Thread: I'm back -- and gloating.

Hope your Emu gets goosebumps.

Rob

You will really enjoy the Starrett. I have one (imperial only - I would like to get a metric blade). It is a case of once you have used a Starrett then nothing else will do. For something that looks so simple in construction, it is amazing how different it is to the rest.

And welcome back to the BB.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Rob, If you don't have one already you'd now be wanting the 120M dial caliper and a 380 straight edge. I picked up an unused caliper for just US$43 off eBay, retired the electric/plastic Mitutoyo!

Ok ok ok, I can understand the attraction to quality planes and chisels. But how can one square square be squarer that a another square thats square?

I see the $300+ combo bridge city squares wonder if they ever sell any?!?

The killer with combination squares Adam is that they don't always stay square. I learnt that the hard way, when some of my stuff started to resemble rhomboidal structures.
The Starret is, and should always be square, no matter how often you adjust the blade.
As for the other expensive stuff, A lot of it "feels right" when ya use it, doesen't make it squarer, just gives that warm tingly feeling when you pick it up, a bit like a frayed cord on ya drill.

But how can one square square be squarer that a another square thats square?

Adam

The Starrett squares indeed remain perfectly square, unless you do something silly to them. The steel is much, much harder than the standard used by the average tool maker, and so it wears very little. You are also much less likely to ding the rule for the same reason. The rule is thicker than all the others, so stiffer and less likely to bend out of shape.

But the design is different in a subtle but important way. The connecting pin is spring loaded and a twist and push releases the rule to slide smoothly. The pin does not drop out when you loosen it, as my Stanley does. All-in-all, it is a smooth and easy to use tool that just feels right in the hand.

Regards from Perth

Derek

Agreed. You can't appreciate how good these things are until you have picked one up and played with it. I promise that you will not want to go back to anything else.

I bought a second hand imperial one. Paid $140 for it so it wasn't a gloatable bargain but still a significant saving on a new one and still functions sweetly.

OK.....

Just plaing the devils advocate. Bear in mind that SWMBO is likely to ask the same questions!!

OK, just to add fuel to the fire, the Starrett square I most like is similar to the one in the link below. Mine is a 6" version of the 4" one on auction. The 6" version is less common and I had to wait several months before one came up. I snapped it up for about $40.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll...128789527&rd=1

Regards from Perth

Derek

Originally Posted by LineLefty

OK.....

Just plaing the devils advocate. Bear in mind that SWMBO is likely to ask the same questions!!

Don't worry too much lefty, when I had to replace my square I couldn't justify/find the money for a Starret, so ended up with a Nobex. It's square, so the Starret is on the "one day" list.

I'd imagine that Nobex make a pretty good square. I've had a close look at their MitreBox handsaw and it seems mighty fine.