Shop Tips
Truing Up a Combination Square
If your combo square isn't as accurate as you'd like, don't buy a new one. It's relatively simple to square it up!
In the original video, How Square Is Your Square, I showed you how to check whether a combination square is tuned up accurately. That left a lot of people wondering, if my square is out of square… can I fix it?
In this video, I’ll show you how to tune up even a cheap, bargain-bin square. Tuning a square like this is a matter of carefully filing or sanding down the registration nubs inside the slot the ruler sits in.
You can learn more about how to use a combination square in this article from this month’s issue of Fine Woodworking Magazine.
More from FineWoodworking.com:
- Combo-Square Basics and Beyond
- Tool Test: Squares
- 10 Essential Layout Tools
- Are You Getting the Most from Your Combo Square?
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Comments
Ben is right on point with this tip. It's about time someone exposed this method for truing a square. Don't throw away that old square. It can be salvaged. The method works and can save you from mistakes. Pick up an old junker at the flea market (cast iron head preferably) and go at it. You'll love the results and you'll have a tool you will prize.
I've never seen anyone better at un-drawing a black line than Ben. He also demonstrates a unique way to flip forward through a magazine that few have ever seen before. He must be left-handed. I'm going to practice until I'm that good and then will submit a video demonstrating my skills.
Not left handed but I'm married to one!
Love the way Ben does his videos, more please!
Just proves Starret thought out the design right through to fine adjustments. Thanks for the demo Ben!
Thank you, Ben
I love to restore old tools and this is valuable information.
If you've spent the money on a Starrett square...as I have...and don't love the idea of taking abrasives to a fine tool in hopes of making it true (with a fear that you might make it worse rather than better)...as I do...you can send it back to LS Starrett in Massachusetts where they will true it up and even check that the issue is with the head and not the rule! (a distinct possibility).
I have two Starrett combos and a Starrett t-square. Love their heft and accuracy. Yes, I am a tool snob. Being in Lowe's tool section makes me feel unwashed.
I was just getting ready to throw away the head on a cheap 6" combo square and just use the 6" rule. This video saved the head and the square. Thanks Ben!
Great article in reviving a square. No arcane, no mystery. Loved it!
He shows a great way to revive a worn square, but I'd like to add just one more point.
I discovered the "nubs" by accident on my own quite a long time ago while cleaning up a rusty square.
Realizing that the rule glides on and can wear those nubs, I started the practice of over loosening the nut when readjusting the rule so that I could lift the rule completely above the nubs and not ride on them at all. I've never had a combo square go out of square since (not my steel Starrett nor any of the several cheapo aluminum ones I have).
Thanks Ben great video very helpful to someone who has bought those cheap squares, but who also has the Starrett squares from my father in-law. I also did read the article which I enjoyed as well. I must admit like a lot of people I read each issue from cover to cover. Here is real fan I passed by your offices twice yesterday from picking up some wood and had my daughter in the truck with me and each time I had to point out your offices to her. She thought it was quite funny.. thanks.
Ben needs to do more videos he does a awesome job. I finally bit the bullet a bought a 12" combo and a 6" double square and just holding Starrett you know you have quality. And what a difference
Just keep getting a message the video is unavailable for my iPhone!
A link to that original video would have been nice. No luck in "search" under combo squares, checking square for square, or Ben Strano.
You're right, I added a link above.
Nice video Ben. I was not aware there were nubs inside the body of a combo square. I'm going out to the shop right now to check how square my squares are. Does that sound square?
I'm lucky in that I inherited my dad's 50's vintage 18" Lufkin Combination Square. He was a machinist and had only the best when it came to metal working, measuring and marking tools. I've checked it against some of the spacer blocks I also inherited that are accurate to within +- 0.0003" and it's still true. I use it to check all my other try and combination squares, etc. Guess it's my upbringing but I thought everyone knew to loosen the internal ruler/blade clamp every time you change the setting in order to not wear one part against the other, which would, of course, eventually throw it off.
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