Stiletto has launched a new line of USA-made carpenter squares, which they say addresses many of the common frustrations that came up during field research.
Stiletto announced two 7″ squares – with and without a bubble level vial – and a 4.5″ trim square, with the tools designed for the needs of carpenters and remodelers. From the looks of it, woodworkers will be pleased with some of the features as well.
The brand says that the 7″ squares are designed with more layout notches to help users build and level faster, and the 4.5″ trim square is designed for precision and accuracy.
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Both 7″ squares feature notches to help with laying out studs, ripping boards, and marking rafter pitches.
The “Bomber” cutout is said to allow for repeatable stud measurements of 1-1/2″, 3″, and 4-1/2″, and LVL measurements of 1-3/4″ and 3-1/2″.
All of the squares feature machined construction, an anti-glare hard coat anodized finish, and laser-etched markings.
The 7″ carpenter square with level features a replaceable bubble vial in its heel.
The Stiletto 4.5″ trim square has additional scribe holes for laying out common angles and ripping boards. It can also be used to set table saw blade heights.
The heel has 1/4″ and 3/16″ reveals to help with trimming door and window casings. There’s also a ruler on the bottom heel that can be used for setting drill bit heights and other purposes.
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Pricing and Availability
Stiletto 4.5″ Trim Square (STSQ4) – $74.99
Stiletto 7″ Carpenter Square (STSQ7) – $84.99
Stiletto 7″ Carpenter Square with Level (STSQ7-L) – $99.99
ETA: October 2023
COO: Made in USA w/ global materials
The squares will be available at Stiletto tool dealers.
Discussion
Stiletto, a Milwaukee Tool company, emphasizes 3 selling points:
- More layout notches
- More durable coating
- Fully machined for superior accuracy
The 7″ squares look to feature 3-part construction – there’s the triangular plate and the split heel, with everything fastened together with socket cap machine screws. The 4.5″ trim square looks to feature one-piece construction.
Over the past few years, judging from what I’ve seen on social media, a lot of carpenters have expressed interest in fully machined carpentry squares.
If these aren’t for you, there are plenty of other – and less expensive – squares on the market, including from Milwaukee and Empire Level (another Milwaukee Tool company).
Leo B.
Cheaper than Martinez and SquiJig! I think they’ll get a nice market. I’d consider one at that price. I do like the Johnny squares, though. Whatever I get needs to have as many rip notches as possible, so the Milwaukee or Johnny square are both good options. This is a nice, more premium option. Thanks for the write-up!
Leo B.
These actually look pretty similar to TrigJig squares, as well. Good to have options!
Rog
” an anti-flare hard coat”…
Is that meant to be anti-glare?
Stuart
Yep – thank you! *fixed*
Although technically…
John E
Try picking that up on a hot roof. You could probably fry an egg on it.
Randy
Youch!
Jared
Those chamfered marking notches are a nice touch. Sometimes its hard to fit a carpentry pencil into a notch precisely.
With the 3-part construction, is there a small amount of adjustment possible? I imagine that’s both good and bad since you might need to check alignment after swapping the bubble level… or maybe it indexes against the other parts in a way that makes it immobile.
Stuart
I have other layout tools are aren’t one-piece, and there’s no wiggle room at all.
Jim Felt
I’ve known a lot of Union carpenters over the years and one thing I’ve always been in awe of is the use they get out of their hand tools. None of which ever strike me as being near “collectibles” as these and their high end competitors.
Am I wrong? Have “the times they are a’changin’”?
Tom
Think of them less as collectibles and more as speeding up repetitive tasks. When a tool can help you work faster and make more money, it’s a lot easier to justify spending more.
Rx9
Are these made of titanium, like the rest of Stilletto’s line?
Stuart
Aluminum.
I’d think that titanium would cost at least twice as much.
Dennis
For those prices , I’ll just go buy a Starrett
For accuracy and keep my Swanson speed square
Eric
Aluminum?!? I was interested until I saw that. Aluminum is too soft.
Thanks for the info though. It doesn’t seem Stiletto is advertising that, and for obvious reasons.
Stuart
Carpenter and trim squares are commonly made from aluminum.
They’re too soft for what?
I have never seen a carpenter or rafter square made from steel, and a quick Google search didn’t turn up any that I missed. Less expensive squares are typically stamped or die cast from aluminum, more premium ones like these are machined.
Plastic is less common, and I know of a titanium square at a $300 price point.
Eric
Yeah, and they get dinged up easily. I figured for the price this would be an upgrade on that. I’m not interested in paying the price if it’s still aluminum. $300 is too much for me to upgrade to titanium. I’m guessing that’s Martinez. I wouldn’t pay extra for their hammers. Stiletto has the sweet spot for me with hammers.
Brad
Below is the Starrett steel rafter square I bought the other day, but I’m wondering if there’s a nomenclature issue here.
https://www.amazon.com/Starrett-RS-24-L-Shaped-Rafter-Framing/dp/B0035YJXGK/
Chris Bartlett
It’s already titanium priced! 🤭
Paramountpaint
I like the looks of the trim square, especially that 3/16 reveal indent. That’s my go to reveal on stain grade trim and the smaller size makes it a shirt pocket item, which I also like.
Andeew
I’m sorry but there is no reason a speed square should cost anywhere near that. With so many lower cost yet high quality ones out there. Is it really going to improve your work flow that much?
Nathan
Yeah my first reaction was golly an empire is USA made also AL construction. Anodized non glare. ..
Sure they make probably 2x more units per day. But.
Bomber notch is neat but I like the bubble more.
Take the name off and it’s go for what 45
Stuart
Empire squares are made from extruded aluminum. If I recall correctly, they’re stamped.
These are fully machined, which allows for greater accuracy but takes a lot longer.
Nathan
Also irony. Stilleto took is Milwaukee which is also empire
Hmmm
Stuart
Empire = good/value
Milwaukee = better
Stiletto = best
All have USA-made squares.
I’d imagine that Empire sells the most, Milwaukee still sells a lot, and Stiletto will sell fewer. It’s good to see them explore this market.
Ezzy
Any idea why Empire mostly abandoned their trademark blue vial levels after Milwaukee bought them?
Stuart
There are plenty of TrueBlue products. Which SKUs are you referring to?
Ezzy
Their I-beam levels. I have a 24 and 48 inch one that’s a few years old. The newer version of that is now yellow vials. Some other models have also switched to yellow.
Stuart
In 2017, they still had True blue I-beam levels (https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/empire-level-true-blue-i-beam-deal-h2017/%3C/a%3E%29%3C/p%3E
By 2019, they had moved to yellow vials, at least for the promo bundle. https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/home-depot-pre-black-friday-2019-special-buy-tool-deals/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
Did you see any changes beyond just the I-beam levels?
Most of their box levels look to still have True Blue or blue Ultraview vials. They also still have True Blue vials in the same torpedo levels as over the years.
Ezzy
Sep 14, 2023
That 2 pack promo is what I have. Not sure about any of the others it’s a good level and was going to buy another a few years later again Black Friday time and noticed they changed it. Not sure why when that’s their trademark…
Also I never get email notifications anymore from comment follow ups even though I have the box checked.
Stuart
@Ezzy
Regarding comment emails, when did you first notice that?
We’ve had issues with spammers signing up for post updates, and so that option is disabled. I can no longer see anything regarding to comment subscriptions – there used to be a place I could see this, but WordPress either made this hidden or removed the feature entirely.
I haven’t heard from anyone else about comment subscriptions. Is it possible your email service is blocking them? Either way, I’ll test it out to see if there are any obvious issues.
Ezzy
A few months ago maybe? Not sure. I don’t comment that often, but when I do I’d like to be able to get notified if anyone responds to me. Right now I have to keep this tab open and check back every few hours. I’m using gmail and I definitely didn’t block you. And it’s not going to spam. Also is there any way to sign up for new article notifications or can you auto post it to Twitter?
Franco Calcagni
Amazing, how Empire, a company that has made their bread & butter levels and squares forever, and a jack of all trades (master of none) company like Milwaukee = better.
After your Malco Eagle Grip article, in which someone commented on Project Farm’s test, including the Malco’s, I went and watched about a dozen of his videos; mainly various pliers and cutters.
What really shocked me was that of all the brands per test video, Milwaukee was always very high priced (I know sales can be had, but same with the other products). Sometimes higher than Klein and other very reputable makers, many that were more specialized in that tool. Dewalt, their generally closest competitor, was usually about 30% less.
What was curious was that the Milwaukee tool usually was middle of the pack or just below.
Milwaukee in the past 10 years or so has really done a great marketing job, where they are team red, have many Kool-Aid drinkers, and all the tools I saw were made in China and cost more than many made in the US tools.
They definitely have a cult following that confidently buy their products, and often are just middle of the road, but high priced.
Many of your Milwaukee USA tool articles, so many people already spent their paycheck buying these tools, without even holding them in their hands.
I assume they will be good, but Craftsman has shown just recently that made in the US does not necessarily get you your money’s worth.
If they advertised these squares as “Stiletto – now part of the Milwaukee family”, they will sell tons.
Brad
Seems like Milwaukee rarely (if ever) manufactures the absolute best of any one tool, but one can rely on them to produce a modern, above-average product with no major design flaws. That is, you can buy a Milwaukee-branded anything and expect solid performance, even if it isn’t better than Knipex pliers or Malco Eagle Grips.
For those who don’t want to think or research each individual tool for the best in the market, the consistency across the brand is probably worth the relatively high prices.
Josh Walters
My biggest problem with expensive squares is my speed square more than any other tool gets hung up on rafters or anything else and tends to take long falls. Much easier pill to swallow with a cheaper square than a premium martinez or other $100+ square
PW
I’m not a carpenter – but I have had carpenters forget their square at my house.
“Lesser” USA made aluminum squares are something like 1/4 the price.
Seems like a lot of money for something with a high propensity to get dropped, lost or stolen?
Jerome
Swanson speed squares are tried and true…. atleast for an old framer.
Chris Bartlett
Honestly, my Swanson does everything I need to do and for a whole lot cheaper. Sounds like a nice square though.
John
One can literally do all that with a $15 square.
Good Tools
I once bought 10x Swanson “metric” speed square made in the USA, from the United States + USPS shipping, 8 of them went to other users.
Often used, durable, all aluminum, rigid.