HI all , I was working in the shop last week,when I droped my old stanly combo sqaure, and broke it. WHAT IS A WOODWORKER TO DO??? so like any tool nut I went looking for a new square. Man was there a bunch of cheap junk out there. then I found STARRET tools, IT wasnt cheap . But well worth what I payed for it.
I wish there were more tool makers like STARRET .
thanks
mark cherry.
Replies
My first Starrett tool was also a combination square, acquired much the same way. My $2.95 square was out of square rather than broken. I think the Starrett was $52 at the time, but I've never regretted paying it. If memory serves, that was also the first thing I ordered from MSC.
If anybody wants to Google, the name is Starrett with 2 t's on the end.
As far as other good tool makers, I think Brown & Sharpe are in the same league, as long as you avoid the B&S brand tools they import from China. And Mitutoyo only a small distance behind, if any. I've heard machinists say kind things about a couple of Swiss made brands. I think one of them was Etalon, but I can't remember the other one.
Edited 12/14/2002 3:14:24 AM ET by Uncle Dunc
FWW (Dec 2002, No.159) reached the same conclusion about the value of Starrett combo squares.
Recently I found in a flea market an old combo square witha rusty blade. The lady who sold it to me for a dollar said it did belong to her grandfather. When I finally cleaned the blade the name emerged: Starrett. I tested it and was still very accurate (square) but the measurement s were hard to read. I did purchase a new 18" Starrett blade from Lee Valley and I have now a very accurate combo square. I too wish all tools were made a ...la Starrett.
John Cabot
Edited 12/14/2002 7:16:13 PM ET by JOHNCABOT
Edited 12/14/2002 7:17:07 PM ET by JOHNCABOT
Watch E Bay for deals. Bought my Starretts there from a guy Canada for $90 (new). It's nice to know that I have one measuring device that's dead right every time.
Jeff
(shut up! you're runnin' up the cost of shopping there!) ;-)
m
Woodsaver,
My dad was a machinist, during my college days I worked for my dad during the summer. 90% of the measuring and setup tools were Starrett, figure if the tool is accurate enought for a machine shop, it ought to be ok for woodworking. Like you said expensive, but worth it (Brown and Sharpe are not too shabby either)..
Starret's combo squares are the best, but not everything they make falls in to that catagory. Stay away from the dial test indicator that has the face that rotates from horizontal to vertical. I personally prefer Mititoyu dial calipers. Starret's digital tape measure is junk. YMV.
Scott
Starret's digital tape measure is junk.
How could it be anything but junk, the concept is flawed at best. It's a gadget, not a tool. How's something like that supposed to stay accurate in the bottom of the tool bucket with dirt, sawdust, screws, taking hammer blows ... I do like my regular 16' Starett tape though. The hook is still pretty accurate (for a tape) even after a couple of years. I have 6" and 12" combo squares and trammel points from Starett and they're great.
John O'Connell - JKO Handcrafted Woodworking
Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid - John Wayne
Edited 12/16/2002 3:46:49 PM ET by ELCOHOLIC
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