- Thread starter Richym
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No idea how good or bad cheapnese squares are, the listings/descriptions are always full of words like precision and polished but rarely, if ever, actually say anything useful or meaningful. Look at a Moore & Wright or Mitutoyo etc and one of the first things they'll state is the accuracy grade it conforms to under whatever BS/DIN standards and that the blade is hardened & tempered
Send any back that aint square
God mode restorations
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I use Clarke ones..not the dearest on the market but good...
MoreWellie
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I have bought faithfull squares and found them to match up quite well to an old moore square that I have, no idea how many times it has been dropped though 
they probably aren't totally accurate but they are a lot more accurate than I can cut with my Makita chop saw
they probably aren't totally accurate but they are a lot more accurate than I can cut with my Makita chop saw
sardine
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Depends on what tolerances your working to.
A Chinese cheap effort posted from hong Kong off eBay will be ****** as a fart no doubt. You could fettle it by hand or surface grinder though I suppose. I would look for an old one with a good brand name going cheap on ebay.
A Chinese cheap effort posted from hong Kong off eBay will be ****** as a fart no doubt. You could fettle it by hand or surface grinder though I suppose. I would look for an old one with a good brand name going cheap on ebay.
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brightspark
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rdg and chronos do some half decent ones at the right price
Bill Edwards
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Never tried a cheapie, nor do I intend to.
I've a cheap square (not engineer type) that's miles off.
I'd suggest buying something decent and looking after it.
Kent, I'm somebody (clearly one of few) who refuses to use my square for anything other than its correct purpose!
To test a square the easy way, put it against something which has a straight edge, and scribe a line against the square. Then flip it over and it should match up!
I've a cheap square (not engineer type) that's miles off.
I'd suggest buying something decent and looking after it.
Kent, I'm somebody (clearly one of few) who refuses to use my square for anything other than its correct purpose!
To test a square the easy way, put it against something which has a straight edge, and scribe a line against the square. Then flip it over and it should match up!
Wendelspanswick
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I swear by the Nobex folding squares, I have 3 now in various sizes.
http://m.clasohlson.com/uk/Nobex-Octo-Folding-Try-Square/40-7413
http://m.clasohlson.com/uk/Nobex-Octo-Folding-Try-Square/40-7413
brightspark
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or have a decent one starret or moor and wright and check agains that providing u know that one is accurate
Kent
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In all fairness Bill there must be someone
The square against square test might amuse you as we were making Aircraft parts, cant remember the frequency of testing now but you had to have the correct sticker of "calibration" on any measuring device or tool and everything needed to clear QC once finished. I think most guys abuse things without even knowing what they are doing so I cannot say I am as careful as you (though I still have the same square I had on that job about 25 yrs back now) Its still square I know this coz I checked it with my big un the other week
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The best ones i have found are the new 'old stock' Moore and Wright that turn up on ebay very regularly. Had some brand spankers just needing the dried out oil cleaning off them. We have to check ours against a calibrated square every 6 months - even with a bit of abuse they always stay true.
brightspark
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i have a 12 inch square . u can hardly lift it its accurate and it was made in 1935 and has war department stamp arrow on it
its accurate and it was made in 1935 and has war department stamp arrow on it
I have an 18" Moore and Wright. I can barely lift it!
I have a little boxed set of Moore and Wright ones that are perfect.
Richard.
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Buy one and check it with say a square 
.........
All seriousness mitutoyo , starret, Moore and wright , are the ones to look for really as they do conform to calibration standards. The cheap ones do tend to turn up pretty square but from my experience a couple of knocks on the bench and they then become useless as the two bits gain a few degrees of play.
......... All seriousness mitutoyo , starret, Moore and wright , are the ones to look for really as they do conform to calibration standards. The cheap ones do tend to turn up pretty square but from my experience a couple of knocks on the bench and they then become useless as the two bits gain a few degrees of play.
