The 90 degree angle is the main stay of wood working. When corners meet at a right angle things work, walls stand up straight, cabinet doors fit snuggly, drawers slide smoothly and close tightly.
Take a walk down the tool aisle at your local home improvement store and you will find a plethora of squares from big framing squares to T squares to combination squares. Do you need all of them? No, not really. Here is a list of the basic squares that you will need in your woodshop. As projects require a specialty square add it to your collection.
1) Combination Square
The first square that will become a staple for laying out lines for cross cutting, ripping and making notches. The square’s head consists of a 90 degree and 45 degree sides. On the head is a locking screw that allows the head to slide on the blade. The blade has a scale on both sides for easy measuring.
To scribe a two inch line the length of a board, adjust the head so that two inches of the blade is protruding from the 90 degree side of the head. Put the combination square on the side of the board. Position the pencil on the end of the blade and run the square down the length of the board.
2) Speed Square
Speed squares are very handy and durable. They are practically indestructible. On one of the legs of the speed square is a flange. This allows you to butt up the square against the side of a board and draw a 90 degree or 45 degree angle. Along the hypotenuse are markings for laying out rafters, stair stringers, and roof trim.
A speed square can also be used as a cross cut guide. Position the circular saw on the layout line. Place the speed square’s flange on the side of the board and slide the square against the shoe of the circular saw. Now you can either clamp the speed square in place, or hold it with one hand and run the circular saw with the other. This will give you a nice clean straight cut with your circular saw.
3) Drywall Square
Drywall squares come in various blade lengths. A four foot blade is great for laying out lines on plywood and other large material. You can use the blade of the drywall square as a guide when cross cutting plywood with a circular saw.
