How I learned to love the Speed Square
My Grandpa taught me how to use a framing square and a folding rule, and I’ve been a long-time holdout against the Speed Squares you see on every jobsite. But now I have been won over, and I’m writing this item for any other die-hards out there.
The Speed Square looks like a 45-degree drafting triangle made out of aluminum, with the all-important addition of a fence on one short side. They come in 7-inch and 12-inch sizes. Right from the get-go, the Speed Square is ahead of the framing square because you don’t have to tilt it up to hook the tongue over the edge of the wood; the fence does that for you. Square crosscut lines are guaranteed. You can use it for all the other common measuring and layout jobs, including rafters and stairs. Mine even has notches to help guide a pencil parallel to the long edge of the wood.
For me, the real big selling point was watching a guy use his 12-inch speed square as a crosscut fence for his circular saw. Square in one hand, saw in the other, and he was done while I was still looking for a suitable scrap to use as a fence. I mean, duh!
Now here’s the bonus. When you drop a regular L-shaped framing square off the ladder onto concrete, you can pretty much bet that it won’t be square any more. But when you drop a speed square, because it includes all three sides of the triangle, it just bounces and rattles onto the cement, and when you climb down to pick it up, you’ll find that it is still square.
Posted by John Kelsey | Categories: | Permalink
(8) Comments
I would like to know where Tom Silva gets that "holster" for his Speed square.
Not too long ago on my blog I posted and ode to my speedsquare. It's by far one of the handiest things I have around -- and tough! But I'd love to know more about the utility of the angles printed on the inside of the sucker. I'm certain they are very useful for determining that angles of things such as rafters and stairs, but I'm not sure how to use them. Any tips?
Perhaps I missed it, but is there an archived article on using a speed square? I've dinked with them, but being a self taught do-it-yourselfer, I've never had "hands on" tutoring.
The one thing I've noticed about carpentry is that no matter how much experience I gain, there is always something new that someone else can teach me, or i can teach my self about my speed square.
From this article: I'm really excited about the notches that some of these speed squares have (except mine) for making parallel lines to the long edge of some stock. Running my tape measure along the wood works, but not within an 1/8" certainty like i would sometimes like to have, and there is no table saw around.
I too would like to know where Tom Silva got his speed square holster. It looks like a great addition, freeing up some more area in my tool apron.
For those wanting a speed square holster, Duluth Trading Company has them for 10 bux. They are made by BucketBoss.
Thanks alot Jeff!!!
i was wanting to know if you can use a speed square to mark a long cut versus a standard cut.example;instead of a 7 pitch i want to mark a long 7. as if you were going to cut a fly rafter that pitches onto another roof versus a gutter board.hope you could help me figure it out.thanks for your time