Engineers squares which to buy?

[fizzy]

I have every tool under the sun - well almost - but lacking nice engineers squares.
Any suggestions for a set? Sensible money.
Would love to find a nice set of mint old Moore and Wright but not available or silly money.
And why don't they have rulers on them? I know I have a combination square for that but it would be a nice feature!

 

[Maker]

And why don't they have rulers on them?

Because they're not framing squares.

 

[Rrobson]

I would be tempted to steer clear of old squares, unless they are in pristine condition because you don’t know the life they’ve lived. New Moore and wrights aren’t that expensive, what’s your budget and what sizes do you need / want?

Suppose they don’t need them because of the numerous ways you can use them and their sole purpose is to roughly check squareness? Where do you start the scale? At the corner? But what if you’re checking for squareness off the top of the smaller leg? You’d need scales starting everywhere…

 

[Munkul]

They're designed precisely to check and mark things square, not to measure distance

N.O.S. M&W, Rabone, Starrett etc

If you don't have a master square, then I suggest having one or two good brand "reference" squares and keep them tucked away.

Then buy some Clarke ones and use them for everyday. Perfectly decent for general work, and you won't cry too much when you inevitably drop one. Then you can check it against the reference square.

3", 6" and 9" most useful sizes IMO

 

[Onoff]

Parkside, the 0 starts part way in from the edge!

 

[ajlelectronics]

And why don't they have rulers on them?

Too many to choose from, Henry VIII is probably a good choice, unless you prefer something a bit more recent, George VI maybe?

 

[fizzy]

Are the new M+W still made in the UK? I see they have Sheffield marked on them but that doesn't mean much. Still conform to the standards though so they must be ok.

 

[8ob]

Are the new M+W still made in the UK? I see they have Sheffield marked on them but that doesn't mean much. Still conform to the standards though so they must be ok.

Sheffield, Shanghai what’s the difference

Bob

 

[nickk]

Can just imagine China has created a town called “Sheffield “.

 

[Mick Annick]

I had a cheapish Starrett one, it was way out of true

 

[pressbrake1]

MSc industrial

 

[Seadog]

Msc (I think it was) were doing a set of 5 last year, very cheap too. Very good quality for very little money.

 

[Munkul]

Are the new M+W still made in the UK? I see they have Sheffield marked on them but that doesn't mean much. Still conform to the standards though so they must be ok.

The combi squares were made in UK up to last 10 years anyway. It was 2-3 years ago I started getting them coming in without the "made in England" stamped on them, and a slightly poorer finish.

 

[not done it yet]

I have a Starrett (I think) adjustable square. I assume my mill table is still as flat as it was and simply adjust the Starrett until there is no dti deflection when checked. Should do it both ways round, but am usually happy with my mill z axis (against 2,3,4 blocks or V-blocks, or whatever suits me). Generally good enough for me, even though there are more accurate ways to test for perpendicularity. I have a small square, if I can find it, but often use one of the 2, 3, 4 blocks, if I can’t.

I suppose squares are for squaring, not measuring. Scribe and use dividers - error is (or should be) only the thickness of two points - not at each end of the measuring scale. Lets face it, we now mostly use DROs, these days, instead of marking out?

 

[Mick Annick]

Msc (I think it was) were doing a set of 5 last year, very cheap too. Very good quality for very little money.

That’s what I’m using now

 

[gaz1]

many of us have a bad habbit of using the squares measuring tape than actually grabbing the tape measure and doing it that way

its also a good way of getting those squares damaged as your using them for near on everything than there intended purpose

thats my take on them

also that comination square is also used as a bad habbit more so when your lining stuff with 10" or less you have a straight edge and the material has a straight edge it gets well used for measuring that and sliding it down the edge while marking at the same time

 

[slim_boy_fat]

Msc (I think it was) were doing a set of 5 last year, very cheap too. Very good quality for very little money.

They appear to only do 4 piece sets now, at £72.81 + VAT, but currently out of stock. CLICKY

 

[RichardM]

I have a M&W and newer Faithful, both are to BS939 grade B. The M&W being lots older is not as accurate as the Faithfull one, years of running scribes along take their toll.

 

[tom2207]

Depends on what you intend to use it for , Ive a Starrett one in my welding on site box , but its used and abused and certainly isnt machine shop worthy ,,, but it does what I need it to ,,, then again ive a 2ft square cut from a sheet of 3mm plate and it does whats called for too ,,,, nice squares need looking after is all im really saying.

 

[6ply]

They're designed precisely to check and mark things square, not to measure distance

N.O.S. M&W, Rabone, Starrett etc

If you don't have a master square, then I suggest having one or two good brand "reference" squares and keep them tucked away.

Then buy some Clarke ones and use them for everyday. Perfectly decent for general work, and you won't cry too much when you inevitably drop one. Then you can check it against the reference square.

3", 6" and 9" most useful sizes IMO

Why would you need a reference?
I just scribe a line, flip the square over and check against the line.