Revealing the Secret Behind the Best Multi-Tool in the Shop! - The Swanson Speed Square

[@tpaulsmith7194]

One additional use for the speed square. It can be used to perforate your truck seat when you forget and leave it in your back pocket. Thanks, Brian.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

Haha! I love it Paul, too funny! Thanks for watching as always Paul!

[@henryskinner1092]

LOL, been there, done that. 😂

[@garyoa1]

Not entirely true. Also works quite well on car seats.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

@@garyoa1 Lol!

[@ctfleming85]

Great video on something we all use daily!

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

Thanks so much Scratch! I appreciate it! :)

[@patcross5799]

I love my Swanson, I've got a few others, but my 7" Swanson is my favorite, and my bigger one is my second favorite.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

Soooo true. Makes me wonder why I spent so much damn money on those woodpeckers. If it aint broke don't fix it. Excellent square and still used in my shop today! In fact used it yesterday!

[@patcross5799]

@@FlynndoggWoodwork I used both, Sunday and Monday.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

@@patcross5799 that’s awesome Pat! Truly a timeless tool!

[@mikec2810]

Some of these uses I knew but there were a few I didn't! Thanks Bryan!

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

Glad to hear that Mike! A couple of them were new for me as well! :) Thanks for watching!

[@latelearner3707]

Great video mate very clear

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

Thanks so much latelearner! I appreciate you watching!

[@tektrixter]

Please do a similar video on the combination square!

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

Great ide TekTrixter! I will put that on my list! :) Thanks for watching!

[@lexieandpapa]

Well done, thank you. I'm one year into woodworking and have a SSS, but only used it to check out something being square. I was curious of the other things I saw. Now I know more and how to use it. Thanks again.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

My pleaseure Lexieandpapa! Keep on trying new things, woodworking has been a true gift to me! :).

[@johnisley4578]

Great Work!

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

Thanks so much John! I appreciate it!

[@a9ball1]

Thanks for the video. I didn't know about using it as a level. I agree with the other folks, you need some heating there. Also one about the combination square would be interesting. Hope spring is sprung over there fairly soon.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

Thanks so much A 9Ball! Sounds like there is some interest in the combination square! Hoping to get my barn climate controlled this year! Thanks for watching! :)

[@a9ball1]

@@FlynndoggWoodwork not sure about the dust situation but a heat pump would keep you warm in the winter and cool in the summer.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

@@a9ball1 Great point! I first need to insulate it first though, right now its just wrapped in sheet metal! :(

[@commentsonthetube14]

I haven't used a tarp much, but the times when I did, it worked great.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

Last time I used a tarp, it was to lay mulch down! :) thanks for watching!

[@commentsonthetube14]

@@FlynndoggWoodwork man, somehow I commented on the wrong video 😂 I think I had this one and one from a hiking channel about setting up a tarp for camping in a queue. I learned some cool stuff from your video too though!

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

@@commentsonthetube14 haha! I just assumed you were a robot! 😂. Thanks for watching!

[@themeat5053]

I would've thought. Also, I'm glad someone should you the best way to hold the square when using it as a "fence." My goodness, you're becoming my old shop teacher. Thanks, dogg.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

Haha! I think that’s the first time I’ve ever been compared to a shop teacher. Side note, I heard they have taken shop out of school curriculums these days…. What a shame.

[@themeat5053]

@@FlynndoggWoodwork Round here, you can only get it in a VoTech. Nothing good will come from that.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

@@themeat5053 yeah that's sad. That was the first time I was exposed to all the tools I use today. I think it was 7th grade... bummer.

[@Ted_James]

Wow! So many uses for speed squares that I had no idea about. Thanks for putting them all together. I've never had the confidence to use one as a straightedge for a circular saw. I've used it to find the approximate center of a piece of wood by drawing crisscrossing (intersecting) 45-degree lines on it. Where the lines intersect is the center. I guess that would be useful if you needed to cut a 2x4 in half lengthwise.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

I'm glad you liked it Ted! I agree with you! I would not rely on the precision right out of the box with a speed square if you are doing intricate work like making some furniture or something like that. That is unless you have confirmed the measurements at 90/45, etc. But for rough work it's amazing. I used it as my only measuring tool to build my chicken coop and it turned out great!

[@TheJoncatlin]

When making a common cut for the ridge of a rafter, You can flip the square over and (after marking your angle) line up the edge of you square and mark 90 degrees from that line to creat a "long" cut for the end of the rafter that lands on the wall.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

Thanks so much for sharing Jonny! Really appreciate that. Love your explanation! Thanks for watching!

[@TheJoncatlin]

@@FlynndoggWoodwork thank you, I didn't think it was a very good explanation, kind of hard to explain it without seeing it but if you look at the diagram in the video showing the rafter cut at the ridge you can see that it is a 90-degree to the long cut on the wall.

[@unclejim2048]

Brian, another good U-tube video. Based on the comments already posted, this is going to help a lot of people. However, do a little more research on the diamond cutout on a Swanson Speed Square. It is used to create the "bird's mouth" at the wall-plate end of a rafter. I'm not going to try to explain in text without the ability to do graphics, but you can find several explanations on the U-tube. I think the diamond is still under a Swanson patent. Other speed squares use a line in place of the patented diamond to do the same thing. Someone commented about the direction to hold the speed square when using it as a saw guide, There's controversy as to which way is best. If you place the lip away from you, you can get a little more space on the edge of the square to help line up the cut -- provided your board is not as wide as the speed square. On the other hand, placing the square's lip on the front side helps keep the square pushed against the board you are cutting. There is more of a tendency to push the square away from the board (and hence out of square) with the friction of the saw against the speed square when the lip is away from you. Only a slight movement and you are no longer perpendicular to the board. Keep up the good work.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

Thank you so much Jim for sharing this! I agree! After reading your comment I did some more research and I appreciate you bringing this information forward. I also noticed that it looks like some people use the diamond to cut out stairs! I love your feedback and thank you for sharing. Comments like yours are exactly why I wanted to do this channel, for everyone to learn including myself! Thanks so much for sharing! :)

[@RICHat22]

I love speed squares. Especially Swanson. There is no better. I bought a couple Milwaukees to try, but I did not like the sharp edges.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

I agree! It’s a classic! Thanks for watching Brian! :)

[@btd2516]

Where do you live that it is still cold? Spring started yesterday, you should be in shorts and a Hawaiian shirt! Will be in the 80s here Thur. and Fri.- N. Carolina LOL

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

Haha! I’m just north of Indianapolis. It’s supposed to get to mid sixties tomorrow after being highs in the 20s all week. Just can’t make up it’s mind! Thanks for watching melandterryshu!

[@melandterryshu]

Man, Brian, when are you going to get some heat in your shop? I feel sorry for you with the frost coming out of your mouth and your red nose. Great video. I've had a Swanson for years and wouldn't give it up for anything.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

Haha! It wouldn’t be so bad if I could have my salamander heater going on while filming. The darn thing is just too loud! It will be warm soon… then too warm! :)

[@philblakely]

... that was 24 degrees.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

You are correct. I put a note on the video saying that as well! You got a good eye! Thanks for watching!

[@Griffinwoodworks]

My 20 year old daughter and I just had a conversation about my speed squares. She asked what this triangle thing was. I said it’s a square. But daddy it’s a triangle. That triangle is called a square. But that’s stupid. It’s not square…. 😂

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

Haha! too funny! I can totally see myself having that same conversation with my boys in the future. Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching Mr Griffin! :)

[@Griffinwoodworks]

@@FlynndoggWoodwork I mean she wasn’t wrong. 😂

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

@@Griffinwoodworks quite the contrary! She was right as rain!

[@nhat-ld8bq]

A sharpie????

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

Thanks for watching!

[@patbeatty7116]

Don't want to be picky, but your 26 degrees looked more like 24 degrees to me.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

Yep, there was a note on the video explaining that. Thanks for watching!

[@patbeatty7116]

@@FlynndoggWoodwork I realized that when I read all of the comments. I have enjoyed viewing your videos and I found this one most helpful, never going to put up a roof, but the rest of the tips will be very helpful when I do flat board work, I'm a turner but watch non-turning videos for tips&tricks. Thank you for the response.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

OMG I am jealous! I soooo want to learn how to turn. The lathe is something that is definitely on my wish list. I'm struggling with spending too much money on one and afraid I wont use it. But I'm also struggling with buying one that I will outgrow quickly if I fall in love with it!

[@patbeatty7116]

@@FlynndoggWoodwork Not sure where you live, but I’m sure that there is a Woodturning group close to you. Take the time to go to their meetings and talk to them. Turners are always ready to give tips and advice and are very eager to teach newbie turners. Someone might even have a lathe they are thinking of selling so they can upgrade to a new lathe. They will be more than willing to give advice on lathes and help you make a choice in your first lathe. Good luck and if it works out have fun making square things round.

[@FlynndoggWoodwork]

@@patbeatty7116 what a great idea! I'll have to look around see what is available! I'm actually from Noblesville, Indiana (which is just northeast of Indianapolis) Thanks for the great advice!