Speed Square: Uses, Tricks, and Mods

I have used Speed Squares throughout my many years working in the trades. Knowing how to use the Speed Square will greatly improve your productivity. There are also some tricks you can use to increase their functionality. I'll show you a couple of mods I use with Speed Squares as a millwright as well.

00:00 Introduction
01:11 Quick reference angles and protractor
03:40 Common rafter layout
04:33 Common rafter scale and bird's mouth
07:05 Calculate roof pitches in degrees
07:55 Hip and valley rafter scale
08:46 Complimentary angles
09:31 Base plate layout and measurement trick
10:19 Align material and speed square length
10:41 Speed Square Pro
11:19 Compass function
11:56 Center line for round stock
12:15 Measure obtuse angles
13:40 Find the center of a circle
14:18 Squaring material and saws
14:45 Leveling trick
15:02 Find existing roof pitches
15:23 Trim guide
16:03 Welder's modification #1
17:07 Welder's modification #2
17:59 Smart phone kickstand
18:10 Saw guide
18:30 Miscellaneous uses
19:05 Outro

[rhinomite]

Great video. 35 years in construction, didn't know all these uses, glad to learn something everyday still

[anangryranger]

Worked with an amazing carpenter on a side job. He once said he could build the space shuttle with a speed square. And ya know, I believe he could! An utterly amazing tool! Mine is nicked up and turned a might dull, and I wouldn't trade it for nothing.

[michaelmartin]

I normally do not comment about video content and conversations but, I have followed this channel for a few years now and the content is among the best on YT. I am an engineer by trade and I tell me younger team mates to come watch this channel. :)

[kingofcastlechaos]

Great video. At the end I saw a thumbnail for "Trades Math" and got a good laugh. I went through Pipefitter Apprenticeship School and they would not allow calculators in our calculations. Everything had to be done long hand with the formula/ takeoff books we all carried. The reason was that calculators were super expensive and hardly anyone would ever take such a luxury item out to the jobsite. Look at all of us now- supercomputers for everyone, and in our pocket.

[ls]

Excellent job in detailing the many features of a speed square; one of the most comprehensive videos I've ever seen.

[workshop]

Best video on a speed square I have seen. The visuals were extremely well thought out. Learned a few new things despite having use a speed square for about 45 years.

[BZEUG]

This video is an excellent resource. Saved it to my Watch Later list. I will use this video again and again.

[rbrazz]

When cutting 90's like you did at 18:13 I was taught to put flip it, and put the heel on the far edge (where your finger tip is) that way the guide edge points closer to you and better connects further down the saw edge at the start of the cut where is more needed for accuracy.

[richardperez]

Lot of great tips. Especially the compound angle and 16" on center tip. Great job, Ben.

[fscarp]

Excellent presentation. Nice touch having it narrated by Bryan Cranston.

[johnelwer]

Certainly your Swanson speed square survey was superb.

[DBoom]

Great video on this staple of a tool. You definitely showed me 3 or 4 things I didn't know. Excellent! I love the multi-tool videos but I love all tools in general and learning something new is why I spend so much time on the tube!

[dougr]

thanks for the Swanson Speed Square video, and the weld mods especially.

[mpowersmedia]

Best damn video I have seen for how to use all the speed square features and the mods for metal fabrication are ones that I have never seen before. Now I gotta buy another speed square just for my welding applications. It's always a great video when I can learn something new to make building and fabrication faster.

[MichaelNehring-pv]

That information was so well done & very informative. Thanks, something I will be using more of! Great voice, clear & precise.😀👍

[k.hussain]

Great video man, some brilliant tips especially on the mods. Looking forward to seeing more of your tips and modifications on other tools.

[aball]

One great thing about a speed square, especially Swanson is they survive dropping them. They are tough little things.

[CaptCha-pq]

Congratulations! Very nice post with good info and specially without those bothersome: Permanent seals, “Subscribe and click” … “Like and Comment” … “Subscribe…” again, Music, Messages, adds in tandem, Flashes when pictures are changed, etc.; that are other effective “Get away!” resources… Subscribed!

[RafterSkills]

Very well explained and it’s good that they also do a Metric version!

[CarpentryPride]

They work great for quick snow and skim ice removal from the face of lumber aswell for us northern folk.