Truing Up a Framing Square

[@Wesdoesit]

Yoooo!!! Some real gems here! I have 3 rusty squares in my shop and I had no idea! Thanks man, this helps a ton!

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Glad that the video was able to help you out. Thanks for tuning in to the show.

[@dennishall9260]

Who knew! Guess I thought a square was just square. I'm headed to the shop to check my squares! Thanks Kenny!

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

I hope that they are all perfect Dennis. Thanks for tuning in this week.

[@jimpalmer1944]

Kenny, another great show. I saw this about 20 years ago and was reminded when you showed this method. I am heading to the shop and check my squares for square. Has been too long since I verified they are accurate. Thank you.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Glad that you liked it Jim. Good luck with your squares and thanks for tuning in.

[@barry.w.christie]

I never knew about this trick, but I do understand the reason it works, still a cracking tip 👍 I'm a bit behind, so I now have 14 of your videos to watch ... Christmas has come early 😀

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Well I hope you enjoy them Barry. Thanks for tuning in to the show.

[@bobwebberkc]

Love it Ken! I’ve been restoring old discarded tools for years thanks for all you do!

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Glad that you enjoyed it Bob. Thanks for tuning in this week.

[@DeanStampfli]

I will be the picky one that points out that the first two lines you drew were on opposite sides of the blade. Sometimes the blade edges aren’t parallel, so that could be a problem - and you didn’t address that possibility. Your method for correcting is a good one. Just check both sides of that blade! 😆

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

While you are 100% right that I mistakenly used opposite sides for the initial test, you will note that for the remainder of the video, I only use the one side of the blade. I realized my mistake post production and it was too late to change it. The method of squaring the blade still remains the same however. Thanks for tuning in and for chiming in with your thoughts Dean.

[@meawayfromhome]

Thanks Kenny, it”s always cool to be square. Good tips thanks.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

It hip to be square. LOL. Thanks for tuning in.

[@barryroberts6470]

Nice work Kenny, i have read and seen about this technique before but i have to say you have done a great job with both of them, especially the one you inherited from your neighbour 😄 Take Care and Stay Safe. Barry (UK) 👍

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Glad that you liked it Barry. Give it a try on your squares. You'll be amazed. Thanks for tuning in.

[@markduggan3451]

That was informative as always. Thank you for all you do.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

You're very welcome Mark. I'm glad that you found it useful. Thanks for tuning in.

[@stefanleijon9637]

This was a really helpful and interesting video! I sure learned something! I have never even seen or heard of this technique. And super helpful as mentioned, I have a big 900mm Hultafors framing square that is a bit out of wack, if I wasnt so tired I would run out to the shop and try to true it up right now :D Thanks Kenny and take care!

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

well I hope that you are able to get that bad boy squared up again. Thanks for tuning in and good luck on your square squaring.

[@KENMCCRORIE]

That was neato. I never knew you could do that. Now I have to go check mine now. Thanks for the info,

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

You're very welcome Ken. Glad that you liked it. Thanks for tuning in.

[@michaelmarchione3408]

Were you adjusting a steel or an aluminum square? That trick does work very well. I used to use a steel square for carpentry at home, but at the ironworks we used aluminum squares. They would take a lot of abuse against the beams or what ever when we were laying out or fitting up structural steel. There was a master square in the stockroom for us to check our squares against. We would make bevel squares out of the bad ones. QA wouldn't let us correct them. I had a really nice steel square years ago that was true until I left it in the hot sun when I was working on the house. It wasn't 90 anymore and it warped a little. Bevel square time lol! I was going to adjust it like you just showed us, but I need a larger bevel square anyway lol. This a great show for those that have given up on a framing square not being true. Enjoyed, take care!

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

This was a steel square Michael. I love your story. Thanks for tuning in and for chiming in with your thoughts. It's very much appreciated.

[@alanwasserman8176]

Ken that's amazing I was always told that a framing square could never be adjusted to 90°, what I heard is that because it's for carpentry rough work (even Speed Squares are not true 90°,now I know I can take my large and medium framing squares and get them to a 90°,Ken Thanks for this awesome tip, BTW the solvent you used is Autosol? I use Naval Gel (I don't care for it the odor is horrendous and it can take 3 to 4 coats)

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

The metal polish is called Autosol. It's some pretty amazing stuff and works really well. Thanks for tuning in Alan. www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/supplies/polishing/67014-autosol-metal-polish?item=54Z1510

[@MarkLasbyCNC]

My grand father taught me the punch trick many years ago. He would flip the square over between punches. This way you avoid the dent on the opposite side.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

You can definitely flip the square over. That's a great suggestion Mark. Thanks for tuning in and for chiming in with your comment.

[@keithgloyns9814]

a very interesting tutorial video

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Glad that you liked it Keith. Thanks for tuning in.

[@DraganIlich-r1s]

Thank you Sir.🎉

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

You're very welcome. Thanks for tuning in to the show.

[@floridabeardedwoodworker]

Thanks for your great videos i have learned a great deal!!

[@floridabeardedwoodworker]

LOL too funny i just went out to the shop found a no name junk square and got it true in less than 1 minutes and 4 pencil marks. I think I found a new way to make some $ i sharpen lawn mower blades and now I square squares LOL

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Glad to hear that you found the show useful. Thanks for tuning in to the show.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Glad to hear the method worked for you. That's awesome. Good luck with your side gig of squaring squares. LOL.

[@fludrbywest3886]

Thank you so much❤🎉🎉🎉

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

You're very welcome. Thank you for tuning in.

[@paulsmessyworkshop]

Kenny. Good video and good procedure on squaring a square. I wonder if there is a way to square up a speed square? Just curious.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

I'm not sure about that one Paul. I'm sure there is a way. I'm just not sure what it is. Thanks for tuning in this week.

[@davidwhiteley3879]

Thank you for the video. While you stated you're aren't that concerned about raising the surface of the opposote side of punch strike, there is energy going into out-of-plane deformation (the dimple). I wonder if this approach were done on a steel surface, if more of the energy would be transferred into the square and thus require a lower striking force?

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Your method may work David. I've never tried it as I was never concerned with the slight dimple on the square. I may have to give that a try. Thanks for tuning in and for chiming in with your suggestion.

[@stephenclingerman4865]

My Dad’s and my Grandfather’s old frame squares all had those divots on them.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

So they knew what they were doing. LOL. Thanks for tuning in Steve.

[@stephengee8488]

Ken, how do you know which way it is out of square. You said you guessed and your seemed to guess right. There should be a way of determining it.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

With the two lines drawn side by side Stephen, if the lines are closer together at the bottom, then the angle of the square is less than 90 degrees. If the lines are closer together at the top of the lines, then the angle of the square is more than 90 degrees. I hope this helps. Thanks for tuning in Stephen.

[@kevinmccarthy8670]

I should know,but will this work on an aluminium square?

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Definitely. Just go a little lighter on the hammering as the aluminum square is much softer. I hope this helps. Thanks for tuning in Kevin.

[@dannywilsher4165]

Wondering what effect punching the square in the exact same spot on the opposite side of the square would make... I would think it would do the same thing but not leave as big a bump on the one side...

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

I honestly don't know the answer to this question Danny. The "bump" that is created isn't that extreme so it doesn't interfere with the square's use at all. Thanks for tuning in.

[@dannywilsher4165]

@@acutabove_woodworkings My pleasure and thanks for the reply.

[@ot9180]

I had seen this method before and did it, but it didn’t help. Pretty sure punched it at the right spot. What could I be doing wrong? Thanks

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

Some squares are beyond help. My suggestion would be to continue punching it to see if there is any improvement. If you are not hitting it hard enough, it will not make a difference. Thanks for tuning in.

[@craigkrohn2710]

Also someone said are the width of the square equal too you said they were stamped.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

That is another thing that you can always check on the square Dean. Making sure the blades are of equal width for the entire length of the square is not a bad thing. This video is primarily about adjust them for a square setting however. Thanks again for tuning in.

[@craigkrohn2710]

What’s to say your plywood was perfectly straight. Factory cuts can be off too.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

The edge I tested against was a straight edge. If you are unsure, a quick cut on the table saw will straighten it up. Thanks for tuning in

[@garrypalmer5014]

Sorry ken, you first 2 line you tested was wrong as you did not use the same side of the square, the arms may not be parallel, and you need to address this issue first, then you can do the line test with all edges of the arms.

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

You are not wrong in saying this Garry but you will also note that after the initial test, I corrected that issue and always used the same side of the square to check its accuracy. Thanks for tuning in and for chiming in with your thoughts.

[@chancecarlton8403]

What kind of wizardry is this? 🤣

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

😂 No wizardry Chance. Just a great way to true up your framing squares. If your squares are off, give this a try. You won't regret it. Thanks for tuning in.

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

Aftrer drawing the parallel lines I would be measuring the lines with digital calipers, just to ensure my mark II calibrated eyes balls were still in calibration. Nice restoration!🤣🛫

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

If that's the method that works for you, then by all means, let the callipers do the work for you. Thanks for tuning in this week.

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

A new square is a lot like women, you are all excited when you first bring them home it isn’t until you have been around them for a while that you learn they are not what you thought they were. A little off left or right of center.🤣🛫

[@acutabove_woodworkings]

You might be getting some nasty comments from my female subscribers on this one. LOL.

[@TheFalconJetDriver]

@@acutabove_woodworkings I am on the ready! Heck we all know it is about the fun! 🤣🛫