wdwerker Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 i just got an email that they are making another batch of this " one time tool" I have had mine now for a year and it is awesome. Great for checking panel squareness . Also very useful as a layout tool. When you think of the cost of a pile of panels for a project only to find out that each part is a little out of square the price seems more reasonable. I checked 6 steel framing squares against it and only one was accurate. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bgreenb Posted January 7, 2015 Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 Agggrrrhrhrrh. I really want one but am really balking at the price. I think I can swallow 150 bucks for the smaller one, but I'd prefer the larger one and 190 is a big pill to swallow for a framing square. Steve, I assume you have the larger one? Or did you get both? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 7, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 7, 2015 I just got the big one. I bought a stainless framing square for about $60 years ago and it wasn't any better than the regular steel ones. It's one of those purchases that you hesitate on but once you've got it it becomes the master reference tool for squareness in the shop. I use it to set up my sliding crosscut tablesaw fence and lock it down when the cuts come out perfect . Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Polkster13 Posted January 9, 2015 Report Share Posted January 9, 2015 I just placed a purchase for the large one. Yeah, the price was a lot and it was really hard pulling the trigger but I have several other items from them and have been very pleased with them. I look at it as a long term purchase. Divided out over 10 years, it is only 20 bucks a year. I expect it to last me a lot longer than that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
W1ngnu7_1628 Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 I'm all for quality tools and I'll spend the money but every time I check my less expensive squares, secretly hoping for a reason to buy a woodpecker, all of my squares are just fine. Is it actually common to have flawed squares and am I just lucky? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Flawed framing squares are common, either from the store or from use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Russell Beeman Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Those do look really nice, but really, $150 for an aluminum tool, wouldn't a steel one hold its shape longer? Just curious, I am skeptical by nature of things that look simple but are still very pricey. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 13, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Thick hardened anodized aircraft aluminum, machined not stamped thin steel. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric. Posted January 13, 2015 Report Share Posted January 13, 2015 Steel would be better, but then you'd be looking at $300 instead of $150. I'm still waiting for Peckers to make a 48" square, then I buy. I have a 24" T, so I don't know how much I'd really gain. Tempted, though. I'm a sucker for the red aluminum. Did I post the same comment in another thread, or am I losing my mind? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 A couple of close up shots I took today. It's 1/4" thick with (2) 1/4" cheeks so it acts like a giant try square instead of just a flat framing square. The knotch lets you draw a line to the edge of a board. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 I seriously doubt steel would be any more ridgid, but maybe harder to dent/scratch? It would certainly be heavier, though, and prone to rust. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 I seriously doubt steel would be any more ridgid, but maybe harder to dent/scratch? It would certainly be heavier, though, and prone to rust. I wonder if you can fix the aluminum square. The steel squares get a bad rep I think mostly because folks don't know you can easily fix them and if your nice to them they will stay that way permanantly. I do like the "cheeks" on this one its a great idea. I'd be tempted to try and add the feature to a $8 steel square. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 14, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 If it gets out Woodpeckers will fix or replace it free. I still treat it well and store it in a holster I made for it 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Crawford Posted January 14, 2015 Report Share Posted January 14, 2015 And then there is the Bridge City Tool Works adjustable square for those of you that might desire to spend even more money. http://www.bridgecitytools.com/default/tools/squares/as-24v3-adjustable-square.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wtnhighlander Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 I wonder if you can fix the aluminum square. The steel squares get a bad rep I think mostly because folks don't know you can easily fix them and if your nice to them they will stay that way permanantly. I do like the "cheeks" on this one its a great idea. I'd be tempted to try and add the feature to a $8 steel square. I dunno. I've tried 'truing' a steel framing square, but without success. I used the method of peening the corner with a center punch, picked up from Norm, I think. You have a better way, PB? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 15, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 I tried the preening w a center punch as well, FAIL ! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted January 15, 2015 Report Share Posted January 15, 2015 I dunno. I've tried 'truing' a steel framing square, but without success. I used the method of peening the corner with a center punch, picked up from Norm, I think. You have a better way, PB? It only works if your about 1/16 out max. You want to use this method with a cut square not a stamped square. A stamped square will already be maxed out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rick A McQuay Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 I recently fixed 2 framing square by peening the corners. Used a nail as I didn't have a center punch handy. Was surprised how well it worked. They were out less than a sixteenth. - sent via Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dwacker Posted January 16, 2015 Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 I recently fixed 2 framing square by peening the corners. Used a nail as I didn't have a center punch handy. Was surprised how well it worked. They were out less than a sixteenth. - sent via Tapatalk Ya my experience also been doing it for decades. You can also adjust a cheap combo square to be as accurate as a Starrett. There are two pads down in the slot. You file one or the other to adjust the blade the direction it needs to go. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wdwerker Posted January 16, 2015 Author Report Share Posted January 16, 2015 Yep, I've done that as well. Those Products Engineering combo squares are very nice too. Cosmetic Seconds are cheap at Kaplan I think. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.