Review: Woodcraft combo square on sale for $12

[Bruce Barnett]

I'm always looking for a bargin, and when I saw Woodcraft has a combo square on sale half price - for $12, I couldn't resist.

I have an old Stanley combo square, and a small 4" double square from Lee Valley. This one had the center and protractor head, which I don't have. (I do have a plastic center finder.)

Well, after buying it, I returned it. In the plastic case, the exposed side showed centimeters. Once I opened it, I saw the side for inches. The markings only went up to 1/16." If you wanted measurements to 1/32 or 1/64 graduations - you have to use your eye.

I returned it after opening it. Just for chuckles, I checked out the same 3-head combo at Harbor Freight. It was $21, came in a wooden case, and the ruler was marked to 1/64."

Buying the woodcraft item for the regular price is foolish. Perhaps it's worth $12, but not to me.

YMMV

[Andy]

Thanks for the review - I was looking seriously at that too. I have an old combination square that works and is square, but the ends of the ruler don't end exactly at the 0" mark. I've been thinking about getting the 4" double square - do you like that? Has anyone used the "Veritas Sliding Square" from LV? That looks nice too.

[gpdewitt]

I'm sticking with my Stanley combo, the blade is milled and etched precisely, so the ends line up with the markings and it's very square, checked againist a machinists QC square. You can get them, the 4 piece set, frequently on ebay for $80 or so.

[Bruce Barnett]

I got the 4" double square on sale - I think from Lee Valley. As I recall - it was under $20. It's currently $29

's handier than I thought. It's small enough you can put it in a pocket. It's great for setting the height of a router bit or table saw, or as a depth gage. Of you need a 90 degree square for setting a table saw, it's great because the length of the ruler doesn't interfer with the teeth of the blade. Or use it for a depth measurement.

Checking Google - the Starrett is about $44. The 6" comes with a bubble level. I also just noticed the Starrett 2 1/2" double square for $67, which can have a 10 degree adjustment for dovetails. I haven't seen that it a catalog.

of the reaons I returned the Woodcraft combo is that after using the LV, the Woodcraft "sale" item was obviously junk.

[Lowell Holmes]

My $65 Starret is worth every penny SWMBO paid for it. Let's see, $65 less the $12 you wasted leaves $43. That's a pretty good price for the Starret.

[Bruce Barnett]

Woodcraft returned my money, so I only wasted my time and gas.