Nick2cd Posted November 28, 2010 Report Share Posted November 28, 2010 I need a nice and precise engineer's square to use when setting up my jointer and table saw. im sure i will find other uses for it as well. i don't want one that costs a fortune. i have looked at some that rockler carries and i think they are actually the rockler brand. any suggestions on where to get one? something in either 6" or 9" range. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Keggers Posted November 28, 2010 Report Share Posted November 28, 2010 I need a nice and precise engineer's square to use when setting up my jointer and table saw. im sure i will find other uses for it as well. i don't want one that costs a fortune. i have looked at some that rockler carries and i think they are actually the rockler brand. any suggestions on where to get one? something in either 6" or 9" range. I'd suggest a Starrett square. There is none better - in my humble opinion. A new one is kind of pricey, but maybe you can find a bargain on eBay. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Pants Posted November 28, 2010 Report Share Posted November 28, 2010 If you're looking for fairly inexpensive. I believe Woodcraft has a four pack of the Groz engineer's squares on sale this month for under $30 (they're usually about $70). 2, 3, 4 and 6 inch. According to their spec sheets the six inch one is accurate to within 0.00063 inches. Which should be plenty accurate for any woodworking use, and at that price is a good bargain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jlloydparks Posted November 28, 2010 Report Share Posted November 28, 2010 Take a look at the engineers squares at Lee Valley. I suspect they are the same or very similar to those at Rockler and Woodcraft. I have a set and they are extremely useful and have held up well, only had some minor rust on one after I left it outside one evening. That was easy to polish out. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DeanJackson Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 I need a nice and precise engineer's square to use when setting up my jointer and table saw. im sure i will find other uses for it as well. i don't want one that costs a fortune. i have looked at some that rockler carries and i think they are actually the rockler brand. any suggestions on where to get one? something in either 6" or 9" range. If I wanted super-precise, I'd probably go with Starrett or another $$$ brand. I wanted "good enough for amateur woodworking" and I picked up a set of four at the Grizzly warehouse for maybe $15. Save the extra $$ for a different purchase. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Pants Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 Keep in mind, a Starrett combo square isn't an engineer's square (those are the metal non-adjustable squares), which is what the OP was asking about. As good as the Starrett's are, I doubt they're going to be more precise than an engineer's square. They have moving parts which are going to put in some slop no matter how well built they are. That's not a bash on the Starrett combo-squares, for what they are they're extremely good, but for a dead square setup I'd go with an engineer's square, even a modestly priced one over a Starrett combo. In fact looking at the Starrett numbers they claim accuracy to within .001" for the 6 inch and .002" for the 12 inch, which is actually worse than the less expensive engineer's square sets available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tuck.jared@gmail.com Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 http://denver.craigslist.org/tls/2085209550.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mister Pants Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 What kind of units are "dead nuts"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 check out the "Precision Steel Squares" at Peachtree, they are on my tools to buy list. They are stainless steel (no rust, yea), and their shape means they won't fall of the work piece. Thus I won't need that third hand transplant. As everyone knows, you need three hands, one to hold the marking device, one to hold the work, and one to hold the square. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest Trace Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 I can tell you about 'DEAD NUTS", but this is a family site. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulMarcel Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 I can tell you about 'DEAD NUTS", but this is a family site. I never understood how that meant something positive you should strive for... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Dan S Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 I like definition #1 http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=dead%20nuts Completely level or plumb. A definition used in the construction trades. After I laid the porch steps I checked them with my level and they were dead nuts! I never understood how that meant something positive you should strive for... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PaulMarcel Posted November 29, 2010 Report Share Posted November 29, 2010 I like definition #1 http://www.urbandict...erm=dead%20nuts Completely level or plumb. A definition used in the construction trades. After I laid the porch steps I checked them with my level and they were dead nuts! Ah, never thought to check my favorite dictionary I just have to wonder who the first carpenter was who plumbed a wall so well that he said it was dead-nuts and why his fellow carpenters didn't bust his "completely level" over it Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
samhell Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 I need a nice and precise engineer's square to use when setting up my jointer and table saw. im sure i will find other uses for it as well. i don't want one that costs a fortune. i have looked at some that rockler carries and i think they are actually the rockler brand. any suggestions on where to get one? something in either 6" or 9" range. I got one from Rockler when it was on sale. I think I paid like 12 or 15 bucks. Its steel and accurate. I can't complain. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
wilburpan Posted November 30, 2010 Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 I need a nice and precise engineer's square to use when setting up my jointer and table saw. im sure i will find other uses for it as well. i don't want one that costs a fortune. i have looked at some that rockler carries and i think they are actually the rockler brand. any suggestions on where to get one? something in either 6" or 9" range. Japan Woodworker sells a set of four engineers squares (2", 3", 4", and 6") for $42. I have this set, and it's really nice. But given your comment on a 6"-9" square, you should know that I use the 4" size 95% of the time, even for checking machinery set up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nick2cd Posted November 30, 2010 Author Report Share Posted November 30, 2010 Thanks for all the replies. i have a lot of research to do now. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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