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So a couple of months back, you may recall this Craftsman combo square followed me home...working on it a bit here, bit there, finally got it presentable... About the only place not heavily rusted was where the head had sat for decades.... Before it all went into the Evap-O-Rust tank. I had hit the worst of the scale with a slow speed brass wheel. Heavy rusting and pitting on the head surfaces Ta-da...sorry for the poor lighting; discoloration (rust looking) is the reflection off my rust red t-shirt. A lot of lapping on my sharpening plate first with 100g, 220g, 320g, 400g, wet or dry...all was done dry. The head is cast steel The pitting here also is present on the face side; not sure but might have partially been a casting flaw/blow-out when cast. It cleaned up pretty nice...wish I had some machinist greying to coat the surface While i was at it I finished cleaning this one too. You might recall what it originally looked like (one with red zip tie) holding the square head made in Taiwan...turns out the blade is marked Made in U.S.A., No.1270 M F Co. (Millers-Falls). I added the bottom head; no name or markings but seemed appropriate for this blade. Thanks for looking...last one out please turn off the lights.

Since I've been hostage for the past month + between swim meets/events, furnace outages along with truck transmissions & alternators, finally had a "fun day" after my brief time getting a haircut to break the cabin fever. Stopped at a couple flea markets...not much in the offerings of interest or priced above new in store prices but I did pick up these treasures for total of $5. Sorry for the fuzzy picture(s). Must have been a thumb print on my phone lens??? As always, didn't need any of it (well the clip boards) but somebody had to rescue them. Craftsman 12" Machinist Combo Square, a small miter gauge and the two clip boards. I'm always misplacing my clip boards. Probably where ever my missing pencils are at or where the grand-kids last used them?? It'll take a little work, but I think it will clean up pretty well. Square head is all steel and complete with scribe. A little heft to this one From the paint color and Craftsman script I'm guessing latter part of the 1950's to very early 1960's. Same color that was used on some of their early table & RAS's.

So a week or so ago, I posted on a recent Craftsman Machinist combo square I added to my growing stable. As I noted then, I didn't need it, but it was $2 and needed a rust revival... Why didn't I really need it? Well... Sorry pictures aren't the greatest but I was (am still) fighting cold cooties. Before picture conditions for most of these appear in other threads, so I won't bore you here. Top one: Craftsman Machinist recently purchased; one below w/ red strap I bought a few weeks ago for ~$1; I thought was a a cheapo Taiwan since that's what the square head was labeled; it was missing the retaining bolt/nut/spring After some serious clean-up of the blade, turns out it was a mismatch; The blade is marked Made in U.S.A., No.1270 M F Co. (Millers-Falls)...sometimes a blind squirrel finds a nut too. Next two below top: 12" has been my go to for a long time; bought new ~1975; It's a John Deere made by Stanley; 6" is an Empire probably ~1977-78; bought new at Furrow Lumber Company; To their right: 18" is a Starrett blade; I think I gave a buck for it but was in pretty good condition after rust revival; the square head is ???; bought at flea market or yard sale for a buck or less; the center head bought at a flea market for a couple bucks if I remember correctly? It appears to have rust on the leg but must be a shadow b/c it's clean Two at bottom of picture: Black square head is Union Tool Co, Mass.; Gray square head, is a Corsair which eventually was bought by Empire; the second square head is unmarked, but was complete so I made a caliper of sorts Blue angle head: Stanley No.125. It was missing the retaining bolt/nut/spring but the darker blue Stanley square head to the right become a donor; The two holes in the blade and near the square head body are where the previous owner drilled and put in a couple screws after he lost/broke the bolts/nut; I gave a buck or two for it and maybe a buck for the two heads; The Stanley is well suited for rough carpentry and can be positioned to lay out studs 16" OC. One immediately below: It's an older Great Neck blade bought at a yard for a quarter maybe? The square head was later added: all the extra square heads have been purchased for a buck or less; The 4 pc set at the bottom: Is a Starrett Machinist; it belonged to my grand-father; My best guess it is from the late 1940's; It's been tucked away since early 1995 after my dad died; I started the refurb on it late last fall...still a ways to go. The square head nut is stowed away A little better view of the Starrett Almost forgot this one. A 6", no markings except Made in England; the blade is aluminum versus steel; it's got a couple waves in it, but hey for 50 cents... So did I need the Craftsman? But since I didn't have a Craftsman before, I suppose I did? Believe it or not, I've passed on several but they're usually too pricey...sometimes $3-$5 or more...will I buy more? If the price is right and the square head speaks to me. Maybe someday I'll get paroled from the National Weather Service and put on work release. Until then, this is the best I can do. Thanks for looking.