Sashigane

**GRadice** · 12th August 2022, 01:01 PM

I've been using several sashigane or 指矩 /framing squares for a shed build. I've discussed that on another subforum at this site but maybe this is better posted here. I'd love to see any advice or discussion or experience about these tools. I have no idea what is common or comparable in Australia so educate me.

I have a few of different sizes. These two are sizes that are most comparable to my old USA Stanley square. The long legs are roughly 24 inches and 500+mm.

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I also have a sashigane that is about 6 inches long and one that is about 4 inches long. Those small ones are great for checking mortise walls for square.

Sashigane come with various rules, including shaku system on both sides, metric on both sides, shaku one side and metric the other side, metric and inch scale. In Japan it seems it is still common to use the shaku system in construction layout but materials come in the metric system so they need both. Just here in the USA we mostly lay out in inches and feet but sheet goods tend to come in metric. You have to learn both. In fact Chris Hall convinced the Shinwa corporation, the leading maker of measurement tools in Japan, to make a sashigane in inches and centimeters to be most useful in the West. The standard rules are used both for layout and to calculate and measure angles for roof framing, as in the West.

In addition to using as a rule measure in each system, some sashigane come with an additional scale that is the rule times the square root of 2. That is mostly used to calculate the largest beam than can be sawn from a round log but has other uses in sophisticated roof framing. Youtube has videos of that being done. Some have a third set of gradations that is the rule times pi. That is used to measure a circumference give the diameter of a circle. I'm not sure how often that is used.

Here is a video of a sashigane being used for a few tasks, including using two as winding sticks.

The Use of Tools ’Ruler’ ／ Takenaka Carpentry Tools Museum Video Library - YouTube

I will also say that sashigane are also useful as drafting tools.

Anything to add?

**NCArcher** · 12th August 2022, 02:08 PM

I have a 30cm x 15cm one that I use for leather work.
It has two additional scales on one side. One is the same as you mentioned to calculate the largest square beam size the other I haven't quite worked out.
The label is in Japanese. It shows a measurement of the diameter and the circumference but the scale doesn't match the maths.

**FenceFurniture** · 12th August 2022, 02:14 PM

The advantage of those is that they are very light, and probably fairly inexpensive too.

Many years ago I got a Woodpeckers 2616, but the metric version (they are expensive though). I actually like the extra weight which helps it stay in position, but I REALLY like the lip that allows me to push it up against sheet goods. It makes it fantastic for getting a saw track square to the edge. Horses for courses though.

**Sam** · 12th August 2022, 04:33 PM

Seen Shoyan Japanese Carpenter on YouTube ? He busts his large square out for all manner of big and small jobs. Does look light weight which would help with the small stuff.

**BEM** · 12th August 2022, 08:46 PM

Shoyan Japanese Carpenter is great. I've watched a few builds like the staircase build. Korean channel "Hammer Sound" is also very good though it is now a building channel.

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