Woodworker's Journal 2008-32-5, страница 72

Today's SHOP

Premium brands like Brown & Sharpe and Starrett give you a choice of blade finishes — satin chrome (left) or polished (right). The difference between them is readability.

can get a price that better fits your budget.

Don't reject the in-betweeners. Those I sampled are accurate, quite versatile, and reasonably easy to use. If you can't handle the tool before the purchase, just be sure you can return it. Again, check its accuracy first thing, and return it if it's out. But also try removing, turning and reinserting the blade. If it isn't easy, if you can't do it repeatedly without a hitch, consider returning for a different design.

In the end, I'm comfortable with my $250 investment in combination squares. I knew enough to buy a good brand of square, but I had no idea of the choices available. I would have opted for the glare-free satin chrome finish on the blade. And I'm thinking seriously about getting a 36" blade for laying

out sheet goods and large panels. _/

Bill Hylton is a woodworker, author and a frequent contributor to Woodworker's Journal.

The easy, reliable adjustability of the premium squares is missing, too. With most top-end squares, you can slip the blade from the head, rotate the lock-bolt without even looking at what you're doing, roll the blade over, and reinsert it. Just that quickly. Because the process is quick and reliable, you're inclined to take advantage of this feature regularly. And the accuracy of your layout work improves as a result.

What I found with the in-between-ers was that I had to pay attention to what I was doing to reorient the blade. Even then, I had trouble with the Highland square.

My Final Analysis

Delving into combination squares has been worthwhile; I learned a lot

of practical stuff. Knowing what you are getting is a significant factor in building a functional, sensible, practical tool collection ... and doing it economically.

Essential criteria in selecting a combination square are:

• Accuracy

• Versatility

• Ease of use

• Durability.

The low-end squares I sampled aren't bad at all. They're certainly economical. If your budget is really tight, look closely at as many different brands as you can before buying. Check its accuracy first thing, and return it if it's out. Buying a second square with the longer blade is worth consideration too.

The high-end squares do meet all the criteria, but cost inevitably is a factor. If you aspire to the best, shop online and price the tool you want from makers like PEC, Mitutoyo and SPI to see if you

Combo Squares:

Layout and Measurement

Marking out for square cuts is the most basic task for a combo square. But, you also can use the standard square head to lay out a 45° line.

Don't try woodworking without one!

You won't find a more versatile or accurate tool for layout.The blade's etched graduations allow precise measuring and marking.The head is designed to register reliably against an edge.The adjustability of the head along the blade enhances the tool's capabilities.

Extremely useful in turning, and in a number of other types of woodworking, a center head allows you to divide a round in half.

A combo square serves as an extra-long marking gauge. Hold the head against the workpiece and a pencil against the blade's end.

72 October 2008 Woodworker's Journal