start by making sure the straight edge is in fact straight. To that end to aid with keeping it cheap I'd start with two finish nails in a piece of scrap plywood or MDF that are spaced just inside the ends. I'd make a knife mark along the middle then flip the straight edge over and make another knife mark. If the two are not actually one single groove then the straight edge ain't straight. But on the cheapies they can be easily bent a little to make them straight. And after that THEN the squareness can be checked.

[debluetailfly]

I have two or three older combination squares. One inherited, another one or two I found illegally dumped (people often throw away stuff they have no idea what is or what it is worth). I may have made an adjustment on ones I found, but they are all dead on now. I have seen all sorts of articles and videos about why we shouldn't use combo squares, but then nearly every one ot the woodworkers I see picks up a combo square when they want to mark somthing! I tend to use my machinists squares more often.

[ryanwiebe]

Thank you, that really helps, makes perfect sense now.

[roman_le]

Couple months ago I bought a cheap combination square branded "Empire" and it is dead accurate (I've checked it using good-quality machinist try square).
My point is cheap doesn't necessary mean bad.

[tomscorner]

I use machinist fixed squares. I do have a starrett adjustable that is adjustable. If you do go to a big box store check it there for square first before buying. Tape measures need to me checked.

[valterleao]

PARABÉNS…, adoro seus vídeos, o amigo faz toda diferença no YouTube 👍
Abraço aqui do Brasil 🇧🇷

[edwinfriedl]

An unmentioned point, cheap rules have stamped markings. Which means fat, inaccurate lines. Quality rules are engraved with much better accuracy. Plus, the surface finish is not glossy, so the numbers are much easier to read.