A combination square is a vital tool for performing the most basic shop operations, such as layout, marking, measuring, and machinery setup. Its versatility is unparalleled by any other single tool. The two main components of a combination square are the head and the blade?what manufacturers call a two-piece set?and that’s all you get with most of the lower-priced tools. In the higher price brackets, the major brands offer center heads and protractor heads, resulting in a four-piece set, for about double the cost of the two-piece set. Fortunately, buying a combination square is likely to be a one-time purchase because all of the better models will outlast you.

The Craftsman tool I sampled was way out of square. Reversing the blade was difficult because of the square lockbolt. The stamped blade had a chrome finish, which made it hard to read. The model I looked at had a burr on the end from the machining process.

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