A plywood square that's accurate, cheap and easy to make. [video 415]

Hi there! In this video I make a simple, #accurate and #cheap plywood reference square with nothing but a #tracksaw and some geometry. And yes, let's get the "That's not a square, it's a triangle..." jokes out of the way now... 😂 Enjoy!

FYI this video is aimed at new tracksaw users looking to practice their skills in marking precisely and working accurately, whilst also making a useful workshop accessory. Yes, it probably is cheaper just to buy one - that's not the point of the video.

Other videos mentioned:-

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Used/featured in this video:-

Other useful gear…

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[Viken]

Man with thousands of pounds worth of tools and a cnc, makes perfect square using only nails, paper and MDF scrap... Well done Mr M.

[JohnWilson-defd]

If you named the Millard version of the Parf system the Milf system you might get a lot more views :o)

[hossenfeffer]

Peter, as a newbie and a seeker, a video like this, with knowledge imparted the way a master would teach his apprentices, is a gift beyond value. Instruction like this is likely how Gothic cathedrals could be built with a work force unschooled in mathematics, but able to absorb first principles of geometry Thank you 🇨🇦

[nevadacool]

Really appreciate your wit, and cheeky candor, especially, when vast experience cradles your words.

[akbychoice]

Love the simplicity of this. Used the 3-4-5 or variation of it over the last 40 years but never thought of making the square. Well done.

[craiglindberg]

Superior execution and a fine idea to allow me to try something without buying the parf guide.
Thank you.

[pinkplonker]

I have made a couple of these squares. I used plasterboard jointing tape. It is good and thick and has a folding mark in the centre to help with aligning the nails. Also, the free paper tape measures that hang in a well known Swedish furniture retailer are useful.

[CP-duci]

The old craftsmen always managed without the fancy expensive jigs. This method is just one simple method, quick and easy to do anywhere in just a short timescale and without anything other than a hammer and a saw. Peter Parfaits kit is a more sophisticated tool but no less valid for these days when fancy gizmo's fill the dreams of every DIYer. Nice one Peter.

[ronboe]

Using dividers (or compass) to walk off the divisions would work also - may even be more accurate.

[darodes]

Brilliant. Just brilliant. I’m only 30 and just recently came into the DIY and woodworking world as a new homeowner a few years ago. My highschool didn’t offer shop class and I was never good with tools…. I remember my classmates would say things like “we will never use this in the real world”…. I can’t say that I never said that myself….. and here I am kicking myself for not paying more attention in school 😅

[thedieiscast]

Pythagoras ( is this the correct spelling) 3 4 5 the most useful thing I was taught at school. I have been using this formula for over 60 years on carpentry and building projects. Thanks for your video Peter.

[gavjav]

Im often blown away with your little tricks and ideas Peter, Thanks for sharing.

[newlife]

Big thanks Peter. Considering that youtube is on the world wide web it's surprising how few of the woodworking channels think buying $200 accessories for one part of the job is valuable for all their viewers to save time. There are forums with thousands of hobby woodworkers in India whose yearly salary is less than the cost of 20 such cheap products like the parf guide or the rail square. Who really is going to be on a workbench building spree? Or the $150 square. Aluminum costs $5-7 a kilo here. Metal mill shops, Cncs etc charge less than $5 per sft for cutting 10 mm thick Aluminium.
I like your channel . For god's sake if a wood worker can't build a square cheap and fast he shouldn't be in wood working. I have seen carpenters build accurate squares out of 1/4" ply and some scraps of wood in less than 15 minutes with only 4 hand tools
Keep up your good work you won yourself another subscriber.

[warrensmith]

Loved it. Old school rules!

BTW here in the states, many of the big box stores sell 3/4" - 24" x 24" MDF hobby boards. I've found that these are exceptionally accurate. Usually with a quick clean up of the factory edge, you get a perfect square. One that you can use to square up your MFT, or crosscut sleds with. I don't have a feeler gauge, but I use a sales receipt which is made of very thin paper as my check for final alignment accuracy.

[xdebroux]

The inexpensive yet very efficient Parf guide system! Well done and thanks for sharing!

[deanowright]

WATCHED THIS VIDEO AGAIN LIKE 4 TIMES AND LEARNED MORE OF WHAT I MISSED IN THE FIRST VIDEO . 3, 4, 5 TRIANGLE . MOVE OUT TO 4, 45 TO GET 90 DEGREES WHICH IS WHAT WE USE . PERFECT !

[frankherring]

Now go on the other side of your pins and cut the middle out of it and have a smaller square to go with it. Thanks for the great video!

[alexjames]

I use geometry to check for square in framing and assembly all the time.
My go to is the 1:1:√2.
1:1.414. Very useful when 3:4:5 is to bug or to small.
I love my school teachers for all the useful information they gave us.

[jakesale]

I enjoyed how you seriously simplified the whole thing.

[steven_vogt]

I know this is an old video but it's never too late to say "Thank you!"
And also "wow! it really works" :) Not that I never doubted you nor Pythagoras for a moment - just myself.

I was driving myself insane trying to calibrate a bunch of T-squares and track squares without a reliable reference when I remembered seeing this video on your channel. I thought I would run a test of the concept using some of the flakiest crappy paper for protecting floors you have ever seen, some rusty pin nails I found in the bottom of my tool box and random scraps of ply as spacers

Blow me over with a feather if the result wasn't a perfect, 65cm long, 90 degree reference square as promised :) I checked for square using the "flip over" method and it was truly bang on!

I'm going to bloody frame it and hang my "milf square" on the wall, I think LOL

You saved my bacon and sanity with this one - cheers!