College for squares

[Frank Fusco]

I rarely use one much anymore. But on ordinary carpenter's squares there are many markings for use on various tasks. I recall that there are many-many measurements and calculations that can be done with one. But I don't know what they are. And, I suspect, most folks don't know either. This has to be a real old-time "Neanderthal" skill that is being lost.
Can anyone point to a source for information on what all can be done with a square?

[Kris Koenig]

I just Googled "using a capenter's square", and after Google told me that I probably meant "caRpenter's", got too many links to copy here. I saw tips on everything from framing rafters to finding the center of a circle. They may not have all been in one place, but there was a metric buttload of info.

You can also search for "using a framing square" for more articles.

Kris

[Tim Sproul]

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=44935&cat=1,46096,46108&ap=2

[Frank Fusco]

I just Googled "using a capenter's square", and after Google told me that I probably meant "caRpenter's", got too many links to copy here. I saw tips on everything from framing rafters to finding the center of a circle. They may not have all been in one place, but there was a metric buttload of info.

You can also search for "using a framing square" for more articles.

Kris

Google? Who'd a thunk it? Is Googling Neanderthal legal? ;)

[Frank Fusco]

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=44935&cat=1,46096,46108&ap=2

Neat reference. I'm going to buy one, looks like a great reference. And I might actually learn something I can use.

[Kris Koenig]

Google? Who'd a thunk it? Is Googling Neanderthal legal? ;)

It depends. Is it Neanderthal legal to ask the question on an internet forum? ;)

Kris

[Bill Houghton]

Any good used bookstore will have, at least from time to time, a set of the Audels "Carpenter's and Builder's Library," one volume of which has a whole section on using the square for everything but the calculation of the rate at which the universe is expanding.

[Roger Bell]

The standard reference work is "The Steel Square" by Fred Hodgson. A full length book available used on Amazon and elsewhere. Amazon will give you several hits on Hodgson as well as some other works that I am not familiar with.

Hodgson wrote more than one book on the square.... sequels, I suppose.

Another good work is "The Steel Square and Its Uses" by William A. Radford. My copy is 500 pages in length. Copyright 1941. Gets into some very complex and technical applications.

[Ian Gillis]

Lots of replies already, but I'll stick my oar in anyway. U of Illinois Extension dept, for the sum of $2.00

https://pubsplus.uiuc.edu/U3009a.html


I can't comment on the quality because I found just now with neandergoogle :)

Cheers
IG

[Roy Griggs]

Try here...
http://www.oldtoolsshop.com/storageBin/index.asp
Look under manuals for "How to use a Steel Square"

roy

[Kermit Hodges]

It depends. Is it Neanderthal legal to ask the question on an internet forum? ;)

Kris

Good answer! :)

[harry strasil]

It's geared more toward metalworking but.

http://www.iforgeiron.com/Blueprints_1-100/p2_articleid/338