A while back, like last spring or so...I picked a framing square for about a $1....little on the rusty side..

Flip it over...

Nothing was bent...might be worth the effort to clean up? Took some 60 grit paper, and gave a spot a rub down by hand..

Might be ok....80 grit in the palm sander..

Getting rid of the worst of the rusty stuff...except down in the lettering...switch to 220 grit, one "pad" per leg, on each face....

We getting there...wipe each area once it is sanded...then a bead of 3in1 oil, and wipe that around with a rag....

Looking better? 

About 99.9% of the markings are readable....square should be about ready to go back to work?

 

At one time, one could lay out every cut and build a house, using just a square like this....might be a lost art, now-a-days.....

 

A tale of two framing squares.  That first one was a yard sale find.  This next one is a little bit different....as it was my Dad's.   Not sure when or where he got it....

Not in the best of shape.   rather grungy, and wavy along it's lengths...waves we can fix..

Nice and flat.   Had a large slab of 3/4" plywood with a factory edge....so I tested this out for square...deadnuts.

 

Next...80 grit on the sander...and start making a mess..

Something strange going on...

That is NOT rust streaks....that be copper plating!  Or, what's left of it..yes, that is a logo..

Nicholls MFG Co. of Ottumwa, IA.    Seems to be just for doing Rafters.   That wheel logo say this is Union Made..no less.

Scale running down the center is counting back towards the corner...rafter scales are only on one face of the blades. 

I left what copper plating I could...gave everything a good thin coat of oil...and set it aside....

Apparently, this were copper plated, with the numbers filled in with white paint....not sure IF I should go back to that, or leave it as is..

Hmmm..

 

found this on Fandom:

"The Nicholls Manufacturing Company was founded in 1896 by Moses Nicholls in Ottumwa, Iowa. Its industry was carpenters' squares and plastering tools and its headquarters remained in Ottumwa, Iowa. The company existed until at least 1962."  

 

more here:

https://trowelcollector.blogspot.com/2013/10/history-of-nicholls-american-trowel.html

Edited August 13, 20205 yr by p_toad

For some strange reason....I now have FIVE framing squares in the shop....counting these last two....May give one the old "Heave Ho"....can't read it, don't trust it....and too bent up...

I have one that was left outside on a project for a month. It is square but the film over it came off and the numbers are barely there.  I use it for concrete work and other outside work.  

I have a Sears Craftsman that my wife gave to me in the early 80's, but it is not quiet square.  I have tried a few times to correct it, but without any luck.  When you take it to a sheet board and draw the 2 lines, they are off about 1/8" at the end.  Not enough to matter, but I would like it be just a bit more true.  I have not learned how to make full use of this amazing tool, but I do love them.  I have seen master carpenters do amazing work with one.  

There is a way to correct them, using a center punch..theory being, a few strikes inside the corner, will spread the arms apart enough to get things square again.   Sometimes, when I look at some of these squares, and see a bunch of such marks....I usually just walk away.....

I used to use mine more often.  Several here mentioned using story sticks.  Tried that and like it.

I just punch in the same place each time

Also, I have drywall square that is far from square, but it makes a wonderful long straight edge.  

On ‎8‎/‎13‎/‎2020 at 3:17 PM, steven newman said:

There is a way to correct them, using a center punch..theory being, a few strikes inside the corner, will spread the arms apart enough to get things square again.   Sometimes, when I look at some of these squares, and see a bunch of such marks....I usually just walk away.....

Explained here...…………………….

Truing-Up a Rafter Square.pdf