Handy shop gadgets

Re:

glh

>I have a few Starett products: 12" combination square, 6" rule (in 8ths, 16ths, 32ths, and 64ths), 4 in. double square, and 24 in. straightedge. I also have a set of 2", 4", and 6" machinist's squares. There's hardly anything I do that does not involve the 6' rule, the squares, and the straightedge--would love to have the 48", but at $200 it's too expensive.

Re: Handy shop gadgets

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>I second the Veritas Saddle Square. Great little tool. Also my Crown 4" adjustable square, Japanese marking knife AND, most importantly, the $10 pair of magnifying spectacles that I got from K-Mart that hang around my neck on a cord!

Regards from Perth

Derek

Yes.

Barb Siddiqui - Wenatchee, WA

>That saddle square is one thing I use over and over...bought the larger one, too, and expect to use it as well.

Another 'gadget' I bought from Lee Valley was the heavy, short nailset with a tiny 'hammer head.' I've used it to set brads upside down in tight spaces, to enlarge holes in hardboard, and the tapered barrel of it has even spread a fresh-cut end of a garden hose while I attached and clamped a new brass end coupling on it. It's 'just the ticket' for several applications.

Re: Yes.

Davy Barr

>The larger saddle square is the one I have. Wish I had the luxury of all the Starrett tools. I could really use that long straight edge, but just can't afford it. Perhaps someday I'll get an unexpected bonus........

Re: Handy shop gadgets

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>A 6" Incra rule/square (use with a .5mm pencil) and an 6" engeering square.

Re: Handy shop gadgets

Tom MacGregor

>I find a hook rule to be very handy. The head on one end acts like the tab on a tape measure, but it's far more accurate. I also like the "square fence" by Veritas. It clamps onto a carpenter's square & works great for quickly marking 90 degrees off the edge of sheet goods.

Re: Handy shop gadgets

Rob Bourgeois, NW Mississippi

>I just got the saddle square for Christmas. Looked at it and said to myself what could I possibly do with. I figured squares and rules where good enough for making oppising faces.

I gave it a try and am wondering how I ever did anything without it. Now I am loking at the dovetail saddles thikning those could be usefull too.

4" double square, digital calipers

Bill Tindall, E. TN

>

Re: Handy shop gadgets

Ernie Miller Topeka

>I'll add somthing differant to the list it is a bow tie squair for marking dove tails. to go with is is a small machinest squair that I think it was George gave me for Christmas several years ago.

The simple scraper

Ron in Kokomo

>I finely honed card scraper of medium thickness is sucha versatile and indispensable tool for me

I also have an old Incra gauge that is in constant use

Re: Handy shop gadgets

Clay Craig in Miami

>Love my saddle square too, but just to be contrary, I'd have to go with the 6" hook rule and my Hock marking blade (once it's been set into a nice handle).

Broken tape measure

Luke Herzberg

>I hang on to broken tapes and clip the first 3 feet or so off the end, including the hook, and use them for a lightweight, flexible and indestructible measuring stick.

One man's junk, another man's handy shop gadget.

- Luke

Second the 4" double square, Starrett

Russell Seaton

>

Ditto!

JustinW in Ann Arbor, MI

>

They are...

Scott Burr in Ben Lomond CA

>"Now I am loking at the dovetail saddles thikning those could be usefull too."

They are very helpfull, would be more so if they were longer on the square side so you could mark the ends of wide boards as well.

Re: Yes.

Alan Hamilton

>Davy,

Check out the Lee Valley straight edges. True it's aluminum, not steel; but I can't think of a reason why aluminum wouldn't be just as good as steel. I have a 40" Lee Valley straight edge, and it is as straight as I can possibly determine it to be. And the best part: it's about one-third the price of a Starrett!

Alan

Make your own easily

Christopher Schwarz

>I thought the same thing about the dovetail squares: Why aren't they longer on the straight sides?

So I took the LV saddle square and ground down the long sides at 7�. I used a disc sander at the shop and a clever little jig that held the saddle square at the same angle when grinding on both sides.

Wow.

It's the perfect dovetail marking device. I'm going to do one at 9� next. If anyone wants a photo let me know and I can post one Monday. They're on my computer at work.

Chris

Lee Valley Straight Edges

Davy Barr

>Last I heard Lee Valley quit carrying the straight edge due to quality control issues. I can't find it on their web site.

Re: Yes - straightedge *LINK*

Murray in Palo Alto

>Check out the laminate straightedge sold at installer tools. Great price and decent accuracy. Don't have one, but expect I'll be buying one soon.

This link takes you to the mfg:

http://www.craintools.com/fs-vinyltools.html

and the link below takes you to an online vendor that sells it.

Murray


http://www.installertools.com/cgi-bin/INTstore.pl?user_action=detail&catalogno=05-334S

Re: Make your own easily

Murray in Palo Alto

>Chris,

Please post. Do you have a photo of the jig?

Push drill

Bill Houghton, Sebastopol, CA

>Not really a shop gadget per se, more of an installer's tool; but the finest possible way to make little holes.

Just finishing up a shaping job for which the 4" square (Stanley sort-of double square) and 2" square (Lufkin die-maker's square) were indispensable. It's the first extensive use I've made of them, but I can see how handy they'd be if I could just get out in the shop and make more furniture.

Re: Make your own easily

Christopher Schwarz

>Yup. Photos of the jig, the modified guide and the thing in use. I'll post them on Monday.

Chris

I'm Game...

Scott Burr swimming in Ben Lomond CA

>I'd like to see it!

Re: Make your own easily

Derek Cohen (in Perth, Australia)

>I've seen them made out of folded and shaped aluminium plate. Mmm .. I think I will make one for myself. Thanks for the idea Chris.

Regards from Perth

Derek