I came across this Joseph Marples try square over at Harry Epstein Co, and it looks like a nice upgrade compared to home center models.
This is a 6″ square, featuring a spring steel blade with blued finish, rosewood handle, brass reference edge, and diamond shaped brass rivets.
It’s got a clean look to it, and the brass reference strip on the inside face of the handle should help with durability.
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The accuracy is said to be better than 0.001″ per 1″ of blade length.
Price: $32.50
If you wish to shop around, the model number is JML-19a.
While you’re there, HE also started carrying Vessel tools, and the prices seem decent. Check those out here.
Also visit their closeout tools section.
Lastly, ToolGuyd has been building a review sample list. If you browse around the Harry Epstein Co online store and find something you think ToolGuyd should consider buying for review, let me know and I’ll check it out.
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Jared
How about this special buy set from Lee Valley as a comparison: https://www.leevalley.com/en-ca/shop/tools/hand-tools/marking-and-measuring/squares/71621-set-of-2-beechwood-try-squares?item=99W8677
Stuart
Those look similar with respect to functionality; it might come down to aesthetics.
Nathan
It is a set of 2 though for what looks like the same price
Jared
The walnut versions admittedly, are closer in price to what Stuart posted. It’s the beech ones in Lee Valley’s special buy though, that seem like a good deal to me.
Goodie
Love me some Lee Valley.
MM
These squares look very nice but they are not for me. Wood layout tools need to be kept in a controlled enviornment lest they become inaccurate when the wood expands and contracts due to humidity changes. Plastic will slowly warp over time as well, though it can take years. I have been burned by both in the past, and now I insist on 100% metal straightedges, squares, etc.
JohnBCS
Same. Only metal for me.
Brad
I love the look, but my first thought was that the 0.001 accuracy would be hard to keep with a wooden component attached to the brass edge. Then again, the brass could the attachment point, and/or the rosewood could be stabilized.
KokoTheTalkingApe
I’ve seen squares where the brass part is a short section of I-beam, and the blade is connected directly to it. and the wood is just a decorative inlay. I guess thats a more reliable construction. Garrett Wade? I can’t find them now.
MM
I’ve seen those too, there are a number of companies making metal squares with wood inlays in them. I know Sorby is (was?) one such maker. The most recent I stumbled across was from an Australian maker, Ironbark Toolworks.
David
The wood on this is edged with brass on the “working” side.
D3t
Not that it affects function, but the 70’s styling is a little bleh too.
Stuart
It’s the font, right? I couldn’t easily tell if this was “new old stock” or modern.
D3t
That too but what I noticed first was the brass & wood combo and the diamonds.
MM
That style of square is a classic Sheffield pattern and goes back to the 1800s. If you search for “antique try square” you will see many that look nearly identical to it, even down to the diamonds, from various old English makers. The brass and wood combo is more 1870’s than it is 1970’s.
But I do agree with Stuart, that font screams 1970’s.
Leo B.
I have one of these in the older model, from England. I like it, but I have to say I don’t reach for it often. The blade is so thin, if your piece has any kind of chamfer or round over, it will affect the squareness. It’s good for layout, but not squaring a workpiece, unless it has dead square corners.
MM
Your comment reminds me of an unrelated layout/measuring tool I learned about a couple of weeks ago. This type of gauge looks super useful, and they make a version with an extra tall fence for use on rounded workpieces:
https://www.fine-tools.com/anreisshilfe.html
Let’s see if I can get a pic to post:
I’ve bought from that vendor (fine-tools.com) many times before, their customer service is top notch and shipping is lightning quick. Also note the prices shown automatically include European VAT, if you are shopping from the US you would pay ~20% less; when you set your shipping destination the prices will all change. They are an excellent source for Japanese and European brands that can be difficult to find elsewhere.
Andrew
I like the suggestion from the Stumpy Nubs youtube channel of using Machinists squares as metalwork/machining requires high precision. he recommends a set too, but I won’t cross post referral links unless you decide to check it out yourself.
Stuart
Machinist squares are not ideally scaled for wood. They can be cheap, but that’s the only selling point over squares designed for wood or construction materials.
I haven’t used my cheap try square in years, but some people still like them.
Fyrfytr998
I’m wondering though if getting a Machinist’s Square would have been a better investment than the hubungous square I bought from Woodpeckers if I only use it to check for square? The Woodpeckers is very nice, but measuring with it is a pain due to the super thick aluminum blade. And it was $200 bucks versus $66 for a set of 3 Machinesr square from Kinex.
Jason
I had a similar one made by Crown. It’s for “fine” woodworking. Mine did not stay square for some reason.