Speed Square: Uses, Tricks, and Mods

[@anangryranger]

Worked with an amazing carpenter on a side job. He once said he could build the space shuttle with a speed square. And ya know, I believe he could! An utterly amazing tool! Mine is nicked up and turned a might dull, and I wouldn't trade it for nothing.

[@txtoolcrib]

I think I believe him too! 😂

[@rbrazz]

When cutting 90's like you did at 18:13 I was taught to put flip it, and put the heel on the far edge (where your finger tip is) that way the guide edge points closer to you and better connects further down the saw edge at the start of the cut where is more needed for accuracy.

[@txtoolcrib]

That’s a valid point.

[@rbrazz]

@@txtoolcrib Happy New year Ben! Thanks so much for this work you do. Hope 2025= your 100K :)

[@txtoolcrib]

Happy New Year to you as well.

[@fscarp]

Excellent presentation. Nice touch having it narrated by Bryan Cranston.

[@txtoolcrib]

I had never considered that before. Now that I think about it, we do have a similar voice tone.

[@michaelmartin5995]

I normally do not comment about video content and conversations but, I have followed this channel for a few years now and the content is among the best on YT. I am an engineer by trade and I tell me younger team mates to come watch this channel. :)

[@txtoolcrib]

That is a very kind thing to say. Thank you.

[@workshop4898]

Best video on a speed square I have seen. The visuals were extremely well thought out. Learned a few new things despite having use a speed square for about 45 years.

[@txtoolcrib]

I’m really glad you were able to take something away from this video.

[@123MJP123]

yup!

[@kingofcastlechaos]

Great video. At the end I saw a thumbnail for "Trades Math" and got a good laugh. I went through Pipefitter Apprenticeship School and they would not allow calculators in our calculations. Everything had to be done long hand with the formula/ takeoff books we all carried. The reason was that calculators were super expensive and hardly anyone would ever take such a luxury item out to the jobsite. Look at all of us now- supercomputers for everyone, and in our pocket.

[@txtoolcrib]

No doubt about it, and an app for everything. I still enjoy doing some things the old fashioned way once in a while though, keeps the mind sharp.

[@BZEUG]

This video is an excellent resource. Saved it to my Watch Later list. I will use this video again and again.

[@txtoolcrib]

I appreciate that, thank you.

[@richardperez7744]

Lot of great tips. Especially the compound angle and 16" on center tip. Great job, Ben.

[@txtoolcrib]

Glad you found it helpful.

[@a9ball1]

That 16" one I didn't know.

[@MichaelNehring-p4v]

That information was so well done & very informative. Thanks, something I will be using more of! Great voice, clear & precise.😀👍

[@txtoolcrib]

Thank you sir, I appreciate that.

[@mpowersmedia3219]

Best damn video I have seen for how to use all the speed square features and the mods for metal fabrication are ones that I have never seen before. Now I gotta buy another speed square just for my welding applications. It's always a great video when I can learn something new to make building and fabrication faster.

[@txtoolcrib]

I appreciate the compliment. However, in retrospect, I forgot a couple of things. I didn’t touch on the scribe points, the internal rule, or show how to find the center of a board.

[@DBoom70]

Great video on this staple of a tool. You definitely showed me 3 or 4 things I didn't know. Excellent! I love the multi-tool videos but I love all tools in general and learning something new is why I spend so much time on the tube!

[@txtoolcrib]

I’m glad you learned something new, I’m always learning too.

[@RafterSkills]

Very well explained and it’s good that they also do a Metric version!

[@txtoolcrib]

Thank you

[@dougr3715]

thanks for the Swanson Speed Square video, and the weld mods especially.

[@txtoolcrib]

No problem 👍

[@johnelwer3633]

Certainly your Swanson speed square survey was superb.

[@txtoolcrib]

I appreciate the compliment.

[@gregdavis4857]

Best explanation on speed squares

[@txtoolcrib]

Thank you.

[@k.hussain360]

Great video man, some brilliant tips especially on the mods. Looking forward to seeing more of your tips and modifications on other tools.

[@txtoolcrib]

Much appreciated!

[@skoomasteve6144]

Very well explained. Thank you sir.

[@txtoolcrib]

No problem.

[@joshbrucksch]

Fantastic video.

[@txtoolcrib]

Glad you enjoyed it.

[@mrkultra1655]

Great presentation, thanks

[@txtoolcrib]

You are welcome.

[@dragonwaterforge]

Awsome vid

[@txtoolcrib]

Thank you very much.

[@CarpentryPride]

They work great for quick snow and skim ice removal from the face of lumber aswell for us northern folk.

[@txtoolcrib]

I can definitely see that!

[@davidlee6461]

Nice. Thank you Ben

[@txtoolcrib]

You’re very welcome!

[@EiderJChavesC2]

Thank you for the teaching!

[@txtoolcrib]

You’re welcome!

[@a9ball1]

One great thing about a speed square, especially Swanson is they survive dropping them. They are tough little things.

[@txtoolcrib]

They certainly are!

[@ronniefromOR]

Great tips!

[@txtoolcrib]

Thanks, I'm glad you found them useful.

[@budgillett9627]

GREAT!!!

[@txtoolcrib]

Thanks

[@ruslangabitov5202]

Thank you very much.

[@txtoolcrib]

You are welcome!

[@MattLitkeRacing]

Swanson’s headquarters is 10 miles from my house. Down the street from a good Mexican restaurant! Lol

[@txtoolcrib]

Nice

[@marsoelflaco5722]

Ron Swanson is very proud.

[@txtoolcrib]

Albert too I hope.

[@flatroc1]

Its a dynamite tool. Makes a great boomerang too, but does return ...

[@txtoolcrib]

lol

[@bungfupanda8936]

I just bought a 12 inch Swanson speed square, sadly its neither well made or square, rough casting steps on the inside face of the heel on both sides will require extensive work to make usable, the outside face of the heel is one sixteenth of an inch out of square to the perpendicular edge, so it has multiple issues with shape and squareness. Certainly not the quality tool I was expecting. Great and interesting video though, kind regards from the UK.

[@txtoolcrib]

Sounds like a defective product. You should return it from where you purchased it.

[@LeathermanSurge-q6l]

More multi tool videos please

[@txtoolcrib]

You can be certain that there will be more multi tool videos.

[@FreakyFredrick1]

@@txtoolcrib this was a great video! Did you see leatherman Jacked the price of the arc to 250$ a couple of days ago?

[@txtoolcrib]

I did not. Truth be told, I am becoming ever more frustrated with Leatherman lately.

[@FreakyFredrick1]

@@txtoolcrib I agree, apparently it’s the new years price increase

[@RazaXML]

you realize your math is wrong with the compass right? you're 5.5 d circle was 5.75 because that slot was not 2.5 from the pivot...

[@txtoolcrib]

In retrospect I did. It’s closer to a 5 3/8 inch diameter. What can I tell you sometimes I misspeak when I’m recording.

[@txtoolcrib]

I misunderstood what you were saying at first, I apologize. I would have to go back and look at the video, but I’m pretty sure that I was in the 2 1/2 inch slot.

[@RazaXML]

actually i got that wrong too i meant the radius was 2.75 (5.5 d) you can see it in the video at 11:54. Anyways the point I was trying to make is if you put the pencil in the 2.5 mark on the square you'll get a 2.75 radius because that mark is 0.25 further away from the pivot...

[@txtoolcrib]

If you freeze it at 11:43, you can see that it is in two notches back from the end. The outermost notch is 3 inches, each notch is 1/4 inch apart. So from what I can tell, it is on the 2 1/2 inch notch. That being said, it is also on an angle from the pivot point, thereby making it an approximate 5 3/8 inch circle.

[@RazaXML]

@@txtoolcrib look at the frame at 11.54. it actually shows the measurement of the circle and is showing about at 2.75 (minus the Parallax distortion) making it about a 5 4/8 circle. anyways yeah I'm nitpicking. it's good enough for a rough estimate. nobody is going to be drafting with a speed square lol.