How to Use a Speed Square to Mark Angles, Rafters, Slope

How to use the speed square as a saw guide and to scribe parallel lines. How to use a speed square to find angles and for rafter layout. How to cut angles. What are the slope and the common rafter pitches? How to find all of it using the most important tool for carpentry layout.
Good resources: www.amazon.com... (paid link)

[@seaknightvirchow8131]

Even though I took trig and calculus decades ago, I recently decided to build a new shop. I am a retired physician. My roof pitch is 10/12 or 40 degrees so I thought my rakes and shingles would be cut on the gable end at 40 but no, Wrong! It was 50 degrees which puzzled me a bit but your demonstration clearly shows why I needed the complement of 40. Thanks for such a lucid presentation.

[@ColfaxMath]

Thank you, glad it helped

[@ronaldmoore2336]

How come I didn't have a math teacher like you when I was in school I might have learned something. Many thanks and a great demo!

[@ColfaxMath]

Thank you

[@tommymartin2551]

Yes I wish we would have had a math teacher like you. You make it interesting. And fun. May God continue to bless you.

[@janicelira4355]

You’ve made more sense in a short amount of time than all those years of math. Plus, learned how to properly use a speed square. Thank you

[@ColfaxMath]

Glad it helped

[@Ceebrze3]

Nice demo of the multiple uses of a speed square Mr. S! I love how you show how you use math in the adult world.

[@ColfaxMath]

Thank you

[@johnniestinson8956]

Wow, I learned a lot in this 10min video. I have had a speed square for years and only used it for making straight cut lines. You are a great teacher thanks.

[@ColfaxMath]

Glad to hear it, thank you

[@jamesbekurs4683]

Thank you for such an informative and interesting tutorial. If only I had math/shop teachers like you growing up!

[@ColfaxMath]

Kind words thank you

[@chadwickpainter8212]

Well done. Thank you for the straight forward intro to the speed square. I have used one of these for a long time but only for 90's and 45's but now I'm building stuff that requires me to know angles and I knew the speed square and t-bevel guage we're going to be the necessary tools to master. Thank you for starting me down the road with a common sense approach in clear wording.

[@ColfaxMath]

Great to hear

[@raymondzwolinski1271]

What an EXCELLENT tutorial. Thank you sir for your speed square math clarity!

[@ColfaxMath]

Thank you

[@AceKing8906]

Good basic explanation of a speed square. I own the same ones because of the white writing on the black background. So much easier to see than the basic aluminum ones that I used to use.

[@ColfaxMath]

Funny how much of a difference the writing makes, I have made many a mistake on the aluminum ones by misreading the numbers.

[@Cudagirl1970]

Great demo and explanation. I just bought this speed square and I am taking a pre-apprenticeship program at the local junior college. It's been a very long time since I took a math class...I like your style of teaching. Thank you!

[@ColfaxMath]

Good to hear, great time to get into a trade

[@jasonrican5737]

Your way of teaching is great I wish I had wood shop in my school but I have to make do with what I have and your videos, makes me feel better for what I need to know.

[@ColfaxMath]

Good to hear, thank you

[@steenjimmy833]

Good stuff! Thanks! Harbor Freight directed me here.

[@ColfaxMath]

Glad to hear it was informative

[@sprintervan6902]

Awesome. Answered so many question in a short video is great. Thanks

[@ColfaxMath]

Glad it was helpful!

[@moesanrath]

i always sucked at math couldn't get fractions or above dont know why i just never could. Which sucks as i like the smell of fresh cut wood and would love to be able to build awesome an neat looking things be it tables, chairs, book shelfs, cabinets or even be able to build my own house/workshop/shed. i'll be sure to add this vid to my favs so that i can watch it again from time to time an maybe with enough watchings the knowledge you have shared will finally sink into this dang gum head of mine.

[@ColfaxMath]

You can build all those things, start small and build from there, bringing in a little more math or measurement each time.

[@jamesconnors5653]

Very concise, useful instruction.

[@ColfaxMath]

Glad to hear it

[@DougPABowhunter]

Thanks for your video😊

[@ColfaxMath]

Thank you

[@hiquest7273]

Very good sir. Thank you. From kenya

[@ColfaxMath]

Thank you

[@adrianjohnson8527]

Incredibly informative and fascinating! Thanks!

[@ColfaxMath]

Thank you

[@laynelommen9460]

Great video.

[@ColfaxMath]

Thank you

[@jpramos5959]

I'll watch it again until I master it.

[@ColfaxMath]

Great!

[@rmbuser]

Thanks so much!!! Great explanation and thank you!!!

[@ColfaxMath]

Good to hear

[@godfreyrasugu1826]

Easy to understand, it really complicated Me from others

[@ColfaxMath]

Glad to hear it helped

[@mindtekzone]

Thanks for the lesson!

[@ColfaxMath]

Thanks for watching

[@christophernewell3660]

Great explanation

[@ColfaxMath]

Thank you

[@ronalddean2632]

Amazing. I learned a ton

[@ColfaxMath]

Great to hear

[@chuxxsss]

Thanks for your time doing this information. I know a little bit more than I new before. I am trying to work out the pitch on the gable in my shed.

[@ColfaxMath]

Thank you

[@donluedetmoonsone9573]

Thank you sir

[@ColfaxMath]

Thank you for watching

[@annamariewitthohn]

This was helpful and wholesome 💞

[@ColfaxMath]

Glad to hear it

[@tedfritsch3340]

Why weren't you my Geometry teacher in 1966? I would have done a lot better than a D. Thanks for you work bud

[@ColfaxMath]

Kind words, thank you

[@thebordernow]

"Why weren't you my Geometry teacher in 1966?" Probably because he was in kindergarten or not even born at that time! ;-D

[@thebordernow]

Very informative! Thanks. I did notice that at 8:13 you said "1 1/2 over 12" when you meant "over 6".... I had to replay it a couple of times to make sure I wasn't hearing things. (BTW, you're liable to pick up a boatload more views because your video is linked to in a sales promotional email Harbor Freight just sent out. That's what brought me here.)

[@ColfaxMath]

Sorry, I'll try and articulate better in the future. Good to hear HF is using the video. I love their tools

[@susi19611]

Thanks!

[@ColfaxMath]

Thank you

[@elsplace896]

Thank you, I need to put cross braces on the legs of my small catio. They need 45 degree angles.

[@ColfaxMath]

Hope this helped

[@sterlingnorins9236]

The speed square is the Leatherman of carpentry but question is can you determine rise/run, pitch, slope when you only have access to the bottom of the beam? How do you make the calculation without being able to bring the edge of the beam to the SS blade?

[@ColfaxMath]

Yes it is

[@izzyc.4746]

Just subscribed love the videos

[@ColfaxMath]

Great to hear thank you

[@ivandrimal5783]

If you teach others how to work with an angle, try turning the angle once when cutting according to a 90-degree angle, so that the saw goes along the longer side of the angle right at the beginning. The cut will be much more accurate.

[@ColfaxMath]

Good advice thank you

[@rhythmpants]

Thanks so much.

[@ColfaxMath]

Thank you

[@ramjagoo1764]

Great thanks. Frank

[@ColfaxMath]

Very welcome

[@bennyrosado5402]

Awesome 👏 thanks

[@MrWhitelightning73]

Outstanding

[@ColfaxMath]

Thank you

[@JorgeHernandez-ib1px]

What is the difference between angle and pitch and when to use it. I want to build a 2/12 gable awning. Thanks!

[@ColfaxMath]

Angle is between 0 and 90, used in math and design. Pitch is only used in construction and architect it is slop, rise over run and the denominator is 12. If you had a 12 in 12 pitch that would translate to 45 degrees

[@JorgeHernandez-ib1px]

Thanks for the response and great info!!!

[@michaelleftwich8186]

Mine isn't quite like yours with all of the extra numbers and more modern things.

[@ColfaxMath]

Depends what you are using it for, has about ten separate functions

[@PhatVan]

Thanks for sharing ! this best practice!!! Can you introduction product Links on Amazon for this rule product ? Thank you so much

[@ColfaxMath]

Yes I can: amzn.to/3KdEHpL

[@chrissmith-lp8zc]

I couldn’t help but notice your KZbin name. Are you located in Colfax, CA?

[@ColfaxMath]

Yep

[@bkcinc1]

How do I find a 135 degree angle with speed square

[@ColfaxMath]

Mark the 45 degree angle on the opposite side it's supplement (two angles that add to 180) will be the 135 angle. Hope that makes sense

[@hossainkarbassi3440]

👌👌👌👌👌

[@ColfaxMath]

Thank you

[@leemoore9527]

🙌

[@ColfaxMath]

Thank you

[@rossanctuary5238]

Ok show us a combination square

[@ColfaxMath]

Ok, I'll put a video together on it in a little while

[@michaelleftwich8186]

I'm afraid my square is nothing like yours. It was made by Swanson Tool Co. Inc. Frankfort, IL. in 1987.

[@ColfaxMath]

Swanson's makes the best measurement tools

[@UpcomingJedi]

If its harbor freight, its NOT a Speed Square ™. Speed Square is a trademark name like Kleenex or Levi's or Crocs. Blue jeans are not necessarily Levi's if theyre made in China or a country ending in 'Stan'. A triangle ruler is not a Speed Square ™ if not made by the company of the inventor or a licensed manufacturer.

[@ColfaxMath]

Ok

[@Vannata2023]

I wish to know math 😞

[@ColfaxMath]

Study and it will come

[@UpcomingJedi]

I bet you used it once and all the numbers wiped off and you had to throw it away and buy another. Not to mention that its not square to itself.

[@ColfaxMath]

Ok

[@bobkilmer631]

Nice demo of the multiple uses of a speed square Mr. S! I love how you show how you use math in the adult world.

[@ColfaxMath]

Thanks Bob, Great tool wants you learn how to use it.

[@sOsHuLMeAtTyAaAhAhA]

Thanks!

[@ColfaxMath]

Thank you