Poorly made set squares.

[Chris DentonParticipant @chrisdenton53037]

I have owned a set of 4 set squares for around a year, finally got round to using them today and on two of the smaller ones there is a lump where the two parts are joined, it means it won't measure correctly when used one way round. A third one isn't square!

Just something to be aware of.

[Chris DentonParticipant @chrisdenton53037]

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Is this another case of 'you get what you pay for'?

I know that a bit of a blanket statement (even the best makers have off days!)

The fact that it is a set of four sort of indicates Asian/Eastern origins, only because when I have looked in the catalogues of the best quality tooling its rare (for me) to see sets of things like squares.

Where is the 'lump you mentioned? also what does wont measure relate to with regards to something without a scale?

Ian

[Chris DentonParticipant @chrisdenton53037]

Pretty much. I meant to say they were from a 'model engineer' supplier. Quite cheap. As for the measurement, I mean it won't accurately sit flat against something to define a square.

Lump is is here, might be the other side I can't remember.

[Chris TriceParticipant @christrice43267]

Well, I’m going to say it. “You generally get what you pay for”. Yes, if you go through all the boxes, you might find a set that are all well made and all square but they should ALL be like that. It shouldn’t be a game of chance.

[Enough!Participant @enough]

Not to be pernickity but I grew up knowing these as "try" or ("tri" ) squares rather than set squares …. the latter being the kind of thing draftsmen used (in those days).

Edited By Bandersnatch on 01/08/2014 01:14:08

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Well here is a nice little apprentice project for you. The "lump" is most likely deformation from the rivetting process used to attach the blade to the stock, right there where the lump is.

A few careful licks with a 10" millsaw file should bring it back in line with the main stock.

You might want to grind the teeth off the edge of the file that will rub against the blade so it does not scar it up. Proceed slowly with care, taking long, gentle strokes (ooh er mister). Check it against a known good straight edge until no light is visiible between the stock and the straight edge.

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

All three of my far-eastern squares resemble the one in the picture but don't have this fault. My mid-price British made square had a blade that wasn't even at 90-degrees to the stock – one of the few undamaged tools I have thrown away.

Neil

[roy entwistleParticipant @royentwistle24699]

I have still got and use a tri square which I made at school about 1948 if I remember we scraped them square relative to a master you can check squarenss by scribing a line turning the square over and scribing another they should be parallel

Roy

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 01/08/2014 10:31:10:

one of the few undamaged tools I have thrown away.

Neil

why throw away a perfectly adequate shelf bracket?

[NJHParticipant @njh]

Yes but what did he throw is away AT?

N

[Les Jones 1Participant @lesjones1]

Hi Bazyle,
Because he did not want things to roll off the shelf.

Les.

[Nigel BennettParticipant @nigelbennett69913]

I bought a 12" square off eBay a while ago, knowing that at that price new it was going to be a joke one. So I set to with my milling machine, then files and scrapers, and gradually got myself a perfectly acceptable tool.

Yer pays yer money…

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