Here is one for you. Has anyone not checked their square, or level to see if it is square or level. I will never forget when someone asked me that question, without any explanation. Then I dug a little further, and learned about reversing a square, drawing a line, and also taking a bubble level, reverse it on the same surface, and see if the bubble is in the same spot. You will be shocked when you see the results. Here is a review I wrote back in Amazon in 2002, when I was shocked when I bought an expensive Freud square, and found out it was not square. Here is a copy and paste of the review. Check the pile before you buy.
PS: I know a lot of creekers talk about the square method to check it, I was thinking that there may be some who haven't yet unfolded this surprise and would gain something from hearing about it.
Freud DB012 12-Inch Try Square Availability: Currently unavailable
5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
Squares are not square, and levels are not level, September 5, 2002
I bought this because I am crazy about the quality of most of the Freud equipment. Part of the reason I wanted it, was to proudly hang it on the wall. Brass, Rosewood, and the Freud name emblazoned on the handle. When setting up my Radial Arm Saw, the instructions told me to check my square, to see if it is truly at 90 degrees. You lay it along a straight edge of your fence, then draw a pencil line across the table, (or on a piece of paper taped to the table) then flip it over, and draw the line again. If they are not exactly the same, it's not square. Well this thing is well off. Ok maybe by a couple of degrees, but isn't this tool designed to make sure, you are setting up your project, in true square. Well it isn't true. I will buying more Freud router bits in the future, as well as many items in their product line, but this square is not square.
Fortunately I was able to make it square. By clamping the blade between two pieces of wood in the vise, and moderately tapping on the handle with a hammer, protected by a block of wood, I was able to change the pitch of the handle to a perfect 90 degrees. Did it loosen the handle? Not at all. I tested it by grabbing the handle, pulling on it really hard, to change the pitch, and it held without any change. So you can fix it. Don't send it back!
I think in all fairness, that this Freud square should be put in a category with 90 percent of the other squares and levels out there. They are not square and level. If you go into you local store, and check the squares for square as mentioned above, you will find that they are not square. You can also check the bubble levels, by reversing them the same way, and flipping them over, end to end, and side to side. I went into the local building supply store, and out of a pile of 20 levels, I found only a few that were true.
If you buy a square that is stamped out of one piece, the way a framers square is made, it is square. But, when buying a square that requires assembly, as in installing the handle, their is a good chance that it is out.
Is this Freud square inferior to the rest of the squares out there? No, it isn't square, just like most of them. I do love the rosewood handle, and blued blade. It's made out of great materials, and well put together. Now all they have to do is get the square as good as the rest of the tool. I was delighted that I was able to turn it into a true tool.
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Jr. 
I don't know if a good smack to the outside corner would do the same in the opposite direction though. 
Originally Posted by Dan Barr
