ok guys, have a chunk of birthday money burning a hole in my tool box..need some advice. im ready to step up to a starrett squaire…please give me your sudgestions as to the one you would want and why. i have been working in a custom cabinet shop for the past 2 years mostly, once i excaped the drudgery of the sanding dept, i work in the customs area making everyting from fillers to really cool range hoods. thanks in advance for your help
bill
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Replies
DA,
The 12". It's versatile and is big/small enough for a lot of work. It's more or less the "standard" size for Starrett squares. If you get one, you won't be disappointed. About $75 +/- $10, depending on where you buy it. (LN has one of the better prices I've seen lately.)
Since you "like" sanding so much....take a look at some LN hand planes too...
Tschüß!
Mit freundlichen holzbearbeitungischen Grüßen aus dem Land der Rio Grande!!
James
Don't get the chrome blade as it is harder to see(At least to my old eyes). The satin blade is easier to read. Make sure you get the right graduations on the blade as starrett offers several options.
My understanding is that the satin/chrome is the available finish, not two different finishes. And it is a great tool, by the way; as is everything that Starrett makes.
<<My understanding is that the satin/chrome is the available finish, not two different finishes. And it is a great tool, by the way; as is everything that Starrett makes.>>Not trying to show off or be a know it all, but if you look at the link to Starrett that I put up in my earlier post you will see that they have 3 kinds of blades (and I just noticed they have a stainless one too). These are just the 12" blades only. 12" Blade, 4R Grad B12-4R 50083
12" Blade, 4R Grad, Satin Chrome CB12-4R 50084
12" Blade, 6R Grad, Satin Chrome CB12-6R 50085
12" Blade, 16R Grad B12-16R 50086
12" Blade, 16R Grad, Satin Chrome CB12-16R 50087
12" Blade, 4R Grad, Stainless Steel BS12-4R 50099
Not sure what it was called but I have a shiny chrome finished blade and a satin finish and the shiny is difficult for me to see sometimes because of the light reflections
Well, speaking as a hobbiest making typically smallish furniture projects and some home renovation, who owns both the Starrett 12-inch and the 6-inch, I find the 6-inch handier and I use it more.
But you can't go wrong with either.
David C.
Personally I have a 4 piece starrett, 12" rule, 90/45, centering and protractor head. 90/45 head is used very often, Centering head used next because I do a lot of turning. And use the protractor head to set angles on my sliding tee bevel. Get a Sliding tee also, wouldn't be without one.Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Sliding tee bevel. I haven't heard that tool called by that name for some time. You must have been around a while also.
Yes, Been around awhile. If I had saved all the sawdust I've made and It had value. I could have a shop full of New Powermatic everything.Work Safe, Count to 10 when your done for the day !!
Bruce S.
Bill: If you have some $ left over get a 4" double square, a most handy little item also from Starrett. KDM
"... if people did not die so untidily, most men, and all women, would commit at least one murder in their lives." R. Kipling
I love my starret 12 inch combination square. I also have a 6 inch one. Take a look at e-bay I have seen them there and you can save a few bucks that way. Also take look at th 18 inch combination square. Anyway I personally think you can not go wrong with any of them. The only problem will be when you decide that you want a size that you don't have;). I also like the satin blades best.
Troy
When you're shopping around for the best prices, keep in mind that Starrett have two types of heads, a cast iron and a forged steel. Blades and other heads are interchangeable, and the rules come in different graduations (decimal, fractional, and metric), in lengths to 48".
There are 2 kinds of protractor head, that you can chose from. A nonreversible which sits on one side of the blade and can be spun to any angle without restriction. The reversible sits on both sides of the blade but the bridge doesn't let you spin to any angle without adjusting the blade, and that can sometimes be annoying depending how you work.
Here is a link to the section of the Starrett site on their squares.
http://catalog.starrett.com/catalog/catalog/PLH2.asp?NodeNum=21489&Mode=PLISTI have the forge steel combination set (nonreversible protractor) with 12", 24" with decimal/fraction, and 30cm, 60cm metric, satin chrome blades, along with some of the other accessory blade attachments. No other tool maker that I know of have so many choices, too many actually. ;-)
DA,
I would second all of the suggestions so far,satin blade, etc. I might try to get the 6" square and purchase the 12" blade seperately, that way you can switch them out when needed. The 6" will work for quite a bit of the measuring/marking I do, but sometimes it's nice to have the 12" blade.
Lee
My 12" model is the start and finish of just about every project in the shop. You cannot go wrong with one. Although, I understand a Brown & Sharpe is just as good.
speaking of brown & sharpe. i have been looking for a 3" #554 which is no longer made by them. any suggestions where i might inquire ?
Myself, I would get a nice Starrett straight edge
" There'll be no living with her now" - Captain Jack Sparrow
Bill
I have a few Starretts, all purchased on eBay at a fraction of the retail price. These include two 12" 4-piece combinations (one is in metric) and a 4" 3-piece combination. But my absolute favourite - because it gets used the most - is a 6" double square. If I were to own just one, that is the one. It is large enough to check the squareness of a construction, yet small enough to check the squareness of a newly sharpened blade. It is just the right size to mark angles in your joinery. The 12" combo is too large for most joinery - think of it as a jack of all trades - a great all rounder but lacks finesse.
Regards from Perth
Derek
I see others have mentioned that you can get all kinds of graduations on the rule; do better than I did and make sure it's one you as a woodworker can use. I bought my Starrett 12" about 11 years ago at a local hardware store; I think I paid less than $60. I jumped. But I realized too late it's graded to machinist tolerances (64ths, 32nds) and metric. Sure, it's obviously useable, but I'm just not gonna get to a 64th of an inch tolerance. And metric...well, at least it's divisible by 10. It would be much easier to use and read if it maxed out at 16ths. I bought a 24" rule later; that one is in 8ths and 16ths. Much easier to read; much too long to work with on a regular basis.
Maybe I am a neanderthal though.
Maybe someday I'll know a little something.
I typically buy my measuring stuf from a machinist supply house like http://www.wttool.com best prices on Starrett stuff. I picked up the Grizzly 4 piece combination square for $29 and it's just as accurate as my Starrett for my wood and metal working needs. The sciber is actually screwed in which I like better the the press in scriber on the Starrett. Just bought it to compare to see for myself. PEC is a good US brand sold by the machinst supply companies. For woodworking I think Starret is overkill but it's your money.
Hey, Rick, and All
I believe that http://www.msdiscount.com might be better priced than your source. Check them out.
As far as Starrett being overkill for woodwork, Starrett tools always feel so good in the hand I reach for them first. I have the forged steel combo square set with satin finish on the blades--both a 12" and 24" blade.
thanks for all the great info guys. will let you know what style i land on.
bill
DA
Ditto to what a previous poster wrote about checking on Ebay. I've bought a 12" combination square for $26, a 6" rule for $7, and a 4" combination square and a 4"double square for $38--all brand new satin chrome finish and all on Ebay. You have to watch and be patient, but I bought all of those for about what you'd pay Lie-Nielsen or Japan Woodworker for a 12" combo square. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
When you buy something like a Starrett square from Ebay, can you be certain it is not a counterfeit or stolen goods?I have never bought anything from eBay.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Good question. I never really considered it before. Is there a reason you ask? Do you know something I should know?
I have noticed that a number of Starrett items for sale on Ebay are from sellers in Athol, MA where the tools are manufactured. My guess is they are either factory seconds with some cosmetic blemish or the employees are given tools and some choose to sell them. All that is pure speculation on my part. Certainly the safest thing to do is buy from a reputable dealer, although I consider the folks I've bought from on Ebay reputable. I've said before, if the feedback score is less than 99%, I'm buying from someone else. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
No, I asked because I really don't know.I have read that there have been a few cases where people have tried to move stolen goods through eBay, but according to the piece I read, the administrators go to great lengths to indentify and stop them. I guess though, if I were to buy something from eBay and the price seemed too good, I might fire off an email to the seller and ask about it. At a minimum it would be interesting to see if they had a plausible explanation.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Ebay is like everything else in life--caveat emptor. Several years ago, I was given a Mont Blanc pen as a gift. The pen was purchased from Office Depot. A year after it was given, my son dropped it and broke it. I took it to a jewler (I had moved) to be repaired. He sent it off, and it came back saying it was a fake Mont Blanc. I sent it back to the folks who gave it to me, they sent me a check, I ordered a real Mont Blanc from the jewler. The vast majority of the folks dealing on ebay are good, honest folks. There are some to be aware of and beware of. Again, look at the feedback scores and comments. They will usually tell you what you need to know. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
So in your experience, the feedback scores are a generally reliable way to determine if someone is on the up-and-up?********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
It's a good indicator of how reputable someone is. Good sellers/buyers will guard and protect their feedback scores, and do what is necessary to receive good feedback. I bought a book from a seller that had 97.something feedback rating. I never went in to read the feedback comments-wish I had. I got the wrong book, and no response to my email. I went back and checked after the fact. The company/person did ~300 transactions per day. They also would have around 75 or so negative feedbacks per month. Reading the comments, it was all the same thing--wrong book sent and no follow up to emails. Now I avoid sellers like that. If you are an individual like me, you might have one negative feedback. You can't please all the people all the time. Someone who has two or more negatives, be careful. You can learn a lot by checking into their feedback history. Ebay is as good as you make it. I wouldn't trade my Starrett purchases because I think I got good deals. My 12" combination square is the cast iron head and satin chrome blade. Sells elsewhere for $67 on up. I got it for $26. Good deals can be had but you have to watch for them. Give it a try. It's pretty fun at times. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
I love my 439 builders square with trhe 24 " blade.
I've only bought one item from eBay -- blades for my Fein Multimaster. the price was great, the quality very good, and the service couldn't be better. I need to get over there more often to see what other kind of tool deals I might find. Thanks for your help.********************************************************
"It is what we learn after we think we know it all, that counts."
John Wooden 1910-
Nikki, It's tricky on Ebay but not with established tool guys, How do you tell? Look at all of their goods for sale and all of their feedback comentary if the item is over $50. In the last 10 years I must have dropped several grand there but for quality hand tools (Stanley speciality and combination planes, whole, parts and pices or braces and double twist auger bit sets. I was skunked by loosers only twice and both were general goods merchants with a tool. If he is selling pottery, junk jewlery, fabric junk to the ladies and then posts a Bedrock #2 look out.
These flea market types do hundreds of deals a day and their shipping and handeling could be mis-stated using words to mislead. ie. "flat rate shipping" now you think that it's USPS $5 if it fits in the box priority mail--WRONG NEEDLENOSE- it's his special flat charge for shipping and handeling at $16.95, and it's legal and Ebay dosen't care.
Ebay is no protection, give then no slack, As I passed a 2k limit of traffic on pay pal they cut me off (never saw that rule in print) and wanted my bank acct.# to do direct debit and avoid the few points charged by the card companies. I very politely Emailed this dude back and told him that I dont sleep with him, don't know him and even my mother didn't have my bank acct#'s. I stopped buying there unless I am looking for something old and special. good luck, Pat
BTW, my cards are all zero balance accts. and most of the serious tool guys (7 or 8) treat my checks as cash, no waiting to clear. there are some good merchants out there, pfh
You're welcome. Tom"Notice that at no time do my fingers leave my hand"
I'm not sure that it was mentioned but the Starrett combination square heads come in either cast iron or forged, the forged being the tougher. I have an older cast head that got cracked after a drop. The protractor heads are great for different angles, there are two types of those, reversible and not. If I were buying new, I'd opt for the 18" blade and get an extra 12" one. Top of the line combo runs close to $200. Brown and Sharp also makes a great square. You can buy any of the parts separately, adding as the pocketbook allows.Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
There's a six inch combination square that is for sale on Ebay--Item number: 190043172848. Buy it now is 49.99. Auction starts at 34.99? No bids yet. Tom
thanks, i have a starrett 12" & 6" & 4" really looking for this 554 3" great for getting into small dovetails for checking for level.
I have the 12" combo square. Use it constantly. Would like to purchase the protractor head in the future.
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