****** - Verified Buyer
4.5
Bought this to create a fence and wish I had found out about this much sooner. While I haven't used it yet, the quality and the measurements on the tool are pretty good. Can't wait to get started on house projectsBeen using the speed square for nearly 40 years. Have several. All match the squareness of higher quality squares. Am I lucky to have accurate ones? I don't know. Do they work for me? Yes. Precision is about making things fit. If your tool helps you do that it's a good tool.I bought this square because the pictures on amazon show that it is a solid scribe from the corner all the way to the tip. As you can see in the first photo I uploaded.However they sent me a square with a huge chunk missing right on the corner that they label a pivot. Well I’ll tell you I have had different model speed square with the same stupid thing and it is entirely useless. It is good for absolutely nothing and I have never used the pivot notch in 15 years. It only messes up your mark when you need to make a nice fine mark on the edge of a board, for example something like cabinets or shelves. I have always hated that friggin notch and was so dang excited to see Swanson actually makes one without that dumb notch. So I ordered it without hesitation. I was so pumped to finally get a good square without a f in “pivot” notch.Soooo..... I get the package today and happily open it. And look what did they send? A friggin square that is missing a HUGE chunk from the corner. It messes up your line every time you make a mark. It has never served a useful purpose to anybody EVER! They baited me with pictures of a square without a “pivot” notch and sent me one with one. The second picture is the square they sent me.I know some will say what’s the big deal. Well try doing making precise marks on the edge of a board using this square and you’ll find out. A person shouldn’t have to have multiple squares to get a job done. I thinks Swanson has the best squares but the notch just wrecks it. That’s why I give it 3 stars. Otherwise it would be a 5 star plus.The only way to improve it is to hit it with Scotch-Brite pad to remove the oxidation remaining from the casting process and make all the markings and numbers stand out well. Otherwise, it's perfect out of the box and will likely last longer than you'll need it.It is square. It's quite sturdy. And it's a bit longer than 12". Now I can cut standard shelving with ease using just this speed square as a cutting guide. The markings are easy to see and read. Its an essential tool in anyones box. And this is well made.I saw a lot of good reviews, so I purchased this item, it looks very memorable, Actually it could do more elaborate, but not, so I don't push it.DID NOT COME WITH THE BLUE BOOK THAT IT SAID IT WOULD COME WITH, SO I WOULD PURCHASE IT FROM SOMEONE ELSE NEXT TIME TO GET WHAT I ORDERED.My son has really taken to woodworking in the last year, so I've been getting him various tools of his own so he doesn't have to borrow mine anymore.I bought this for him for Xmas because he liked the one I own, but when I got this I realized this is nicer than mine (maybe it's because it's not 30 years old and heavily used?).But it's a fabulously simple and well-made speed slide angle ruler. The multiple notches are awesome for staying on point as you mark your pieces. It's HEAVY-gauge metal makes it super sturdy.This little guy is going to be pivotal in my son's tool collection. I just have to somehow make sure he doesn't get better than me in his woodworking skills.Bought this after reading many reviews of it and others. Very disappointed to find its no more square than the one I bought for £4.99.Its no use as a square.This is literally the cheapest, dog rough manufacturing you can imagine. At a time when there is lazer etching, tough coating and other techniques to obtain a long life easier to read finish for the measurements/dimensions etc, what we have here is the roughest, zero contrast, least legible markings possible.Don't think about using it as a rule - the graduations are only at 5mm.Don't think about using it to scribe lines either - the recesses for your pencil are 3-4mm wide, so your pencil position, (and line) will be out by that much, but as it isn't square anyway, the measurements are not accurate.Should be able to give it zero stars.Overall, dog rough, made (badly) in some backstreet foundry as cheaply as absolutely possible, but sold at a premium price. Obviously, another company living on its former reputation.Save your money, go get a cheap one for a fraction of the price, it'll be just as accurate, and much easier to read and use.I really liked this product but for the cost I was expecting it to be perfect in every way. The flange on the edge protruded out at the right angle corner which meant it cant be used as a fence for a router as it would knock it out of place. I can tell its a manufacturing and QA issue as the speed square is specifically sold as a means to use as a fence, but in reality it can't. Was really disappointed about this because the rest if it is impeccable.This is a very practical item for anyone wanting a speed square for general carpentry or roof work. The sturdy construction and aluminium mean it will be quite hard wearing as well as weather proof, within reasonable use at any rate.Sadly, this square is NOT square. I’ve tried two methods to check how square it is and it’s unusable. I appreciate there are always manufacturing defects so it’s not necessarily a bad product but this one shouldn’t have passed QA.Wish I had bought one years ago. Its primarily aimed at roofers and has loads of helpful tables to get roof angles just right. However, for aligning kit and for making simple cuts its my go to tool. Hope this is helpful
