How to tell if your Square is Square

[@barryroberts6470]

I have commented on your straight edge video about this exact thing, i do this trick on all my squares, and chuck away the ones that are not fixable. Well Done. Barry (ENG)

[@TheEveryMaker]

Thank you again Barry! I think my wife's head exploded when I told her that squares weren't always square. She thought I was just being overdramatic until she watched the video and saw just how bad the one square was!

[@RichardRecupero]

This is literally dope

[@TheEveryMaker]

Thank you! I'm glad you found it useful!

[@felixf5211]

This came up in my feed. As you ask, I gage for square with a test indicator and a surface gage. Usually pick up a zero from a cylindrical square and then see how a given part performs. There's a significantly wider margin of error with wood. Metal can be unforgiving. Enjoyed the video.

[@TheEveryMaker]

Thank you for the information and thank you for watching! The tolerances of working with metal are always so tight! I took a class in metal working and it was amazing to see the difference between wood and metal.

[@heyimamaker]

Nice tips! You forgot to mention one other method of fixing a bad tool. Returning / Exchange it :) But the framing square tip is really cool, good for those older hand me downs or garage sale finds.

[@TheEveryMaker]

Very good point! I had my squares for far too long before I checked them, but if you check right from the store, return those suckers if they aren't square! Or maybe check them in the store!

[@DEG1985]

Best video on youtube thank you very much for your great effort in helping those of us who are starting out, we greatly appreciate this type of information, God bless you ...

[@TheEveryMaker]

Wow, thank you! I'm glad you are getting some good information out of my videos. Thanks for watching!

[@dekeros-recreationalwoodwo6456]

Great video! Great sound, super well edited, love the music - very high quality and great tips - this is great contet indeed! Thanks for sharing Nick!

[@TheEveryMaker]

DEKEROS.COM Thank you! I spend a lot more time behind the computer than in the shop, but I do enjoy the process and hope the content is valuable. I appreciate you watching and commenting!

[@nwrasch]

Just what I was looking for. Great video; thank you for sharing this!

[@TheEveryMaker]

So glad to hear this was helpful! It really changed my woodworking when I got all my tools accurate.

[@Nika-b1b]

love hearing the word dooblydoo while doing homework :) gonna go check up on my favorite weezywaiter and vlogbother videos when im done

[@TheEveryMaker]

Absolutely! Really enjoyed Pizzamas this year!

[@Nika-b1b]

@@TheEveryMaker a happy late pizzamas to you too!

[@JackbenchWoodworking]

You do a great job and your channel is under rated!

[@TheEveryMaker]

Thank you! I really appreciate the comment!

[@sharit7970]

Very useful content, thanks for posting!

[@TheEveryMaker]

Glad you found it useful! It certainly changed my accuracy when I started checking.

[@BruceAUlrich]

That flat lay at 0:21! How did I miss this, Nick? Great video! Enter Harbor Freight Square at 1:44. ha ha. Going to check my squares now.

[@TheEveryMaker]

Bruce A. Ulrich, Thank you! I was pretty happy with that first layout! The HF squares were by far the worst, but I was surprised how many were not square.

[@josephzammit5834]

You can actually fix the squares you threw away by loosening the allen key screw at the bottom. There are 2 pins holding the two metal pieces together as well as an allen key screw. You can loosen the allen key screw, set the square, and re-tighten the screw. This allows micro adjustments which may not be noticed untill you check again using the method you described.

[@TheEveryMaker]

I tried to fix those squares. As I recall they didn't have a screw. The small one definitely didn't, the large ones I don't think did, though that was a while ago, I may be wrong. I know I would have removed the screw and tried to adjust them, but the pins didn't allow for any adjusting, even with a dead blow mallet. If you have some that are adjustable though, that is great! I will always salvage tools if there is any chance.

[@NeillWylie]

As soon as you said Huey Lewis, I slapped Like.

[@TheEveryMaker]

The first concert I ever saw was Huey Lewis and the News. They are sooo good live. Thanks for checking out the video!

[@adamgatzemeier8566]

I bought those same squares from harbor freight. And mine were out also.

[@TheEveryMaker]

It's possible to fix them, using a file, but it just wasn't worth it. I used them for a project without checking and boy did I have a lot of problems!

[@trainwon5699]

Nice work thanks

[@TheEveryMaker]

Glad you found it useful!

[@danceswithaardvarks3284]

Good tip. Its a pity you stopped making videos, because you are good at it.

[@TheEveryMaker]

Thank you! Good news though, I just upgraded my computer and am actively working on more videos. Stick around and I'll have more soon!

[@sharit7970]

How to square a framing square 2:50 [note to self] Thanks for posting!

[@TheEveryMaker]

You are very welcome! It certainly helped me save some money on some not-so-square squares.

[@crm3480]

The squares that you decided were not 'truable' might be able to be trued with a mallet applied to the corner. The securing device may be able to be moved enough to true the square without damaging it. Worth a try.

[@TheEveryMaker]

I actually did try to find ways to square them up. The ones I ended up throwing away were so far out of square that the arms started to curve bringing them back in to square. Its always worth a try though!.

[@sifuentes4113]

👁️👄👁️ (Me when he pulled out that punch) ,"what sorcery is this?!?!!"

[@TheEveryMaker]

It's such a strange tip, but it works! It's amazing how much movement you can get and to fine tune a square!

[@SirBenJamin_]

wait what ! .. did that really work for the framing square? ... is it only for micro adjustments? of like a mm or less?

[@TheEveryMaker]

If the square is out by a lot, you can take a file to it and get it close, but using a punch actually corrected a fairly big error. It was out by a couple of mm, but now it's perfectly square.

[@northcackalacky4694]

@The Every Maker - Nick Thanks for the tip. Before I cut shelves last week, I noticed both framing squares were off. Now, I can try to tune on them!!

[@bruce-le-smith]

by bin you mean recycle bin right!? Those are some valuable base resources in those antisquares :) Great video, thank you!!

[@bruce-le-smith]

also 1st time here (from a comment you left on a pneumatic addict video) and subscribed right away!

[@TheEveryMaker]

Of course the recycle bin! Thank you for watching and subscribing! I'm hoping to get some more videos out soon!

[@manuelpanganoron4529]

Great tip... I was wondering if there is also a way to check 3d right angles... the straight edge is for 1d... perfect... the square is 2d... its also perfect... can you level up... how to know if it is twisted... or is there a tool that checks cubeness... I don't know if thats the right term... I was following that straight is for straightness and square is for squareness... I guess for cube it is cubeness... 🙄

[@TheEveryMaker]

Checking for cubeness would be an additive process. As you mentioned, you use a straight edge to check if a surface is flat and a square to check the edges are all square. Then you add winding sticks to check for twist. If you check each surface and all edges are square and all faces are flat with no twist, you know you are good to go. You can also check for twist using a straight edge, but as for an all in one tool that checks for cubeness, they don't really make those. Though I guess you could print up a 3d corner jig that you can slap on a corner to see if there are any gaps or movement, it would still be touch to design one that would allow light through if there is a very very small gap.

[@manuelpanganoron4529]

@@TheEveryMaker Thanks for the response... I guess I need a jig that is tested first for flatness and then for squareness... if there is no tool then make one... great...👍

[@TheEveryMaker]

Check out a saddle square. That's probably the closest thing I could find to do what you are looking for.

[@plaisent]

i thank you sir

[@TheEveryMaker]

You are quite welcome! I hope this helps!

[@CPBuilds]

Oh yes...we've all bought the cheap squares thinking they will get us by only throwing them out in the end. I drank the Woodpeckers kool-aid and have been happy since. I do like the metal punch straightening technique...hey it works.

[@TheEveryMaker]

I've been wanting to invest in some better quality stuff, but for the time being, I'll have to make do with what I have.

[@CPBuilds]

The Every Maker - Nick nothing wrong with that.

[@dannyboy7299]

Or just mark two parallel lines using the same square and measure the distance between them at two different points

[@TheEveryMaker]

As long as you flip the square when you make the lines, you can see the deviation.

[@drewjohnson4673]

You bought a four pack of squares at harbor freight and “thought they would be square”?

[@TheEveryMaker]

I have actually had some reasonably good quality stuff come from HF, though I was surprised just how bad the squares were. Most squares you can adjust somewhat to get them into alignment, but in this case, not so much.

[@expression3639]

How would you square a machinist square?

[@TheEveryMaker]

A machinist square is a little more complicated to square as there is no easy way to move the metal like a framing square. In that case, your best bet is to file down the edges carefully. You want to make sure you have a straight square file and do both inside and outside to make sure it's parallel. It's a lot of work, but can be done.

[@claudioscola]

OMG! I can actually fix my framing square?!?!

[@TheEveryMaker]

It worked on mine, give it a shot! It makes such a difference!

[@claudioscola]

I used a big nail but no change.

[@TheEveryMaker]

@@claudioscola is it a steel square? Mine is aluminum which was pretty easy to move.

[@jordan_ushaw3346]

k dog approves

[@TheEveryMaker]

So glad for the approval! Thank you for watching!

[@davidrule1335]

Who says the edge or the wood is straight?

[@TheEveryMaker]

That is something that needs to be checked. Fortunately, I have a video on how to check a straight edge!

[@GNU_Linux_for_good]

If it's out of square - I want my money back. And if it's out from an expensive brand name I'll be mad as hell.

[@TheEveryMaker]

I can't blame you there! Though there are occasions when they are out of square from being dropped, so it's always good to know how to fix them. I've been surprised to find how often they need to be tweaked though.

[@GNU_Linux_for_good]

@@TheEveryMaker *yepp* .

[@neelhalli]

A square that is not square! Wtf

[@TheEveryMaker]

You'd be surprised how many squares are not square. I've checked them from Harbor Freight, but also from places like Lowes, Home Depot and many other places. In some cases, they are good enough, often the case in construction. But when doing fine furniture or detail projects, it those small discrepancies really make a difference.