Aren't very square. I compared the $3 set (2", 3", and 4") HF steel squares
to the Starrett and all of these three had a hump in the blade. In the $7
set (4", 6" and 8") - two had similar humps and one was either tapered or
not 90 degrees. It steadily "fell away" from the Starrett blade.
This was simple inspection - but the light shining thru was very evident.
Whether they're good enough for woodworking is only opinion. I'm no
machinist, but I doubt they'd make it past the front door in any metal shop.
Only real surprise was that those inexpensive acrylic drafting squares were
so much better. The HF box said "Made in India"; that gave me hope that the
quality might be better than typical HF fare.
Guess this is a good example of "getting what you pay for".
Oh well - it was a $10 experiment... YMMV.
>
> There are Indian companies that can make good products, but
> US companies that go to India for parts rarely have quality
> as a high priority.
>
> Rico
Heh!
I'm old enough to remember when "Made in Japan" meant it sucked, then
it was Taiwan, then China, now India.
I wonder what country will be the dog crap in the boot lugs when India
makes the golden standards?
The India set of three engineers squares I have (total cost about $6)
are
actually quite accurate (for woodworking). Comparison with a Starret and
testing
on a surface plate shows them to be quite excellent.
-Bruce
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In article <[email protected]>, Bruce Rowen <[email protected]> wrote:
>I'm old enough to remember when "Made in Japan" meant it sucked, then
>it was Taiwan, then China, now India.
You left out Hong Kong between Japan and Taiwan. And Chinese stuff still
sucks, worse than Indian now, worse than Japanese ever was.
>I wonder what country will be the dog crap in the boot lugs when India
>makes the golden standards?
China. Or maybe Vietnam.
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
"mttt" <[email protected]> wrote in message news:<[email protected]>...
> Aren't very square. I compared the $3 set (2", 3", and 4") HF steel squares
> to the Starrett and all of these three had a hump in the blade. In the $7
> set (4", 6" and 8") - two had similar humps and one was either tapered or
> not 90 degrees. It steadily "fell away" from the Starrett blade.
>
> This was simple inspection - but the light shining thru was very evident.
> Whether they're good enough for woodworking is only opinion. I'm no
> machinist, but I doubt they'd make it past the front door in any metal shop.
>
> Only real surprise was that those inexpensive acrylic drafting squares were
> so much better. The HF box said "Made in India"; that gave me hope that the
> quality might be better than typical HF fare.
>
> Guess this is a good example of "getting what you pay for".
> Oh well - it was a $10 experiment... YMMV.
Huh, mine are as square as my Starrett combo square seems able to
measure (the 4", 6" and 8" set). I guess you can never tell with HF.
Dave Hall
"Bruce Rowen" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> Heh!
> I'm old enough to remember when "Made in Japan" meant it sucked, then
> it was Taiwan, then China, now India.
> I wonder what country will be the dog crap in the boot lugs when India
> makes the golden standards?
The U.S.
mttt wrote:
> Aren't very square. I compared the $3 set (2", 3", and 4") HF steel squares
> to the Starrett and all of these three had a hump in the blade. In the $7
> set (4", 6" and 8") - two had similar humps and one was either tapered or
> not 90 degrees. It steadily "fell away" from the Starrett blade.
>
> This was simple inspection - but the light shining thru was very evident.
> Whether they're good enough for woodworking is only opinion. I'm no
> machinist, but I doubt they'd make it past the front door in any metal shop.
>
> Only real surprise was that those inexpensive acrylic drafting squares were
> so much better. The HF box said "Made in India"; that gave me hope that the
> quality might be better than typical HF fare.
>
> Guess this is a good example of "getting what you pay for".
> Oh well - it was a $10 experiment... YMMV.
>
>
>
You could always read up on making your own squares and
consider the HF squares 95% complete kits :)
There are Indian companies that can make good products, but
US companies that go to India for parts rarely have quality
as a high priority.
Rico
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"David Hall" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
>
> Huh, mine are as square as my Starrett combo square seems able to
> measure (the 4", 6" and 8" set). I guess you can never tell with HF.
I wondered if there might be a "luck of the draw" aspect to this. Sounds
like there is. Good to know that it's possible to find a square set out
there. I may mosey on over to their store front and see what I can dig up.
It was pretty apparent, when holding these up to my Starrett combo that 5
out of the six were "arc'd", and the last one was not 90 degrees.
>> Huh, mine are as square as my Starrett combo square seems able to
>> measure (the 4", 6" and 8" set). I guess you can never tell with HF.
>
>I wondered if there might be a "luck of the draw" aspect to this. Sounds
>like there is. Good to know that it's possible to find a square set out
>there. I may mosey on over to their store front and see what I can dig up.
>It was pretty apparent, when holding these up to my Starrett combo that 5
>out of the six were "arc'd", and the last one was not 90 degrees.
Yeah, if you live close to a store, go with the starrett and check till you get
a good set. I was lucky that mine were square as I mail ordered them.
Dave Hall