Irwin Tools Combination Square, Metal-Body, 12", 1794469
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This combination square, as well as a Starrett, are both in my collection. Of course, the Starrett is more expensive, but it is also more accurate and well-made. There are some things in woodworking that require extreme precision. Over its length, the Irwin square I have is 1/128" out of square. If I use it to set the angle of my table saw or to ensure the accuracy of my miter gauge. Although a difference of 1/128" over 12 inches may not seem like much, it's enough to cause parts I cut to fail to fit, especially when cutting a wide board.br>br>The Starrett combination square is one of the few tools I use every day in my shop. br>br>I expect the Starrett to last me my entire life; in fact, I inherited a Starrett protractor head and rule. It's a long time ago, but it's still functional and enjoyable to use.
China is the source of this product.
On one side, the units are 1/8th inch on one edge and 1/16th inch on the other.br>On the 'flip side,' the units are 1/32nd inch on one edge and in metric i. centimeters (cm) are a unit of measurement that is used to express the length of It is a good tool - millimetres (mm) along the other edgebr> It's well-made and offers good value for money.
My tool's screw lock mechanism wore out quickly, making it difficult to use. I'm looking for a suitable locking mechanism to replace my current one.
Selected User Reviews For Irwin Tools Combination Square, Metal-Body, 12", 1794469
In ten inches, it is about 1/8" off, which is a significant difference. How do you check for squares when you don't have access to another one? To do so, follow these steps: br>1) get a piece of wood with a straight edge,br>2) butt the base of the square against the edge and draw a line perpendicular to the edge (using as sharp a pencil as you can get),br>3) flip the square and butt it against the edge and see if the ruler's edge is parallel to the line you drew earlier. br>4) Your square is not square if the ruler and the line form an angle. The difference in distance between the base and the end of the ruler can be used to calculate the error. br>br>I haven't tried it yet, but you might be able to square it up by filing the small supports inside the ruler's slot. br>br>The 6" versions (of which I own three) are square enough.
Squares aren't always square, I didn't realize. When I began to notice a number of projects being ruined, I decided to compare the square to other squares. This is not a square! Only a few of the squares I own are close to square, which has been a sad and disappointing education for me. Not quite square, but close. I'd been using this square for months and assumed that all I needed to do was be more cautious. The most annoying aspect of this square is that its unsquareness changes with each adjustment.
It's well-made and sturdy, but it's not precise enough for fine work. The eighth, sixteenth, and thirty-first centuries are all represented. There are two inch scales, as well as a millimeter scale. I double-checked it against a reliable engineering square, and it's off by about 1/128" across the scale's length. My Starrett combination square, in comparison, is perfect in relation to my reference square and uses a 1/64" scale rather than the metric scale. br>br>This is fine for some rough carpentry for me, but more precision is required to set a miter gauge square on a table saw, for example.
It came with quite a few nasty scratches on the ruler blade, and it's a little sloppy. I'm a little disappointed because the machining could have been better. I have a combination square that is over 40 years old and, despite some wear, is a better square than this Irwin square, despite the lack of a manufacturer's name. There was a significant burr at the end of the rule that required filing. Purchase an all-metal woodworking square in a single piece. It is guaranteed to be correct. My review of this square is currently being updated. I'm blown away by the positive feedback. I took this square to a retired engineer friend to have him check its accuracy. It's between 88 and 89 degrees, not 90. I'll keep the ruler, but the rest of this combination square will end up in the trash.
On mine, the angle between the blade and the base was not square; it was off by about 2 degrees. I compared it to several try squares and a speed square, and they all revealed the same lack of squareness in the IRWIN square. This astounded me a great deal. The blade is not square in relation to the base, but the base is square. It has to be a square. br>br>It has to be a square. square. So it only gets one star because it isn't what it claims to be. It would be a five-star rating if that were the case. Except for the fact that it isn't square, it's great.
I've always had a variety of squares at my disposal, but it wasn't until I needed one of my projects to be "perfect" that I realized nothing I had was up to the task. I've always worked with wood, but I've never made anything that was particularly concerned with being "square. " Not to mention the fact that I "assumed" that every square was SQUARE. That is, after all, a crocodile. That's not the case. br>br>I didn't expect this combo square to be perfect, but it has surprised me with its accuracy so far. I don't have a caliper to check it, but it seems fine and square enough for my application based on the checks I've done so far. It's something I'd buy again if the opportunity arose. For the money, I'd recommend giving it a shot.
The slide function is a disaster. In the manufacturing process, there was a quality control failure. In 7 inches, I was off by a full degree.
The blade is nearly sharp due to the flat edges. On one end of the blade, there's a small ding (it looks like it got caught in a grinder). It's square (hence the need to replace my old combination square! ). br>br>My only real gripe with it in use is that removing the blade completely makes it difficult to reassemble it because the slot on the blade and the clamping screw must be aligned properly. This square is not for you if you frequently remove the blade or flip it around to switch between metric and imperial units.
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