Basics of a Speed Square Lesson - Measuring and Marking Lesson Series - Trade Skills Video *UPDATED*

Welcome to the Construction Measuring and Marking Series: In this video, we will review the basics of how to use a construction speed square - sometimes called a framing square or rafter square.
Video lessons in this series include Tape Measure Use, how to Read a Tape Measure including the inches and fractions, and all the other marks and symbols. There are also videos on the Speed Square, Chalk line, and levels. Join us for the entire lesson series
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If you want to learn more - please consider enrolling in one of our FREE courses at TradeSkillsU.com, our learning portal designed to support trades education. The course is free and you can also earn digital credentials upon completion. Check it out and learn like the pros - www.tradeskillsu.com/
If you teach construction and need instructional resources for your construction training - please check out our website for more information on our no-cost resources. www.teachconstruction.org/
0:00 Squaring and 90 degrees
1:09 Parts of a Speed Square
3:14 Marking squared and parallel lines
9:17 Measuring and marking angles
15:53 Speed square saw guide

[@kurdtpatton5039]

This was very thorough, concise, and easy to understand. Thank you!

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad it was helpful!

[@ConstructionEd]

thanks

[@savage22bolt32]

Man, I wish you had this yt channel when I was in high school! (68 - 72) I'm usually a day late & a dollar short, but I was around too early for ytube. I found a speed square 40 years ago, and the only thing I ever used it for was making a 90° line on a board to follow with my circular saw. (And that usually comes out crooked!) Next time I will clamp the square to the board as a guide, as I need 2 hands to operate the saw. I'm old ya know. I hope you get rich, or at least make a comfortable income from this channel. You absolutely deserve it!!!❤

[@ConstructionEd]

Thanks for the kind words - always use as many hands as you need to keep you safe and keep all your fingers. We make very little from this KZbin channel - but that was not the goal. Our main revenue is from licensing our Instructor Resources to schools in the US and Canada - about 150 schools and growing. I hope you enjoy the channel.

[@mar4072]

This time I learned the use of pivot. Thank you Teacher, Sir!

[@ConstructionEd]

Happy to help!

[@mwartz]

You really made that easier to understand how to use a speed square to its full potential, thank you 😊

[@bdr4212]

I learned it as the Swanson Square. It is one of the most useful tools in any pro or hobby shop. I have two sizes, with the Swanson booklet.

[@vincepeacham7292]

Really good clear explanation of the rafter square basics, learned a lot thanks

[@thenocode72]

Don’t know how this came up on my feed…but I love it…I build all the time…I wasn’t comfortable with speed square..now I am…and I’m subscribing

[@ConstructionEd]

Hey, that is the best comment we got all month. I hope you enjoy other lessons of ours.

[@williamsharktv1683]

Now I will save precious time thanks to this! There were some tricks I did not know. Thanks a lot for this great video!

[@mrthiefy]

I knew you could use the corner of it to make sure something is square. I had no idea that the long side of it was 45°! this is bloody amazing!

[@juliusspartacus5437]

Finally a clear and concise tutorial on the basics of the speed square. Thank you so much✊

[@ConstructionEd]

glad you liked the video lesson

[@ltridge504]

I just came across your channel and like how clearly you explain the speed square. In my 20+ years in my trade. I've done a mix of residential and commercial. It's sad that so many "carpenters" only know how to make a 90° and 45°. I just subscribed and look forward to browsing more videos. Always looking for ways to improve find new nuggets!

[@chithi8649]

I love this! This makes woodworking even more fun and can get even more creative! Thanks a billion :)

[@fayethompson6743]

I am a New Student in a Building Consruction Technology course. This is an amazing lesson. I will definitely be watching your channel. Thank You So Much!!!! 🤩🤩

[@ConstructionEd]

Welcome aboard!

[@googlinstuff8910]

top class. you teach clearly and are articulate. I would happily pay for this quality of teaching. Thank you!

[@ConstructionEd]

We do have classes at TradeSkillsU.online - that include elements that are not here on the free KZbin Channel.

[@prestonbarr2358]

I like how this guy has paint on his hands and a bandaid on his finger. Really gives this piece a touch of realism.😂

[@nobueno8652]

Thanks. You’re the dad I never had.

[@janetbayford133]

I have two of these in different sizes and now I actually know everything it can do. I am such a numpty! I could have saved myself hours of work if I had known all this sooner. Thank you

[@ConstructionEd]

I have never heard of a Numpty - I had to look that one up. More can be done with a Speed Square - you can lay out an entire roof assembly. That video is coming out soon on our Learning Portal at TradeSkillsU.online.

[@janetbayford133]

@@ConstructionEd British English vernacular LOL

[@myleshollywood81]

Just thank you!

[@nagarajbangalore9641]

legend you are , excellent teacher you are sir.

[@ConstructionEd]

Wow, thanks

[@naomicarlon1324]

Thankyou for guiding me through the steps to understand the speed square… makes sense… easy to follow!

[@mohammedayaz2792]

This is easily one of the best toturials. I don't have a square but I'm going get one and practise. Thanking you :)

[@ConstructionEd]

You are so welcome!

[@wooddogg8]

Definitely worth the money brother, you need one of these in your box and won't regret the money spent! Peace!!

[@ache9649]

Some people on KZbin provide a lot of value with their videos. This was a great overview and I learned a ton.

[@chewar7537]

Excellent video, taught me more about the speed square! Thank you!!! You are a wonderful teacher.

[@jmackinjersey1]

I've had my Empire Speed Square, like you have in the video, for at least 10 if not 20 years, and the markings are still there, they don't fade or go away. Even if it did, they have a lifetime warranty, so you can just take it back to Home Depot and exchange it, no question asked. I also have a Milwaukee Speed Square and have had it for about 5 years and it is the same. The good thing about these is it is easier to see the markings, especially in bright sunlight.

[@ConstructionEd]

I also like the price

[@tommyandtammy1]

Excelent Video, Thanks and God Bless.

[@ConstructionEd]

Thanks, you too!

[@kharisma92]

Awesome teacher! Thank you

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad it was helpful!

[@matttopper5017]

This is highly informative. You’re a good teacher 👍

[@darylblas8641]

Excellent! Detailed and informative but not excessive.

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@peterdavies9277]

Great tutorial - simple but comprehensive.

[@wolfrickelly5148]

You have earned a subscriber sir. I work in the trades and as sad as it may sound I have never learned this information. Thank you for the clear concise lesson.

[@ConstructionEd]

That is all too common

[@deannacorbettwhite1]

You are an amazing teacher!! You explain things so well! This is the 1st video of yours that I have seen, I look forward to watching many more. Thank you.

[@ConstructionEd]

Thanks Deanna, Glad you liked the video

[@revon0521]

Ditto. No fluff; no wasted words. I'm here for it. Subscribed.

[@joshharley5397]

Some great tips in here. I really like that idea for using it as a guide for a circular saw. Great video!

[@shaundomingue6509]

Excellent tutorial. My best to you. Cheers.

[@ConstructionEd]

Thank you! Cheers!

[@TomRubicon5949]

Terrific video!

[@paullee6256]

Thank you for this very clear, concise and useful tutorial.

[@ConstructionEd]

Thanks Paul, glad it was helpful

[@1965gracebug]

Awesome! Thank you! I am learning woodworking and carpentry for farm use. Very helpful!

[@josephvanderlinde6494]

I felt like I missed an opportunity never getting into shop in high-school. KZbin and channels like yours are a gem! Thank you so much

[@ConstructionEd]

Thanks for stopping by our channel, hope you enjoy more of our lessons and putting it to work.

[@83AirGuy]

Fun fact: Mine can also be used as a nail set, flat bar, hammer, back scratcher, almost anything. Truly is an amazing tool!! 😁

[@bdickinson6751]

If you make a miscut it can even make a nifty boomerang.

[@soulergy1soulrgy1]

I was glad to find your explanation on the speed square, always wanted to learn go to better use it. Thank you,

[@mikeschmidt4800]

Thank you, ive been looking for an explanation and you just came across my screen. Much appreciated.

[@paradoxdea]

Speed square...the sextant of the building industry...excellent video!!

[@ConstructionEd]

As a sailor, I love that analogy,

[@antoniofagundez5075]

Love the square, use it as a saw guide all the time to make perfect cuts. Now I can use it to its full potential. Great info.

[@ConstructionEd]

Thanks for the comment and watch those fingers

[@melodystuetz5556]

Good teaching. Easy to follow

[@ilpostinomotociclista270]

Thank you! I’ve been using a speed square for years, but I never knew all its functions.

[@ConstructionEd]

You are so welcome!

[@karodora]

Excellent content and presentation. Thank you.

[@onewithall6946]

I really appreciate it. It was a well-crafted presentation with an organised structure and a smooth flow of ideas. I will subscribe to your channel.

[@msemakweli133]

Great teacher! Now I understand the speed square. I almost picked one at the store a few days ago. I will now examine it closely (those notches, marking style etc.) before I pick it. Thanks so much.

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad it was helpful

[@ltridge504]

Spend the couple extra dollars and buy a Swanson with the little blue book. It's one of the best purchases you can make.

[@wooddogg8]

Excellent video!! no nonsense, just cover the important basics and that's that. thank you'

[@kerikateley6781]

Thank you! I watched a couple other tutorials before finding yours while trying to use my carpenter’s square for “unconventional” purposes. They each left out the very important part: how to PROPERLY measure/cut angles (that’s where I was stuck while trying to get an equilateral triangle) by subtracting from the right angle, 90 degrees. This saved me tons of time! Best to you!

[@ConstructionEd]

You're very welcome!

[@noname-pz9kb]

This man is a great teacher! Thank you for making these videos. They are very informative and helpful!

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad you like them!

[@michaeleggman1327]

Thanks! I’m on the wrong side of 50 and now I finally know how to use that darn speed square!😅

[@ConstructionEd]

Thanks Michael - that was very nice of you

[@garycawthard]

I only used speed square but not all features. Now I know what to look for and better use. Great teaching. Thank You!

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad it was helpful!

[@mikemasek6249]

A superb video. Your explanations are clear and thorough. Thanks so much.

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad it was helpful!

[@larryparis925]

Excellent explanation. Very, very clear due to true teaching skills. Many thanks.

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad it was helpful!

[@larryparis925]

@@ConstructionEd Thank you again. Really appreciate the clear instructions.

[@yeudsiegal5285]

I would care to compliment you on great instructions! I had never worked with wood and I searched for cutting wood, then your channel was displayed. I am glad I came up to this channel. I learned a lot. Much obliged

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad I could help!

[@nezarmahmoud7728]

Respctful & useful man Deserve subscription

[@MJ-qt4dm]

Thank you!

[@doc145]

Finally someone explained angle cutting properly. I have friends who will line up 30D on the square to get a resulting 30D angle and they can’t figure out why they were wrong. It’s the same for a miter saw. The readings on the saw pertain to the angle of the waste piece. On both the square and miter saw 90D shows as zero. That’s why you have to subtract he angle you want from 90 and the result is the setting on the saw or the square.

[@ConstructionEd]

very very true

[@markjmaxwell9819]

It is a very handy tool Good for metal roofing angles amongst other things . It is amazing how having the right tools makes a job easier and makes it easier to do a quality job .

[@ConstructionEd]

Great comment Mark

[@airborneal2764]

Great video!

[@georgiivanov3227]

Helpful movie.Clear Explained.Thank You!!

[@ConstructionEd]

Thank you

[@killnme6212]

Great video. I have that empire blue square. It’s close to 10 years old. A previous version. The numbers don’t wear off. It is a quality tool. Thanks for this I send guys here to figure out their own tool

[@ConstructionEd]

Very cool! - keep up the sharing

[@jimzhou5381]

Clear demonstration, good lesson, thank you.

[@ConstructionEd]

You are welcome! and thank you for watching

[@piyushrvyas]

Thanks a lot

[@snazy7777]

Brilliant, Thank you.

[@cancelbubble6535]

Great video.

[@hak3739]

Thanks I've been using a square for years and was not working efficiently... This simple lesson will save me hours of work! 👨🏻‍🔧🛠🪛🧠

[@ConstructionEd]

Great to hear!

[@davidav8orpflanz561]

Great info...Now I can go rebuild the world until it is perfectly square!!!

[@ConstructionEd]

Let me know how that goes.

[@waltermessines5181]

Perfect teaching, easy to follow, great graphics, not too much in one class. Greetings from Portugal.

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad you liked it! Welcome to the community all the way from Portugal

[@radcontract]

The best teacher

[@ConstructionEd]

Thanks a ton

[@MikeyDreamerLam]

Really loved your videos Joe 👌👍.

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad you liked it.

[@DexterMorgan]

I only ever use it to see if something is square but holy hell is this tool useful! Now going to look for other uses 😊

[@der.kdf.brother]

Thank you for a very clear explanation. You are a great teacher! Subscribed.

[@ConstructionEd]

Thanks for the sub!

[@GoProTony912]

Thanks a lot! I know this sounds cliche, but you are a very good teacher!! You really simplified this process down to a tee!

[@ConstructionEd]

Thanks Tony

[@patrickolmstead1557]

This is fantastic. Thank you so much. Wish I had watched this before my last 3 projects. Might have saved me from buying a miter saw.

[@Huntereconomic]

Thank you for all this knowledge.

[@ConstructionEd]

My pleasure!

[@kirkhepburnmiddleagedwhiteguy]

Great info and lesson. One question, please. Does the 2 3/4" mark "sort of line up" or does it actually line up?

[@mikebell9166]

I got into trouble with some pressure treated 2x4's: a couple of them had a 90+* twist over 12'. The Speed Square was immensely helpful getting a straight enough cut, along with some clamps to work with the rest of the construction

[@jcwong3208]

You are a good teacher.

[@ConstructionEd]

Thank you! 😃

[@jesuscortez2941]

we always keep learning 👍🏻thank you for your videos

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad to hear that

[@KennTodd117]

Wow what an absolutely amazing video. I learned more than I hoped. You’re an amazing teacher. I just want to know basics to do things around the house and learn to make some things. You’re an outstanding teacher - totally subscribing!

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad it was helpful!

[@lonniebearden9923]

My first video of yours I've seen so now I have subscribed. Thanks for the great video.

[@ConstructionEd]

Welcome aboard! Hope you enjoy some of our other lessons

[@miketracy5603]

Great job! Thanks!

[@ConstructionEd]

thanks

[@DylanBegazo]

You’ve just earned yourself a new subscriber.

[@ConstructionEd]

thanks for joining

[@GentleStorm1]

I’ve been using speed squares for years and consider it a critical tool. However, I’ve only known an eighth (1/8😊) of its utility. I became keenly aware of that recently when trying to install rafters on an offset roof with a dormer and really struggling to find the correct angles + lengths. While An Angle finder helped, I knew there was a way to use the “rafter square” and was irritated I couldn’t figure it out. I know this video didn’t cover that, but it discusses several other features that would have made many jobs more efficient (like ripping a board in half without having to measure both ends & drawing/chalking a line!🤯) had I known. Thank you for teaching!

[@ConstructionEd]

Thanks for the comment - we will be releasing a video about using a rafter square for roofing soon - it is part of our other resources for teachers, just not part of our free public distribution yet.

[@johndd8186]

excellent

[@mikem1436]

Good video. Why would you rotate the speed square when cutting an angle when you can use the markings directly on the speed square? For example, when you made the 20* angle you rotated the speed square 70*. Why not leave the speed square where it was and then just use the 70* mark? Doing it this way will be more accurate as there is no movement of the pivot point. On a shorter width board the 70* mark would be off the board and either it would be done your way or butting up a piece of scrape wood to make the width wider so the line could be drawn.

[@ReinierKaper]

You can do it that way, but you'd need to draw a line from your 20 degree mark to the corner (pivot point) with a straight edge. In general, really shallow angles (shallow relative to the SIDE of the board, that is) are a little tougher to do well with a speed square because it becomes hard to keep stable with not a lot of the speed square touching the board. You can see he kind of missed the edge where the pivot point is. Also factor in that dimensional lumber has rounded off edges, making it even more difficult as well.

[@ConstructionEd]

correct - maybe ways to use the tool

[@martinoamello3017]

@@ConstructionEd Nice reason to have a F clamp in your kit.. I'm not good at holding the square and saw at the same time and tend to like having fingers attached to my hands. It's part of my original equipment. My fingers are OEM.. ;)

[@Roofskills21]

Good Stuff, we also use a variety of squares and it’s all part of the art and good practice!

[@ConstructionEd]

thanks for the comment

[@peteypete3597]

Thx!

[@williamparker6649]

Super well done explanation!

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad it was helpful!

[@nore8141]

Great video and commentary thanks 🙏

[@ConstructionEd]

thank you very much and thanks for visiting our channel

[@thanhtungpham7150]

Thank you so much

[@ConstructionEd]

You're most welcome

[@reuma7823]

Hi I just want to say thank you for your video. My brother shared this with me knowing I love to learn about this sort of stuff & the fact that I'm his baby sister with tools 🤣 when he was up visiting for xmas he taught me how to fit a new door handle & I really enjoyed it along with other awesome things we got to do together ❤️ so thanks to my brother, you now have a new subscriber. So with that said I'm off to watch more of your videos hope you're having a awesome day 🙂

[@ConstructionEd]

great story and thanks for sharing

[@bobmiller4818]

great lesson, thank you

[@ConstructionEd]

you are welcome

[@DonTruman]

Impressive tool, clearly explained. Sad I never knew about this before and how useful it is. Will buy one asap.

[@ConstructionEd]

Glad it was helpful!

[@johnbalogna803]

Thanks for the tutorial

[@ConstructionEd]

you are welcome

[@tricolor112010]

Excellent video and information. Keep up the good work

[@ConstructionEd]

Thanks, will do!

[@smurfturf]

love this explanation!

[@ConstructionEd]

So glad!

[@ypaulbrown]

Good Information, Bravo from an old guy in Florida ...Paul

[@ConstructionEd]

Thanks old guy from Florida - in fact Joe is in Florida right now, and I was there in central FL a few weeks ago. Keep up the nice weather.

[@ypaulbrown]

@@ConstructionEd appreciate that......looking forward to more of you great information videos.....Paul

[@ypaulbrown]

@@ConstructionEd I am in Orlando, fabricating and welding ......gotten cool here lately, down in the 40's....best wishes, Paul

[@nopnop6274]

❤❤🥇👍🏻💯 Best lessons I’ve come across! Well explained videos. Thanks.

[@ConstructionEd]

Wow, thanks! Glad you found us