Adam Savage's Favorite Tools: Machinist Squares

Everyone has some kind of 90-degree angle square in their shop, but Adam advocates for a specific kind of square: the 4” machinist’s square. They allow for fine and delicate layout on small parts, something a big honking 12” square will have trouble with. Adam has them in multiple sizes going down to 3/4” long (super tiny!) but if you had to have only one, get the 4”!
Solid 4" Machinist Square: amzn.to/311GLLq
Shot and edited by Norman Chan
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#AdamSavage #FavoriteTools

[@otakuribo]

Jamie: It _was_ square, I just labeled it "Not Square" so Adam wouldn't use it

[@rooob-toob5845]

had the exact same thought! Knowing how Jamie is, he did it on purpose to ,100% to piss Adams' OCD off. lmao

[@NaughtyShepherd]

That’s brilliant 🤣

[@louisturner8842]

We all have an unsquare square. It’s an old carpenters thing. Give it to the new guy and let him figure it out so he can appreciate a true square.

[@blickfangercreations]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@mmseng2]

@@louisturner8842 Its so true. I work in a completely different field, but its still like a rite of passage when you go home one day and realize you've accumulated the specific tools that you like in your head that you always use "because that other one isn't any good". When you guide the newbies to the better tools they listen, but they just don't KNOW yet XD

[@vizionthing]

Somewhere a walrus mutters to himself...... yup just kept it around to annoy Mr Savage

[@daringdarius5686]

I knew why he kept it the moment Adam had to make that comment. Nice Jamie ;]

[@jakemeyer8188]

Dear Tested, thank you for making actual, meaningful titles to your videos instead of, "Adam Savage says this one tool is the most indispensable tool in his entire life" and putting a random red circle somewhere in the title pic. Your efforts are appreciated. Regards, The Internet

[@Rick_Hoppe]

There’s nothing more maddening than a “clickbait” title.

[@jazcreations]

Adam: "and it drove me CRAZY" Adam.... That's why Jamie kept it ;)

[@travis7500]

When you initially said to mark it "Not square", I said aloud "then why keep it, it should be thrown out". Then came your rant. Very funny!

[@kingofgar101]

i believe the labeling is so that if someone finds it after you have gotten rid of it they don't try to use it and ruin their work

[@2adamast]

Throwing out, a good machinist just squares the square.

[@acck01]

It might not be square but it's still a straight edge with a handle at that point which can be entirely useful in its own right.

[@r1w3d]

"MARK IT ZERO, Bullshit dude mark it eight"

[@3dlabs99]

Its for the cases when you specifically need a NOT-SQUARE-line

[@erykkoziara1066]

Much love form Poland to you Adam ❤️

[@EasternTriad]

I think I enjoy these Favorite Tool segments just as much as your One Day Builds! Awesome idea in coming up with these. 👍

[@TakToyooka]

Wow, I didn't expect more Jamie-shade to bubble up again after so long. Will we see the hand-stache again at some point? Ah.... poor Jamie.

[@blizzardthewizardlizard]

He didn't really like the fame and that is why Jamie doesn't do much public stuff anymore. He is just enjoying being retired. If you watch Adam talk about why he and Jamie were chosen it was, because of Adam had some experience in front of cameras and Jamie just didn't care at all that the cameras were there. Also due to their experience in manufacturing and design of course.

[@0meat]

I have a speed square I got because of a welding class, and a square from the dollar store. Changed. My. Life. If you have nothing, check the dollar stores, you'd be surprised what you can do with cheap tools when you don't have other options.

[@shawnmurdock8059]

Adam, glad to see you have your grandfathers tools. I have my grandfathers tools also and there is something about old tools that is fascinating. Its interesting to see how they made tools way back when. I love seeing the wear on them, thinking about all the things my grandfather made. And just the age; I have some hand crank drills that are like 100 years old now and it still makes holes just like my battery powered laser drill. Kudos

[@tylerfrizzell3319]

Literally the best Workshop tool I have found out about in the last half a year, it is absolutely amazing and it does wonders. As a aircraft maintenance engineer it's a crucial and amazing tool

[@SikConVicTioN]

Adam is a jack of all trades, master of none

[@rayli8277]

Love the rant at the end about Jamie's Square

[@barryp4700]

I was secretly hoping that he would check the length of the square against his tattoo.

[@Joshuawelds]

I was soo bummed....

[@intent2modulate]

Came here to say this. Would've been the perfect flex.

[@SleepFaster18]

I just posted a similar comment... deleting it now lol

[@miguelaulet9425]

What's his tattoo of?

[@miguelaulet9425]

@@jordanwarren6739 I thought it looked like a periodic table or something like that

[@yootoob7048]

I'm a model railroader at the 1:160 scale. Small or even tiny squares are a must.

[@howardwilliams2587]

Love the mangled fingers ... they look like mine and means you were having fun!

[@tabiasprime]

Im a woodworker and I love my 3" machinist square...its my go to tool because of it ease of use

[@unusmalzum]

I just realized Adam, you are living my dream! To own a shop to build and tinker in. Thanks for being awesome!

[@thijshoffer2521]

Best series by tested

[@frankowens3373]

thanks Adam! I was looking on Amazon for machinist square as of course you have 1000 positive reviews and 300 negative so then not sure but I watch you videos for little tips and trick on things I didn't think of .I value your opinion highly and since my dad passed away I dont have a go to guy any more but I really do value you opinion your very smart guy thanks.

[@Zarcondeegrissom]

I will agree about them small squares for tinkering and computer mods. so many nooks and crannies that a large square won't fit in. I remember when I got a "combination square" (sliding square thing) and that also turned out to be so invaluable, not only for the 90 and 45 angles, also for the ability to slide the ruler on one thing to a given length from the anvil (as if it was a depth gauge), then I could just use that as both the jig and guide for marking other parts. It was so nice to have the correct tool for the job that didn't get in its own way. Great vid Adam and crew. B)

[@nevzilla]

I love that it is such a simple tool, with all the toys as his disposal it's a simple thing that wins. I became enamoured of a simple speed square last summer as I didn't need to plug it in or charge it, it just did its thing.

[@lytaylor1204]

Adam needs to do a show-and-tell about how he acquired all the injuries to his hands 😂

[@SaltBayGull]

Yeesh, that’s a timesink. As a cubicle worker who only gets to properly work on weekends, I’ll get 5 decent injuries to my hands before anything draws blood and makes me say “where am I making a mess from?” I’d imagine Adam would have a lot more “shit, I dunno” to tell you

[@DeDodgingEse]

Happy little accidents

[@peterjames2580]

As a mandolin maker the 3'& 1-1/2 are my go to, but the small clear plastic drafting squares are great for layout. Thanks for the "Square Shake"

[@potatotr33]

My favorite label when I'm on the job site is 'not trash' or 'key piece' because you know that whatever off-cut looking piece of garbage that thing is on is the one that's the most important to that project or it'll save the day if you have it in six months.

[@thugasaurusrex6004]

Absolutely

[@titus142]

As a custom furniture maker I have lots of squares. The best is the classic Starret 12" combo. Best tool to have. I did have one "out of square" that an apprentice dropped for me. I did end up fixing it so I have two no, but I can kind of understand keeping it. Also to check a square find something with a nice straight edge and strike a line. Flip the square over and strike another line right on the first line and see if there is any deviation.

[@tomaszpawlus3377]

Greetings from Poland Adam, nice that You've got polish tool! Old one's are the best

[@jasonvangeuns9062]

Pretty cool did not know they came that small. Suppose all depends on the work one is trying to achieve. Also loving all these small videos lately aside from your normal one day builds.

[@ikyiAlter]

The ending was Epic.

[@JD2jr.]

I really like these videos. Super short, so even if it doesn't have anything I didn't know/need, I'm not wasting time (but there's always at least a little bit of info I didn't know). Should do this with every tool, just an "all the dumb questions you would be too embarrassed to ask... but don't even know you should ask them". Literally, a video just explaining different screwdrivers would probably teach most of us something. Basically, Concepts that you'd expect to teach kindergartners, but for adults who know things.

[@mattes217]

I also have an old carpenter square from my grandfather. Looks pretty fancy with the brass inlays.

[@A1BASE]

Can we also get an honorable mention to the humble 1 2 3 block? Never knew how much I’d use those until I got one. Even as a woodworker.

[@MrJeepinZeke]

Very handy to have around. A set of the smaller squares and a couple of 1,2,3 blocks and you can do a lot!

[@LoveBystroem]

I love the tiny one!!

[@missionron]

Those 2.5" tiny machinest squares are great for getting into dovetails and checking your progress while very finely paring and fitting. Starrett (and othrs) have these little squares with interchangeable beams...the really narrow one is what i use for dovetails..and so does any graduate of the Krenov school or Inside Passage... lee valley makes one..about $60 and has 2 beams. Worth its weight in gold!

[@ciaranmannix3815]

Adam! There's a great thing I found for speed draughting. It's a plastic mesh that goes under your paper. Perfect straight lines and perfect right angles everytime. Not great at anything that isn't perpendicular but it's good when you need to quickly drawing something and dimension it.

[@LiveMusicOntario]

I have my father's 6 inch machinists's square. If he brought it with him from Scotland, then it was surely used on Merlin engine parts at Rolls Royce during WWII. If he bought it in Canada, then it was used on parts for the AVRO Arrow and other A.V. Roe aircraft. As a nice touch, his name was engraved on it, like several of the other hand tools I still have.

[@wdwerker]

I love the bandage and black fingernail . True craftsman always end up with nicks and dings !

[@gussnarp]

Not an out of square square, but I hung my TV using a level that wasn't level. So now I have an obviously crooked TV, and due to my old house construction, it's sunk into exterior brick and just a huge pain to take the mount down and re-do it, so I'm just living with it.

[@android61242]

Very cool. Hope to see more machinist tools in the future.

[@cchris667]

I have a not-square square! I keep it around as a straight-edge with a handle!

[@ShamWerks]

if you bang enough the straight-edge, it can become a non-straight-edge-with-a-handle. Very useful when you need to draw a squiggly line.

[@ark_knight]

@@ShamWerks OR, just close your eyes and slowly draw out a line, you wont even need a handle

[@shiraleeana]

Thanks for adding captions to your videos!

[@phlemdog]

I might also add, the speed square is amazing for working with wood. That triangle has so many uses, that it transcends trades.

[@LiveMusicOntario]

I have a large aluminum contractor's square with so many markings on it for rafters, etc. I don't have a clue what to do with it except measure out little odd jobs, but I can't leave my contractor friends alone with it. Apparently it's all the schnizzle for framing carpentry.

[@woozleboy]

321 blocks, both with and without holes are fantastic too. Heavy for gluing parts, supports, and just darn handy. Cheap too, with a pair commonly around $15-20 at Amazon.

[@standswithfish]

Hey Adam! If you would like to see the mother load of squares, along with many more measurement instruments, come to Athol, Massachusetts and take a factory tour of the L.S. Starrett Company! Lots of cool machines in operation from old screw machines to Swiss style CNC, too many to list!

[@Fake_Blood]

Moar machinery pls, a milling 101, I know it’s tedious, but so important for making anything functional.

[@bettythomas8660]

Very refreshing never heard of machinist square before, seems like a great tools to have 👍👍

[@mtnbikefuel80]

loving this favorite tools series

[@TheWtfnonamez]

Wonderful. I spent most of my life behind a keyboard, and then I got into metal work. I found love for the most simple tools because I suddenly appreciated how they are the foundation of so many things in the world we take for granted. I can actually remember thinking "damn I need a simple tool that will tell me if these corners are exactly 90 degrees and ending up online trying to find something like that" ... now I keep them in a special tool box where I only keep precious tools like scalpels, optics and callipers. Its a pleasure to watch someone else care about tools. (go ahead... tell me Im weird)

[@TomOConnor-BlobOpera]

One of the most used tools I have is a Roofer's (or Speed) square. It's like a cross between a woodworkers square and a protractor. Mine's been horribly abused, and it's only made of die-cast aluminium so it has all sorts of saw marks.

[@Acecool]

It can still draw a straight line with a nice handle to keep your hand out of the way. and a step to help keep it in place with 2 points of contact.

[@jefferp]

Yep. In my shop one is marked, “Kinda Square”.

[@gsrocks71321]

I keep my 3” square in my pocket 80% of the time that I’m in the shop. I love it! Saved me multiple times

[@droneracer]

Check a square is a true 90' by pushing up against a straight edge draw a line, then flip the square over and redraw the line, if square both lines should be perfectly parallel.

[@Ferndalien]

Better to try to draw the second line right over the first. If it's square you should see one line. If it's not square, the lines will diverge at one end or the other and it's easier to see than trying to tell if two lines are almost parallel. If you can, do the test on wood with a sharp knife, a box knife or a woodworker's marking knife are fine. They make an extremely thin, but visible line, thinner than a 0.3 mm pencil.

[@rong1924]

Only if your straight edge is straight.

[@Bartmann420]

01:49 MADE IN POLAND :D

[@LesTutosdUneMinute]

♥

[@SergeyPRKL]

Poland have had superb tools before. I have some from the 60's and they just are unicum. Nothing modern can match them :)

[@spades1080]

The 5 inch square he had actuality was made in Poland. Excellent tool makers!

[@Ericdawg420]

I started working with wood a little over a year and I fell in love with squares and combination squares. Lol. I spent hundreds of dollars just on squares.

[@madnessbydesign1415]

"Not Square" - Why keep it? Easy: When you need an angle that you're positive isn't a perfect 90 degrees! :)

[@machinist7230]

If hes like me, because he knows he can fix it, he just hast gotten down that far on the todo list..

[@Vidar93]

As a finish carpenter I literally have 6 of them ranging from 1 1/4" to a standard framing square. I also have a really cool small tool that essentially has 4 different sizes all together ranging from a 1" to 4" increasing by 1" at each angle. There are a lot of tricks you can use them for when like snapping lines for things or when making cut lines if you know what you're doing.

[@Vidar93]

Speed squares are also really cool tools that have a million different applications you can use them for

[@alexisjames9510]

Possibly first time I've ever commented on a you tube video and felt I just had to comment! :-) Been a fan of your work for many years and must say I'm LLLLOVING (among many others) your favourite tool videos because I'm always wondering "what does he use to do that!!!" :-D So please please keep them coming because let's face it you could do several videos a day on your tools and you'd still never get through all your favourites with the amount you have in your shop! Think I'd have to say one of my favourite tools (of my small so far collection) is either my Fisher space pen (inspired by your edc video) or my £8 ($10) 56 piece ratchet set! Bargain! Look forward to seeing more videos! Lexi, UK.

[@WilkinsonGarrett]

I love the little tid bits of Jamie you share, Like I always figured he was somewhat of a perfectionist, then you go and tell us he had a non-square square in his shop for 25 years!

[@Rick_Hoppe]

As a hobbyist woodworker, the closest I’ve come to machining is tapping holes in mild steel for screws. I’d love to learn how to do machining and milling and welding. My father was a hobbyist woodworker and my GREAT grandfather was a professional wood worker. He moved to the US from Germany in the late 19th century and got a job doing marquetry for the old Pullman train cars. I have some of my dad’s tools and my great grandfathers hand tools. I treasure them and even put some of them to use!

[@mm9773]

0:00 “Adam Sandwich here”

[@wwrite]

Oh the yin and yang of Adam and Jamie!

[@ZipKickGo]

A trick I learned for un-square framing squares was to expand the metal by striking it with the corner of a hammer head. If the mouth of the square needed to close, denting the outside corner would close the inside. Very useful trick on a jobsite in a pinch.

[@k3nl4w]

Just a tip in case you need a right angle but you don't have any square ruler around you, you can draw a right triangle with pythagoreans number 3,4 and 5 for the sides. The good thing by doing this way is you can scale from centimeters in your notebook to hundreds of meters to make a perpendecular walls.

[@goat325]

I literally just encountered this. I suffered through a week of using the big square to finish the project and then immediately found and bought smaller ones. Can't recommend them enough

[@rootvalue]

Thank you for captions!!!! ❤️

[@markdmaker3173]

Awesome video, these are my favorite types of videos. Keep them coming. Great job

[@Spike_365]

Hi love ur vids keep up the great work i watched myth buster when i was young and you have all ways been a inspiration to me i hope u have a amazing day

[@cam9103]

Combination squares are also very handy

[@blacksmith67]

Surprised that you didn’t mention 1-2-3 blocks. Very handy when you want to form something on the outside of a 90° edge or corner. I have also pulled the main part off a combination square to use the outside edges.

[@sajmon154]

Made in Poland :) MKSb, we call it "KĄTOWNIK Z PODSTAWĄ RAMIENNĄ" Pozdrowienia Adamie :) From Poland with Love

[@martino9458]

I dont know what is a Machinist Square but somehow Ive been recommended this video and somehow Ive seen it all.

[@JohnSmithiuyytw]

A most enjoyable video, thank you for sharing this.

[@blabby102]

Love the Jamie anecdote at the end!

[@cofiddle]

This is becoming one of my favorite playlists so far! Also, totally thought these were gonna be t squares at first lol I didnt realize machinist squares were their own thing

[@JakeBiddlecome]

I love his little jab at Jaime - that would bug the crap out of me, too!

[@GTJay]

1.75" square!!! That's just awesome! Gotta get one for my desk!

[@jasonsummit1885]

My dad has a few machinists squares amongst other tools from when he was a nuclear machinist at Puget Sound Naval Shipyard. I think most of them were Starette brand.

[@Taurusus]

I used to have one (that I think mayyyybe I made myself in shop class? So it was probably one of those Not-Squares), and the handle had a 45 degree cutout at the top, so that you could line it up against the edge of your table for a third "perfect" angle!

[@TomS1337]

Love the choice of tattoo. Well play Adam.

[@TurnStyleGames]

Adam/Tested Crew: Are you guys familiar with "My Mechanics", a Swiss(?) KZbin channel, where the owner does immaculate restorations of old/used/abused tools? Probably the best restoration work on KZbin. Would love to see Adam dig out an old out-of-spec or ill-used tool from his shop and see what My Mechanics can do with it - would be a superb collaboration. With a shop like Adam's I'd imagine he has a heap of old/well loved shop tools that would fit the bill.

[@bryanliggett3257]

If I were you I would purchase a speed square as these are very useful

[@justbecause7657]

ah ah ha. i'm burning from inside at yours channel, because from my childhood i thought that your tvshow one of the best. Same time i'm shy because last few years almost all things i'm doing by my head that's eating food

[@Verlisify]

Wasn't there already one of these or did he just praise it for so long in a one day build it felt like a separate video

[@donwilburn2470]

Great for blade alignment

[@hotguytay11]

No 2 love watching you adam!!

[@lopaka76]

Jamies square may not have been square, but I'll bet it was a decent straight edge. Or it has sentimental value. You can never have to many tools. My mom told me one time that I kept buying tools because I wanted to. I told her no, I need them for various reasons. A ball ping hammer cannot fully replace a claw hammer. I had to tell her many times that concrete forming tools are not the same as mill work tools and precast tools are not the same for clean rooms. Some a transferable, but not all.

[@LiveMusicOntario]

I lived with someone who got up before the rest of the household on the day we planned to organize the garage. By the time the rest of us got out there, most of it was done - The nut drivers were dumped in with the screwdrivers, which were already dumped in drawers with the chisels. Metric with SAE, My stuff, The other guy's stuff. The #8 stainless Phillips were dumped in with the #12 Robertson wood screws,. You get the idea. All taken out of their labeled original boxes and now in glass jars - GLASS JARS in 2012!!!. Now, If I ever should have gone in the kitchen and put the bread knives in with the chef knives - Ahhhhh!!!

[@sadtoast6122]

I'm so glad your on KZbin with millions of Subbz

[@guido69x]

Next Sliding T bevel and Marking Gauge Those are more peculiar and so friggin handyyyyy!!!!

[@mm9773]

All of those machinist squares are routinely used by woodworkers as well - they do small stuff, too. I like Adam’s recommendation to get cheap ones: they really are good enough.

[@aserta]

You can 3D print your own square which will have a decent level of squareness for a prop maker. You can print two, to counter-check them and even make adjustments.

[@FusionDeveloper]

Thank you

[@williamdavis9650]

Great series Adam! Why not show how to test a square for "squareness"? Scribe a line on a plate, flip the square over and scribe the line again. If it diverges the its a "Not Square"

[@joemedley195]

I have a 3 inch machinist square because it is thinner than the equivalent carpenter square from Rocker. I have one of those too but I usually reach for the machinist square because of the lower profile.

[@mrpenn4613]

Love the favorite tool episodes. I'd like to throw out a challenge though, "What is your most disliked yet 'frequently' used tool?"

[@3dlabs99]

I am also using my grandfathers square -- think of him everytime i use it -- he is passed away now but great guy :)

[@lorenmars5244]

I'd like to see Jamie as a guest on Tested. I'd like to hear what he's been up to for the last 10 to 15 years.

[@blabby102]

I doubt it as this channel was originally called "Adam and Jamie's Tested' or something like that.

[@brazwewn]

I love my machinist square, I need to get a few more!

[@ianlowe4666]

It would have been useful to show people how to test a machinists square for squareness and fix it if needed. Out of 90 degree machinists squares can be re trued, you very carefully and gently pein the inner or outer edge of the blade at the base to adjust them left or right. Some of the riveted style squares can just be tapped back into square and then the rivets re-tightened. Considering you made a point about not dropping them Mr Savage I think you missed an educational trick there in showing what to do about it when you do. Love the channel by the way.