Speed Square Hack for Every Welder

[@Welddotcom]

Christmas is coming! Head over to store.weld.com for Weld.com merch.

[@lucyslego6532]

You guys going to do any Black Friday deals?

[@chunkyharper9467]

Those are the best gloves for fabbing anything before wielding or torching

[@1coolbullitt]

Weld.com What make and model saw are you using to cut the square in the video?

[@Wild_Bill57]

I love your videos, but you need more merch in your store. Want to support you guys, but you need more tools, clothing and stuff.

[@Welddotcom]

@@Wild_Bill57 We're working on building it out.

[@jedediahbc]

I modified my speed square like this when I got out of welding school in the year 1974. Today I'm still using the same speed square in my ornamental iron business today.

[@alaskanken2132]

I lent out my 20 year old speed square to a buddy for 2 minutes and he used it as a guide for his sawzall and he removed around 1/16 of the metal. I wanted to punch him in the face.

[@joserangel4195]

I had a small scredriver set in the original package for years, i cut a slit on the plastic to where it would slide back in and put once id use it. My wife needed it once for her glasses and tore it open... It made me soo mad, she didnt do it intentionally buy it sure did tick me off!!

[@chaser4251]

i highly doubt that square is still "square"

[@cecilgamble9666]

@@alaskanken2132 which is why I don't loan my tools... Friend or not... And absolutely never let ANYONE borrow my pocket knife to cut anything... I do it for them... Learned that the hard way... After a friend snapped a blade on a 35 year old case given by my grandpa when was 10...

[@tumeh7410]

@@alaskanken2132 i guess your buddy got a new square and u too?

[@mikemontano86]

The soapstone tip alone is worth a 👍

[@toastrecon]

Yeah. Man, that's genius.

[@CTathletics]

You can use bar soap as well

[@YeeeeeHaaaaa]

Soapstone has natural talc in it and we used it in the plants and refineries when we get chafed from sweat in summertime. Old school rig welder showed me that trick. Run soapstone over a file and make you a nice pile of talc and head off to the portacan and take care of business. Lol, Hey it works when your in a bind and having to walk like a duck from being chafed. You do what you gotta do. I used to be an Industrial Ironworker /Fabricator for 25 years so this came in handy if I ran out of baby powder in my toolbox. 😊👍

[@machinistmikethetinkerer4827]

Also use soapstone after you file card and clean a file. Keeps it dressed, sharp and helps when you're filing and also helps keep rust at bay. The ol man was a machinist taught me that. I've been using that 40+ years.

[@DeliriantPsychosis1442]

@@YeeeeeHaaaaa awesome tip. thanks man

[@aron6109]

I learned the exact same thing from a colleague at work, dude is 56 I'm 21, knowledge is being passed on🙏🏻

[@amanwithouthope9475]

That was cringe

[@BlankityBlank]

I've worked in a weld shop for 8 years now, and this hack was introduced to me pretty early. Still one of my favorites. This video showed me even more than I already knew. Thanks!! 🤙🏼

[@motor2of7]

Had the same problem. Found a 4” framing square at Home Depot. Perfect

[@davidzedner4286]

They should actually manufacture speed squares like this (I know you mentioned that at the end). It’s an amazing idea! Thank you for sharing the video!!!

[@codyolmstead4907]

carpenter for 15 years, just tried out welding for one day. welding is awesome!!!!!!!!!!!!! I definitely have a new appreciation for the trade, my welds looked like shit! thanks for the tips.

[@davidchambers3218]

It's easier to just clip the corners off the square. Then you can also put it in a 90 degree corner that already has a weld bead.

[@garnerday7149]

Exactly.

[@Wild_Bill57]

I know that I have heard that suggestion before. It certainly was the first mod that came to mind.

[@fultzfabs2363]

I’ve clipped the corner for years and like it for most of the layout I do. I do think I might make a small one though from a spare laying around.

[@luisvaldovinos3340]

Milwaukee has a 4.5 inch speed square

[@lucyslego6532]

Who TF gives this a 👎?? Absolutely killing it with these tool hack vids Red 💯

[@Welddotcom]

Can't please everyone I guess. Thanks for the support 🍻

[@stanwooddave9758]

I thought you were kidding, had to look, yep the troll's are every where. This is some great tip's. For those who may not want to cut up their square's, another way to make a layout tool, is if you have access to say two / three inch angle (steel or aluminum) radius the outside edge so it will fit into the inside radius. If you want, use your new tool to mark (Top & one side of your choosing) say the outside of some square tubing. Just a thought from some fat old guy welder. Any time you learn something new, it just makes your job that much easier. Thanks for sharing. Semper Fi and Ooh Ra Marine. Also thank you for your service to this country.

[@danl.4743]

@@Welddotcom Almost ALL videos on KZbin have 3% thumbs down. Look around and see for yourself. This video now has 17 down and 1.5k up. 45 down would make this a good video. You have 1% down. That's an extremely high vote ratio. You're doing 3 times better than the average on the high votes. :)

[@UpcomingJedi]

Someone who is butthurt that he cut the tool and ruined it. Little do they know that they cost $4 or so and you can buy more than one for using it when you need the angle portion.

[@Raven-qj9gv]

Trolls

[@billrogers1122]

Been fitting & welding 35 years and did that to mine years ago. Have 4 speed squares modified for different applications used on common layouts. Still a good tip for younger workers. Also made an adjustable beam gauge for repetitive layout.

[@KevinPolin]

Ive just started welding thanks to Harbor freight tools cheap welders it's a fun hobby.

[@atomicblitzr]

You can almost hear the machinists having heart attacks.

[@CleaveMountaineering]

You could hand file that to a few thousandths precision, that would be as accurate as the rest of the tool.

[@SkaterStimm]

If you are using chalk to make your mark you don't care that much about precision.

[@paulwaters607]

@@SkaterStimm Yeah, okay.

[@denyspoyner4150]

LMAO, I was a machinist before I became a welder. Both skills have served me well.

[@jeremyleagon3984]

@@SkaterStimm every fab shop in America uses soapstone! You obviously ain't a fabricator!

[@T12J7]

00:18 I never though my phone would be broken, I though you broke dude.

[@ransomjohnston8437]

Today I took my first weld test and I passed it. 6G 6 inch sched 80 bend test. 6010 root 7018 out. Guys at work taught me a ton over the last couple months but man this channel and Weld Tube have helped so much just with visualizing how to do everything and do it right. Huge thanks to you guys for doing what you do. It really does help!

[@KevinPolin]

Why do you need weld school when you can get the same knowledge for free on the internet.

[@jake-mv5oi]

Funny how right After this came out, Milwaukee released their "trim square"

[@Mikey-ym6ok]

They made their Trim square wayyy before this video came out

[@allenmckinney9533]

Bet it doesn't cost the same as a harbor freight $5 square.

[@AlexanderSchrepfer]

I think they contracted Empire for their squares.

[@shaneintegra]

@@allenmckinney9533 just picked one up today for $10. Not bad with their lifetime warranty and being made in America

[@marcotte6608]

Lol they've been around for decades. Never seen anyone cut down a perfectly good square lol..... just cope the corner for the web

[@tedmattingly7564]

I modified mine similarly many years ago for the corner clearance but didn't trim off the first bit you did. I never really had a problem with I beams, but even though I'm retired now I'm still welding in my home shop, I think I'll modify my square like that too. Couldn't hurt and I have several squares now that all of my tools are home. Cheers

[@shinersunlimited6123]

Thanks for the video! Most seasoned fabricators have custom made tools like this, because they like precision. Others may be a little sloppy, inexperienced or just don’t take much pride in their work. This tool serves one purpose, but it serves well! Awesome video, thanks!

[@Freakingstang]

Can’t believe I’ve never seen anyone post this before. Did this in the late 90’s while welding 8” channel and I beam on heavy equipment while working at a manufacturing facility. Learned the same soapstone file trick from the machinists there. I even went as far as adding 45*, 15* and 30* lines through the center since you lose them once chopping off the outer edge. The rounded radius worked wonders. Thank you for trying to Inform younger ones getting into the field.

[@chrisinkansas1362]

Been in steel fabrication for a long time and I had an ol' boy show me this when I started. Thanks for putting this video out there bub! Makes I-beam layout a breeze.

[@gsh319]

Great stuff madman. I go through squares like it's nobody's business because I've found more uses for them than they're intended for. Probably one of the most versatile tools on my belt. A simple 8 dollar square with dozens of uses. I save every one of them and I don't think twice about drilling, cutting or raking them in a modification, which is what your doing here. I apply that thinking to every tool I've got on the trailer. There's nothing better than bitching up a tool for an expanded use and purpose. I take time and try to get the mod's perfect. Thanks for all you've taught us out here, ...chalk in the file, great stuff.

[@lmj420]

I've always done a mod to the foot of my speed square to fit to a welded joint, but never thought of modding the foot corners. Thanks for the tip/idea!!!

[@tomt9543]

That’s a great idea in itself! And these speed squares are so cheap it makes sense to mod several for different purposes! Swanson has started making them in a 4” model, available at lowes!

[@Freetheworldnow]

Thanks for sharing these exellent tips! So usefull to any welder/fabricator!

[@captainchaos3053]

A speed square does not conform to the correct engineering standards for steel fabrication or any other sort of engineering in metal. The accuracy is good enough for timber framing due to the nature of the timber.

[@All-things-shitbox]

I’ve always used my file to sharpen my soapstone lol never knew I was actually helping myself out in the long run

[@richardsolomon8076]

:-) great video Jason, I just purchased a new Ali speed sqr yesterday, I'm thinking I'll radios the new one and shorten the old one, very timely video, great job team.

[@theLeadGin]

Milwaukee makes a 4 1/2" square

[@sealedsecure3754]

Milwaukee is the best

[@erichodges2585]

I have been doing this type of work for almost 16 years now. This trick is something that I had learned my first year in the business. To this day, I still encounter poeple who don't know about this.🤯

[@richardsmyth4908]

Ha ha or how to correctly spell people

[@atowns3364]

We just use a piece of sheet metal and put a couple 45 degree bends in it to contact the flange. You can mark layout for clips. You can keep all different sizes under your table for the next job and keep your tools nice.

[@David-pf8no]

I was looking for this comment. Im a structural fitter and that is my tool of choice for laying out on the web of the beam. I used to run a press brake so I made a few different size beam boards for myself when I was on my way out of that line of work. Grab a piece of 'heavy sheet metal' preferably between 14 and 10 gauge, cut it about 6" wide and 7" long. Make one bend 1" from the end, and flip the part to add a reverse bend 1" from that one (keeping your 6" width). You can do as the OP suggested and bend them at 45° but I've gone with 90° on all of mine. If you need a bigger one, just add however many inches to your overall length and bend it the same way. I have ones that are 5, 8, 10, and 14" in length. It's also a good idea to make them wider as they get longer. The nice thing about a beam board is you can go to the end of the beam and measure down off the top of the flange and mark the beam board for hole/clip heights and then as you lay out your lines square to the flange, you can also mark the depth for whatever you are fitting. It's a big time saver being able to do that all in one and it's one of the more accurate ways to do it.

[@atowns3364]

@@David-pf8no yeah bro. It seems like these awesome tricks are not being passed on. Or more accurately not being learned. Crazy that we're the only two that know about it out of all these people. Kinda sad really

[@chimerawarren459]

Been a welder/ fabricator 4 / 40 years thank you for showing me that

[@Gwhips05]

That’s a great idea have never used speed square on inside of the beam. Rounding the edge makes sense. I have always used a beam board which is usually a stair pan cut out to desired length. Thanx guys

[@bbarker5766]

As a machinist I've used good ole' white chalk for a long time. I did it to a file at shop when I started a few years ago and several of the others asked what I was doing. Surprised me that they had never heard of it. Well now they do it to when using a file on softer metals. Great tips with the square and the soapstone/chalk!!

[@alarenzo420]

Been doing this for over 15 years. Great little tip. 👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻🤘🏻👨🏻‍🏭

[@majorpeck]

Thanks guys! I watched this video last week and did it to one of my squares at work and now a couple of coworkers are looking to do the same. I am also looking at doing it to one of my 1ft squares

[@darrylshearrer590]

Excellent Speed Square Hack. I'll be Making one up in the A.M. Good Job

[@tomt9543]

This is a great video, but as an update, Swanson has started producing a 4” model available at Lowes! I’d rate this as one of the best welding videos. On YT!

[@tonytully4943]

Very cool. I don't think that it was overkill at all. It's a layout tool. Why wouldn't someone take them time to make it right

[@turboflush]

No different than modifying a wrench to fit a situation.

[@zalezluciano2899]

Just got hired by ironworkers today this is a great trick I wouldn't have thought of it. Will do right away and thanks 👍

[@robertbrown5104]

I use a beam board. It’s just a square gage plate with a 90 degree bend down one inch in from the edge and a 90 degree bend up one inch from that. The bends fit perfectly over the fillet of the beam and the plate is perfect for writing on to mark out your common measurements. I have made them to be used in 3 different sizes of beam. 6”, 8”,&12”. If I need to they can be flipped to be used on the top and bottom of the beams web so the 12” can be use to cover 24”. Very quick and easy to make and best of all free

[@drive42]

I use a speed square with my Powermax 45 as a straight edge. Instead of rounding off the corners of the flat side in a convex shape, I concave notched the corners out so the tip of the plasma cutter will just miss the flat edge. I can now run along the entire edge of the square with no interference. This makes it easy to to angle cuts as well as 90 degree cuts.

[@diehard1340]

Also not sure if it's mentioned but I learned on the job fitting and welding pipe we used 1 ft and 2 ft framing squares for squaring butt welds socket welds slip joints whatever, cut off a little bit of the outside corner of the framing square just nip off a small 45° piece on each square just like the I beam pipe doesn't have a sqaured 90° angle and makes it much easier to use

[@geofflewis4815]

Hello Jason, your setting out of the Stool was brilliant, I am not a professional welder, I am a Joiner but like working in metal. Your tips are excellent e.g. the Third Hand tools, videos are allways interesting, please keep them coming. Best wishes, Geoff Lewis, Wales, UK and 🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿🏴󠁧󠁢󠁷󠁬󠁳󠁿

[@21gioni]

I was taught as an Apprentice to use a block square in an I-Beam. Using your engineering chalk on a file prevents the file from clogging up.

[@scummy73dude64]

I didn’t bother rounding it. Just a small mitre . The soap/chalk tip was super handy 👍👍

[@juanmacias3966]

Milwaukee just came out with a. 4 1/2 speed works great

[@bludog4657]

These videos have helped me grow in knowledge SO much, can't thank you all enough. God bless your 2021

[@carpediemarts705]

Twenty speedsquare vids in a row, This struck me as the most important.

[@TheNorthernEarly]

You speak well and have good ideas. Random search is how I found you. I’m a carpenter and have always wanted to have just a bit different of the speed square. Off to the shop I go. Thanks 👍

[@willieshelton4284]

Dude.... Thats awesome! Even after my 12 years of welding, and an old timer as my mentor, ive never seen that. Thats nifty, and im gonna make one. Lol. Thats man, i appreciate it! Anymore tricks up your sleeve?!

[@adamwaller1528]

One piece of square sheet metal in a break with a 1" x 1" 90 degree bend. A beam square to reach over the corners. Easy and simple.

[@hrdcoreme]

Hell yeah I was shown this trick so many years ago when I was an apprentice Millwrigh starting out, an old Milleright showed me too. Works great

[@coddogg81]

Thanks brother. I've been using speed squares for years and years but never radiused one. Think I might. Dont mess with I beams much but I'm sure it won't hurt.

[@L.S.T.N.Y]

Nice to see other welders giving tips to the ones out there and the ones thinking about getting into this field respect from new york local 46

[@dallinhmic]

Did this a year so back and I love it. Works really great for woodworking too.

[@outdoorzone]

This hack will work for marking angle iron and c channel as well due to the small inside radius. Thx for sharing!!!

[@motoxjim929]

1st😁 you totally got me on that pause I checked my wifi.🤣🤣 great tip on the square👍

[@vinnybro13]

Great video brother. Ive never thought to modify the speed square. I just would take extra time to get my measurements as exact and precise as possible. Nice hack.

[@7891ph]

For the welders who would think that machinists would have a heart attack over these mods, remember this: you're modifying a framing carpenter's tool. Now, if you start with an accurate one, and actually pay attention to the details listed, you'll most likely finish up with a handy tool. Just follow the instructions to the letter, otherwise you're just scrapping out a good tool and wasting your money.

[@conantdog]

That's what I'm going to do with 6" extra swawson souare 👍 I'm a carpenter for work ,but I'm always welding up attachments for my tractor . Wicked good tool mod thanks ⚒️

[@Theopheus]

I don't work with i-beams too much, but one of the modifications I made was I took about 1/4" notch out of the pivot corner. This allows me to square up items pretty good that have a weld in the corner joint. If you did this I'm not sure you'd have to bevel it like that and it would work for yet another function as well..

[@MakeEverything]

Great tips! I know what I’m doing next time I’m in the shop!

[@Welddotcom]

No better way to spend Thanksgiving 😂

[@ifell3]

These hacks/tips are great information!!

[@wickednine2886]

Old school, that was cool 😎 but I once worked with a old man like I am now he had his speed Square done exactly like that. I sometimes thought he wrote the book on fitting, he was good like you are my big friend.

[@MasterDreadnought89]

Finally a video where someone knows how yo use a single cut file. 🙌

[@grumpyone5963]

Nice, that fit good in the beam. I’ve made several MDF templates for various beam sizes that sit against the web when pressed against the bottom of the beam in order to mark hole centres for bolting a pair together. It helps that I have a vertical bandsaw in my workshop. I can hold a standard square to it and mark all 3 inside faces in one hit if I need to. Keep up the good work. 👍

[@transmitterguy478]

Great idea, I got 10 of those so I will modify 2 of them. Thanks!

[@amrmegahed4309]

I like this idea It is very handy ..I will modify my speed square..thanks

[@maxscott3349]

Three things: 1. That's not a speed square. It's a triangle. 2. That's what a beam square is for. 3. Cool to see that someone still knows how to use a file.

[@stuart1001]

Oh do beam squares exist? Are they fixed or adjustable? I have never seen one. 20yrs in the game now.

[@maxscott3349]

@@stuart1001 Ah I'm just waving my instructor's knowledge around. Just a pipe with an angle welded to it so you can butt it up in the corner there, apparently you can't buy them, all the structural guys made their own

[@stuart1001]

LOL yep that's what I thought.

[@maxscott3349]

@@stuart1001 I like to pretend I know stuff

[@nighttracker1472]

"What do you call a turkey before thanks giving?" Were is my punch line??? @4:30

[@Welddotcom]

You're supposed to out it in the comments...

[@DoctorHayduke]

I love that you want to treat your square with respect since it has served you well. I treat my tools like the investment in myself that they are. I mean, our tools are really just an extension of ourselves in the work that we do. It's all one thing. The man, the tool, the work, and hopefully, the longevity of the creation. Also, you file REALLY fast!

[@howtomakewallets]

I went to Home Depot yesterday and Milwaukee had a trim square. It has 4 1/2” legs

[@downhilldaddy9346]

Christopher Resendiz but does it lay out I beam measurements?

[@cjpilling]

I bought 3 of them after I saw rrbuildings on KZbin using one

[@arianmartinez5529]

Bro this is so useful man it makes marking so much easy

[@dwayneburbridge3283]

Thanks for the tip from someone just beginning metal working!

[@captainchaos3053]

I find engineering squares come in lots of sizes and I have quite a few in my toolbox. Those speed squares are for roofers and woodworking sorts.

[@jaxturner7288]

I thought I was crazy because he acts like they don’t exist, during steel building fabrication layouts we all used them, they were definitely useful more often without any mods. My speed square stays in my framing belt, silly welders.

[@nextlevel6663]

I literally thought YESTERDAY about a speed square hack. Thanks for this!

[@philliplovin1415]

2 years later and that joke is still paying dividends. I was smacking my phone and everything thinking it was broke

[@captnjaygreybeard6394]

4:30 on the chalkboard: "What do you call a turkey the day before Thanks Giving? Did not find the punchline though

[@smileyg8658]

Happy Thanksgiving to all of you at weld.com

[@hanzelmiranda]

Nice trick buddy and you got me when you freeze yourself...LOL

[@SessoDeluca]

My dad was a tool maker and I thought he was kind of nuts when he told me to put chalk on my files. Of course I did it but this is the first KZbin video I have seen with someone doing it

[@ianjoseph145]

Great video thanks. This should be considered by the manufacturer of these tools.

[@ScrewDriverxxx]

For a minute there I thought this was going to be a statement of the obvious. Glad I watched it to the end because the full modification is a great idea and in any case, sometimes people do need to be told "the obvious".

[@everlastgenerator]

Excellent tip guys 💚

[@dougsweldingfabrication953]

Excellent video... took me until today to find it, but very helpful still. Thanks

[@darkwater482]

Milwaukee makes a nice little speed square a little smaller than what he just made. I just bought one at Home Depot.

[@Dboyquicks10]

It would be hard to put a value on this information but it's got to be worth $500. Thanks brother.

[@ogbobbyjohnson8489]

I'm a welder so all I can say is " Fuck yea ! I'm fucking taking a cutting wheel to am old square now lol " thanks homeslice ...good shit

[@tashkiira7838]

To answer the question on the whiteboard... You call a turkey on the day before Thanksgiving 'anxious' :D

[@Welddotcom]

Close 😂😂

[@kosycat1]

nice sanding/ filing tips thanks

[@mr.b7229]

You could also cut the tip off and then You will have a square with a missing tip

[@phillipmedley7455]

MR. B that’s probably better

[@arturo5819]

Lol that's what I did

[@lectricviewer]

That’s what I came here to say.

[@StationaryNomad361]

I just bought me a small combo square. I think it’s 6”. Works pretty good for me

[@samlavoie9216]

Great tip!. Please when explaining or teaching new guys and gals put a handle on your file. I know alot of us old hands don't when we're rushing but it is important. I like the gloves to keep the hands clean too. Not girly at all, it's SAFE!!. Thanks for your work, time and talent!

[@VIDEOEPPO]

I don't do much welding, but this is actually a simple yet brilliant hack!!! Thumps up!

[@rondumontier1187]

If knew a person could make money showing people how to do this, I could have done it 20yrs ago. Who knew Nice vid

[@tragikk03]

if you don't want to cut one, milwakee makes a "trim square" I have an aluminum one.. it's a 4.5" speed square, basically

[@douglasthompson2740]

Hello, I like to nip the 90 degree corner off completely so that I can square up a fillet weld. Also nice to attach a wider fence on it so you can square up pipe or tubing.

[@nathonsmithson3024]

we allways take a piece of 1x or plywood and round one edge then cut todesired width for multiple beams. very acurate and can take layout marks.easy to make and cheap.

[@rubensalais1502]

Great video, that small mod makes my life easier thanks for taking the time to make this videos.

[@zacharyheath9711]

Your joke got me when this video first came out and again just now 😂 nice one

[@shultz550]

Thx I'm gonna do that as soon as I get to work also will be using the soapstone tip on aluminum

[@williamgrace3774]

Great idea I took one and cut a little 45 on the 90° part so you can check something that's been tacked or welded

[@mikeallen266]

Awesome-with out the old timers we would be lost 🤓 happy thanksgiving 🦃