Thread: Which Combination Square?

Either a reputable and professional (=expensive) brand like Starret; or just invest in an engineer’s square and use that to calibrate your existing combo square as required.

Although I have a combination square I rarely use it; I have several fixed squares of known accuracy for precision work.

Old matched (not put together just matching the odd head to a rule that looks like it fits) square with a hardened head. Any good brand.

The loss of accuracy won't occur on a hardened head - the head doesn't wear compared to an unhardened head (it wears, but probably at 1/20th the rate), and more importantly, if the square is bumped, the strength of the head's metal is far higher and deformation doesn't occur.

An old lufkin hardened square in the US is about the cost of a mid market square in the US that's unhardened. The accuracy that they still have used, and the action of two hardened surfaces rubbing together instead of one hard and one soft - both so much better than anything new that isn't also both hardened rule and hardened head.

(I use lufkin because it's an example of tooling that used to be higher end and accurate, and it's not that well regarded - the old squares are a match starrett unless one saves a pittance and buys one with an unhardened head. Lufkin could be any older brand as long as the head is hardened).

I like the Toledo brand, not as good quality as they use to be (like many) but good value for money.

Something like this?

Woodworking Ruler, Woodworking Ruler, Pocket Ruler, Precision Stainless Steel Ruler, General Tools, Straight-Edged Metal Ruler with Imperial and Metric Graduations, a Great Father's Day : Amazon.com.au: Home Improvement

I tend to use an engineers square - I have 3 sizes. My combination square wore out and I haven’t missed it,

cheers

Originally Posted by cpsmusic

Hi All,

I've recently discovered that my old combination square has a problem in that it doesn't always align to 90 degrees when it's re-tightened.

I'm looking to get a new one - any suggestions?

Cheers,

Chris

Chris, you can fix yours if you wish. Not difficult at all: How to Square a Combination Square : 3 Steps - Instructables

By the way, mine are all Starretts, purchased on eBay years ago. Still accurate.

Regards from Perth

Derek