Hello all;
What's the optimum blade length for the average fine-woodworker (or
wannabe)? 12"? 18"?
At present I have a small, overcrowded shop without a lot of layout room so
I've been building small things (jewelry and keepsake boxes, tea safes,
etc.). I plan to start building bigger things (Krenov-style cabinets,
blanket chests, etc.) soon, and I'll shell out the dough for a high-quality
square.
Anybody out there have an 18" blade? Like it, hate it? Anybody out there
have a 12" blade and wish it was 18"?
(I can see the joke follow-up posts on this question already.... but its a
serious question.)
Thanks a heap,
-JBB
Length of blade is confounding. Decided to make a dual ended square,
one blade 4-5/8", the other ~9". Covers a lot of ground. More on the
nature of this square, blade length, utility etc. at the
http://www.patwarner.com/setup_square.html link.
*************************************************************************
> Hello all;
>
> What's the optimum blade length for the average fine-woodworker (or
> wannabe)? 12"? 18"?
>
> At present I have a small, overcrowded shop without a lot of layout room so
> I've been building small things (jewelry and keepsake boxes, tea safes,
> etc.). I plan to start building bigger things (Krenov-style cabinets,
> blanket chests, etc.) soon, and I'll shell out the dough for a high-quality
> square.
>
> Anybody out there have an 18" blade? Like it, hate it? Anybody out there
> have a 12" blade and wish it was 18"?
>
> (I can see the joke follow-up posts on this question already.... but its a
> serious question.)
>
> Thanks a heap,
> -JBB
Any brand recommendations for a a quality 10" square or a 2' framer's
square? I've got one of each of off-the-shelf (Borg) quality.
-JBB
"Andy Dingley" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 16:43:22 GMT, "J.B. Bobbitt"
> <[email protected]> wrote:
>
> >Anybody out there have an 18" blade?
>
> No, I use a 10" square for most benchwork, a 12" combination for any
> funny angles, and a 2' framer's square for casework. Never felt the
> need for anything over 12" in the high-accuracy league.
>
> --
> Die Gotterspammerung - Junkmail of the Gods
On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 16:43:22 GMT, "J.B. Bobbitt"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Hello all;
>
>What's the optimum blade length for the average fine-woodworker (or
>wannabe)? 12"? 18"?
>
My squares that get the most use are my 6" Starrett and Veritas Saddle
Square.
I also have Starrett 12" and 18" blades, a protractor head, and a
center finder. The 12 and 18" blades get about equal time, the
center finder and protractor get very occasional use.
The 6" is great for checking 90 & 45 degree setups, depth settings,
and about 90% of the stuff I use a combo square for in a typical shop
session.
Here's a saddle square:
<http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=44836&category=1,42936&ccurrency=2&SID=>
Barry
J.B. Bobbitt wrote:
> Anybody out there have an 18" blade? Like it, hate it? Anybody out there
> have a 12" blade and wish it was 18"?
I have a six inch blade, and it works well enough for what I use it for,
though I guess it would be cool if it were bigger.
For combination squares, I'm not using one of the officially sanctioned high
quality $70 super froofy accurate to 50 billionths of a nanometer deals,
but I like my 15" square a lot. I found 12" was sometimes a tad too short.
Of course I'm not a "fine" woodworker either. I'm more of a "make something
and pray that you can hide enough of the problems that the thing will pass
quick scrutiny without too many people laughing at it" woodworker.
--
Michael McIntyre ---- Silvan <[email protected]>
Linux fanatic, and certified Geek; registered Linux user #243621
http://www.geocities.com/Paris/Rue/5407/
On 26-Oct-2003, Dan <[email protected]> wrote:
> I almost bought one at the woodshow. Now I wish I had. What do you use it
> for that a small try square wouldn't do? Or does it take the place of a try
> square?
One thing I looked at with interest at Lee Valley is the following:
<http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.asp?page=47857&category=1,42936,42940&ccurrency=2&SID=>
It seems that it would replace several tools. I played with it a bit
- seems well made. The bevel guage blade locks with the black lever
and is extended with the little black thumbwheel that is at the end.
This allows the blade to completely disappear into the body. The wheel
was a little tight, but not bad. If I had spare cash, I'd have probably
bought one.
Mike
"J.B. Bobbitt" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Hello all;
>
> What's the optimum blade length for the average fine-woodworker (or
> wannabe)? 12"? 18"?
>
I have a 24" that I inherited. I like it, but I'd like a 12" better for
many things. I use a 7" much more than the big one. I use the Lee Valley
2" saddle square a lot.One of the handiest tools in the shop.
Ed
[email protected]
http://pages.cthome.net/edhome
In article <[email protected]>, "J.B. Bobbitt" <[email protected]> wrote:
>Hello all;
>
>What's the optimum blade length for the average fine-woodworker (or
>wannabe)? 12"? 18"?
>
>At present I have a small, overcrowded shop without a lot of layout room so
>I've been building small things (jewelry and keepsake boxes, tea safes,
>etc.). I plan to start building bigger things (Krenov-style cabinets,
>blanket chests, etc.) soon, and I'll shell out the dough for a high-quality
>square.
>
>Anybody out there have an 18" blade? Like it, hate it? Anybody out there
>have a 12" blade and wish it was 18"?
>
I make mostly larger things. I have a 12" Starrett. Mostly, I use it for
checking alignment of tools (e.g. TS, jointer, various miter gauges). So far,
I haven't seen much need for an 18" blade. IMO 12" is sufficient.
--
Regards,
Doug Miller (alphageek-at-milmac-dot-com)
On Sun 26 Oct 2003 05:41:57p, B a r r y B u r k e J r .
<[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
> On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 23:15:48 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]>
> wrote:
>
>>I use the Lee Valley
>>2" saddle square a lot.One of the handiest tools in the shop.
>
> Man, are those things GREAT!. Mine never leaves my apron.
>
I almost bought one at the woodshow. Now I wish I had. What do you use it
for that a small try square wouldn't do? Or does it take the place of a try
square?
Dan
On Mon, 27 Oct 2003 17:15:14 GMT, "Michael Daly"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>It seems that it would replace several tools. I played with it a bit
> - seems well made.
Seems very nice, and since it's a LV product, I'm sure it is, but
it's BIG. <G>
A saddle square and 6" combo fit nicely in apron pockets. It all
depends on personal work methods.
Barry
In article <[email protected]>,
B a r r y B u r k e J r . <*removethis*[email protected]> wrote:
>On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 23:15:48 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]>
>wrote:
>
>>I use the Lee Valley
>>2" saddle square a lot.One of the handiest tools in the shop.
>
>Man, are those things GREAT!. Mine never leaves my apron.
My one sometimes frustration with mine is that the longer leg is
sometimes too short, and then I need to take up another square to extend
the line. I saw in the new catalog that they have a new long leg saddle
square. It'll be in my next order.
--
--henry schaffer
[email protected]
On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 23:13:01 GMT, "J.B. Bobbitt"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Any brand recommendations for a a quality 10" square or a 2' framer's
>square? I've got one of each of off-the-shelf (Borg) quality.
If I need a 2' square, I measure diagonals instead.
Barry
On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 16:43:22 GMT, "J.B. Bobbitt"
<[email protected]> wrote:
>Anybody out there have an 18" blade?
No, I use a 10" square for most benchwork, a 12" combination for any
funny angles, and a 2' framer's square for casework. Never felt the
need for anything over 12" in the high-accuracy league.
--
Die Gotterspammerung - Junkmail of the Gods
For the money, the most accurate square you can purchase is a
draftsmans square PLUS they come in colors! You would not believe HOW
accurate they are.
On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 23:59:50 -0500, Silvan
<[email protected]> wrote:
>J.B. Bobbitt wrote:
>
>> Anybody out there have an 18" blade? Like it, hate it? Anybody out there
>> have a 12" blade and wish it was 18"?
>
>I have a six inch blade, and it works well enough for what I use it for,
>though I guess it would be cool if it were bigger.
>
>For combination squares, I'm not using one of the officially sanctioned high
>quality $70 super froofy accurate to 50 billionths of a nanometer deals,
>but I like my 15" square a lot. I found 12" was sometimes a tad too short.
>
>Of course I'm not a "fine" woodworker either. I'm more of a "make something
>and pray that you can hide enough of the problems that the thing will pass
>quick scrutiny without too many people laughing at it" woodworker.
On Sun, 26 Oct 2003 23:15:48 GMT, "Edwin Pawlowski" <[email protected]>
wrote:
>I use the Lee Valley
>2" saddle square a lot.One of the handiest tools in the shop.
Man, are those things GREAT!. Mine never leaves my apron.
Barry
On Mon, 27 Oct 2003 00:22:50 -0000, Dan <[email protected]> wrote:
>I almost bought one at the woodshow. Now I wish I had. What do you use it
>for that a small try square wouldn't do? Or does it take the place of a try
>square?
The most common use for me is marking the face, the edge, or both on a
board at exactly the same point, with the lines 90 degrees from the
reference edge. In other words, 90% of the marks I make on wood
while woodworking.
My saddle square touches more wood than my combos. The combinations
are used for machine setups, 45's, and anything where the saddle isn't
long enough.
Barry