Thread: Best place to buy Starrett combination squares

For what is worth, I went through this exercise last year and ended up getting a 300 mm one (with the satin ruler) from Lie Nelsen Australia. I couldn't find a better price domestically. Several weeks prior a friend got one from Lee Valley, but that was only cost effective with the additional postage as he was ordering some other bits and bobs at the same time.

If you are going to get a 150 mm one, RS Components have them at a very attractive price locally. They don't offer a 300 mm one unfortunately.

I have both and find I hardly use the 300mm. Both were bought from LV when the Ozzie Peso was at parity with the USD.

Are you after the basic 90/45 degree combination square or the full blown engineers unit with centre finder and protractor as well?

Keep an eye on ebay/gumtree for second hand. Size really depends on what kind of stuff you're building; I needed the 300mm because I built large pieces, you might find the 150 is better for you

I bought the 150mm satin set from Amazon. At that time that was the cheapest way to buy it from AU.

There is one offer on Amazon AU that is $163 right now. That is a square head and rule only which covers about 99.999% of uses I have anyway.

Have a look at toolexchange.com.au
There were a few on there last time I looked
Rgds,
Crocy.

Originally Posted by Old Croc

Have a look at toolexchange.com.au
There were a few on there last time I looked
Rgds,
Crocy.

They do, but rarely with metric rules; and they are not really that much cheaper than buying a new one.

I got a 300mm from The Woodworks Book & Tool Co, and a 150mm from RS Components, best prices I could find at the time and I think are still pretty competitive. I've mostly done larger projects so the 300mm is my go to size. Works fine for marking out on smaller pieces too. If you''re only getting one, I'd say start with the 300m since you can measure smaller stuff it but you can't measure more than 150mm with the smaller one.

Thanks all for your advice and tips. Whilst i feel that the 150mm would be the one i go to most, i think I'll start with the 300 as it gives me the option for when I'm working with bigger stuff plus will also assist me in setting up my new table saw that arrives shortly.

The woodworks book and tool co seems to have the best price. Unless im missing something and the other sites are more expensive because of a slightly different quality/material/functiinality?

Originally Posted by duncada

Unless im missing something and the other sites are more expensive because of a slightly different quality/material/functiinality?

You can get different finishes and the head can be cast iron or steel but as far as I know there's no difference in the accuracy. The cast iron head with regular blade is the cheapest setup. The steel head is probably more resistant to abuse but you probbbbably shouldn't be abusing them anyway. The satin chrome rules are apparently easier to read, I haven't had any issues with the regular blade yet though, even the 1/2mm graduations are easy to read because of the deep and sharp imprint.

Originally Posted by duncada

Thanks all for your advice and tips. Whilst i feel that the 150mm would be the one i go to most, i think I'll start with the 300 as it gives me the option for when I'm working with bigger stuff plus will also assist me in setting up my new table saw that arrives shortly.

The woodworks book and tool co seems to have the best price. Unless im missing something and the other sites are more expensive because of a slightly different quality/material/functiinality?

Ask for a delivery date before parting with any money. I bought a set of Sharpening stones and I suspect they buy this sort of stuff in as it took ages to get them. I had no other problems at all just the length of time it took.

I got a 150mm from RS components for around $80 a few months ago, it is the 'student' or 'apprentice' model which means there is no level bubble in it. Any it is pretty nice and good value I think

I’d much prefer to buy locally and pay a bit more to help keep the local chaps in business. However, when I priced the two Starrett combination squares together recently prices were:

LNA: $A504 plus postage.
Highland Woodworking US: $A352 plus postage

$150 difference makes it tough, even with the difference in postage rates to account for.

Brian

Well i pulled the trigger and went for the 300mm one from Woodworks book and tool co. Although, im sure ill go back for the 150mm from RS components in the not too distant future. thanks again to everyone for your advice!!!