Combination Squares

[Ken Darga]

How to chose a combination square for workshop measurements

http://www.rockler.com/how-to/choose-combination-square-home-worksh...

[james wilhelm]

Nice write up by BILL HYLTON 

[Ken Darga]

AND, with pictures.

james wilhelm said:

Nice write up by BILL HYLTON 

[james wilhelm]

I stand corrected  , nice write up and pictures by Bill  Hylton !!!!!!!!

[Mark Lesch]

starrett name should be on it

[John Glendening]

Very good observations and information.  The one thing that needs to be emphasized is the accuracy of the combo square.  Yes, with the high end ones, the company will stand by the product and fix issues quickly.  The low end products, need to be user tested - preferably before laying out even a $5 or $10 bill. 

The test is simple - bring a mechanical pencil and a piece of wood with you to the store (or find a cut-off with one flat side at the big box store). Make sure the the blade is set and the screw tight.  Lay the blade onto the wood and make sure the body is flat against the flat edge of of the piece of wood.  Draw a line on the wood against the blade.  Flip the body along the flat edge, slide the square back up to the line - or draw another line close to the first.  If the lines are parallel or cover each other then the square is as good as any other one you could possibly buy.  Of course the blade must set completely and tightly in the body.

I just bought a 6" Empire at HD, and it passed that test with flying colors.  That said, maybe it won't last as long as a Starrett, but for what I am doing right now in the hobby it'll work just fine.