Plastic Triangles

[Dave Zellers]

I need to get a good accurate square. Everyone here seems to swear by plastic drafting triangles. Where do you get them? I'm looking for a nice 12" 45º, 45º, 90º.

Pointers?

[Jamie Buxton]

I got some at a local drafting-supply house.

Oddly enough, one of them wasn't really square enough for my purposes. But acrylic plastic shaves just fine with a hand plane, so I squared it up pretty quickly.

[Rick Potter]

I know my local craft store carries them, also check art supplies.

Rick Potter

[Ken Fitzgerald]

I purchased mine at a local Staples store in the drafting department.

[Neil Brooks]

Oddly enough, one of them wasn't really square enough for my purposes. But acrylic plastic shaves just fine with a hand plane, so I squared it up pretty quickly.


Awwwww, MAN !

Is NOTHING sacred ??

:)

[John Coloccia]

A trick I picked up is to choose a long edge, put an engineering square on it, and scribe a 90 degree line. It's very accurate because you can literally split a line with the scribe mark and get a very precise 90 degree line (put the scribe mark facing down when you do this).

[Dave Zellers]

Thanks all. Just came across the Rockler triangle. Perfect. Assuming it's square... :cool:

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=25091

[Bill Huber]

I like the Alvin fluorescent, clear ones are hard for me to see the edge.

[Keith Outten]

Another Option:
I make my own triangles.
I cut large clear acrylic triangles on my laser engraver.
I cut really large triangles from 1/2" thick Corian on my CNC Router.

There are plenty of people here who would be glad to cut custom triangles for a Member of The Creek.
.

[Jerome Hanby]

Thanks all. Just came across the Rockler triangle. Perfect. Assuming it's square... :cool:

http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=25091
I'm sure those are fine, the 30,60,90 model might be useful, but those prices are much higher than I paid. Think I got mine from either a Michaels (artsy fartsy store) or one o the office supply stores. I never thought to actually check it, I just assumed it was "perfect"...

[scott vroom]

+1 Alvin drafting triangles

[Bill Huber]

Here is a thread you may want to look at, when using drafting triangles.

http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?163340-Quick-tip-when-using-drafting-trianges&highlight=Triangles

[Bill White]

Staedtler brand from a drafting supply. Model MARS 965 10-45. VERY accurate.
Bill

[Matt Day]

They have the basic clear ones at all the big box stores too - Staples, Office Max, Office Depot, etc.

[Lee Schierer]

If you do a google search for drafting triangles will will find numerous sources. Mine are made by TACRO or HELIX. Alvin triangles are also pretty good.

[Dave Zellers]

Lots of good info! I've been Googling all the suggestions and just ended up also buying an 8" Staedtler steel triangle.
http://www.amazon.com/Staedtler-PROTRACTOR-8-TRIANGLE/dp/B003LK1OMY/ref=pd_sim_sbs_ac_1

I'm also eyeing the Lee Valley carpenters steel square but that will have to wait.
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=32587&cat=1,42936,42944&ap=1

My two 35 year old aluminum carpenters squares are getting worn and don't seem quite up to the job of fine cabinetry.

[Greg Portland]

Random addition to the thread -->

While you're shopping, check out 2mm+ wide lead holders. Tip: pop the end off to get to the built-in sharpener.

Note, I don't use a pencil for marking wood. For cut lines, I use a marking knife & for wood labels I use chalk. However, I like to have a nice pencil for writing notes, marking plans, etc. The wide lead works very well on rough surfaces & holds a better point than a carpenters pencil.

[Curt Harms]

Lots of good info! I've been Googling all the suggestions and just ended up also buying an 8" Staedtler steel triangle.
http://www.amazon.com/Staedtler-PROTRACTOR-8-TRIANGLE/dp/B003LK1OMY/ref=pd_sim_sbs_ac_1

I'm also eyeing the Lee Valley carpenters steel square but that will have to wait.
http://www.leevalley.com/US/wood/page.aspx?p=32587&cat=1,42936,42944&ap=1

My two 35 year old aluminum carpenters squares are getting worn and don't seem quite up to the job of fine cabinetry.

Re framing squares, you might take a look at the blue ones from Empire at Home Depot. They're made in the U.S., Mukwonago(sp?), WI. I think. I took two of 'em off the rack at home depot, found the flatest nearby surface I could find and stood them back to back. They looked pretty good, there was no visible gap.