This might be better in the "Tip" section, but..

 

How to check a square for...square?

Get a nice straight edge piece of wood scrap.   Set the square against that edge...and mark a line across the face of the board..

Yes, there are two lines there ( already done the test..) Next, flip the square over...

Mark a second line beside the first one.   You are looking to see IF the two lines are parallel to each other.  If they are not?  Square needs adjusted until it will pass this test.  Usually a hammer strike on the blade..up or down..recheck, and adjust til it does pass. 

At least this old Stanley 8" passed the test...close enough for the girls I go with

So..give it a try....doesn't take very long, either.

Check framing squares the same way. Adjustment procedure is somewhat different, though.

Quickest way to get a framing square out of square......just drop it....ever wonder why some of the older framing squares have "dimples" where the two arms meet?   A center punch is used to correct said dropped squares  back into square....count the dimples, and figure out how clumsy that Carpenter was....

 

I do have a place to stash most of the smaller squares....

Hard to see, for all the drills in the way.   I laid out the better ones...

Big one at the top...Stanley No. 20, 12" square....the wee one is just 3", and was in my Dad's toolchest....

Big one will go all the way across a 12" board, BTW..

And, since most 1 x 12s are about 11-1/2" wide....

There are two miter squares/try squares..

One without the grips has Stanley Rule & Level Co. stamped on it. 

I think I'm set, as far as squares go...

41 minutes ago, steven newman said:

I think I'm set, as far as squares go...

Steve's neighbor, "Yeah, can I borrow a square."

Steve:  "Umm, no I only have one."                          Of 15 different types! 

 

Now for those wondering what's the difference and who cares anyway.

 

This is a Carpenters square.

 

  

 

Special thanks to @steven newman and @Gene Howe for posting stuff about squares years ago.  Got me away from carpentry squares and into using the ones Steve has shown for more precise work.  Made a huge difference.

 

But I lack the collection that @steven newman and others have.

 

Edited September 29, 20196 yr by Woodbutcherbynight

33 minutes ago, steven newman said:

Quickest way to get a framing square out of square......just drop it....ever wonder why some of the older framing squares have "dimples" where the two arms meet?   A center punch is used to correct said dropped squares  back into square....count the dimples, and figure out how clumsy that Carpenter was....

 

 

Mine was new and i had to dimple it. Shouda checked in the store.

3 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Shouda checked in the store.

My Neighbors kids probably used them to sword fight while he was shopping.  I doubt the levels are in much better shape.

One time..while shopping for a speed square....had to sort through almost the entire rack, to find one that was square...

Find a shelf in the store, close to a post that hold the shelf...and check the outsides of the square for...square. 

 

 

2 minutes ago, Woodbutcherbynight said:

Steve's neighbor, "Yeah, can I borrow a square."

Steve:  "Umm, no I only have one."                          Of 15 different types! 

 

Now for those wondering what's the difference and who cares anyway.

 

This is a Carpenters square.

 

  

 

Special thanks to @steven newman and @Gene Howe for posting stuff about squares years ago.  Got me away from carpentry squares and into using the ones Steve has show for more precise work.  Made a huge difference.

 

But I lack the collection that @steven newman and others have.

 

I don't think I've used that framing square since we built the house. Well, I might have used to square up the two slabs a river table. 

Porch project...last May...

Bought a new square...after checking it at the store

At least, it helped mark these out...

Speed square that I picked...and a cordless Mitersaw...

I never use a nail set to set my framing square I simple strike it on the table depending on how it out of square. Works like a charm. As far a small squares if there out there used for general work like decks. Otherwise I use them for furniture or cabinetry...

 

I was out on a cabinet job when we notice the framing square out. The old carpenter who was I  his 70's just Wacked it on the floor and was square again. 

 

A speed square is worst squares I ever bought....

Edited September 29, 20196 yr by BillyJack

29 minutes ago, BillyJack said:

A speed square is worst squares I ever bought....

Yet another type of square.  Out of curiosity why was it the worst?  

Never bought one that was actually square out of the store. I think older maybe 80-90's they might have n been more dependable but the newer one are just stamped crap.

42 minutes ago, BillyJack said:

Never bought one that was actually square out of the store. I think older maybe 80-90's they might have n been more dependable but the newer one are just stamped crap.

Is there a way to square a speed square? Luckily both of mine are OK. 

50 minutes ago, Gene Howe said:

Is there a way to square a speed square? Luckily both of mine are OK. 

Speed squares are just that, speed for rough framing, what accuracy is really needed? It's only 6 inches long and used for quick scribes or pencil lines, if we want dead on accurate square 90 lines, a speed square is not the tool to use, not to say it can't be used, sure there are dead on speed squares, but if we are reaching for a speed square to make highly accurate angles, we are reaching for the wrong tool. Did I bloviate enough that?

I have mine more  for marking angles....like for rafters and such...Plastic ones..you can strike a new line along the edge, and whittle to that line...clean up with a block plane.  I prefer the plastic speed squares to the cheaper metal things...

 

I'd rather not abuse squares, by smacking down on something to "Square it up",,,,too good a chance of either going too far...bending one of the blades...or causing a crack in the corner... I have more respect for my tools.

 

BTW: NOT a nail set...use the center punch you use for drilling in metal.... much neater, more control. 

Edited September 29, 20196 yr by steven newman

If a framing square is out of square then it's just a piece of metal. Your shouldn't  be out of square so much you need to Crack it to get it back in or out of square. 

 

Your talking to the wrong guy here about abusing tools....

 

I making a living with my tools and don't  abuse them for sport...

 

Edited September 29, 20196 yr by BillyJack

With our version of "This Old House" the last thing you wanted to use was a square, or level.

If you tried to square it, it looked angled. If you tried to level it, it looked crooked. ......

 

Edit: I should have mentioned this is a pre 1870 farmhouse.

Edited September 29, 20196 yr by Larry Buskirk

When I was a framer in my early years, the speed square was in my bags at all times, the speed square is a rugged tool meant to be slapped around and abused, a framers hatchet, a monkey paw, a speed square, pencil, keil, chalk line, 30' tape measure, a bag full of 16d's and the venerable Skill wormdrive, is all takes to frame up a home. Oh ya, a half pint of whiskey in the glove box for quitting time, those were my early days, believe me, much more than whiskey was being passed around, but I just said no thanks, I was kind of a traditionalist when it came to what went in my body. 

Mid to late 1980's, crazy times, but man did we put up some tracts! You should of seen the guys on speed!

Ok I understand how to square up a framing square

but

how do you square up a carpentry square---the ones with the wooden "handle"---now that I've gotten rid of all the ones I inherited.

 

You can't punch the outside or inside corner due to the wood

Ok I have all of the above squares mentioned but use them very little. My go to is a Starrett combination with either the traditional head or a protractor head in 4, 6 and 12 inch. Yes I know they can be trued but would have to look that up to do it. Now most of the work I do is 6 inch or less.

 

Now tell me am I wrong in my useage?

 

If it works it don't matter how you got there.

Edited September 30, 20196 yr by Gene Howe