Starrett Steel Combination Square with Square Head, 12" Blade Length

I've been looking at this combination square for a long time. I have used 2 old Stanley models I inherited from my grandfather as well as a newer Stanley my kids gave me a few years ago. They work, but have a fair amount of slop to them and can be frustrating to set to very fine marks. Now that I finally made the jump to the Starrett I have asked myself why I waited so long. Yes, it's not cheap, but the quality and precision are remarkable. It's very easy to make fine adjustments, there is no slop and the satin finish make it easy to see the measurement marks. I use my combination squares for machine setups and marking joinery on pieces I build. I invested in the 24" blade to go along with this as I often need to make marks between 12-24". It swaps out easily with the 12" blade. A great tool for measuring and marking in the shop.

Finally upgraded to the Starett from my (6th) budget, big box store combination square. I grew progressively more and more frustrated with the failing spring tension mechanisms that hold the blades in place. If I took the blade out to reconfigure for a particular task, I'd spend a good minute trying to get the blade back in. Not with the Starett. Everything runs smooth and precise. The machining and finish is excellent. Durable cast-iron head and hardeded still blade with a beautiful satin chrome finish. This will be the LAST combination square purchased in my lifetime.

After fighting with my Irwin combination square for years, I had finally had enough. The turn screw to tighten the ruler to the handle "worked", but as often as not I'd need a a pair of pliers to loosen the thing up again because it was stuck and couldn't be loosened by hand. Knowing I'm enough of a tight-wad that I'd never upgrade as long as the Irwin "worked", I cleverly smashed the thing with a hammer on the spot to free the ruler for the last time and commenced my search for a higher quality combination square. I never thought I'd use the term "smooth as butter" to describe a tool, but here we are. I will leave the in-depth stuff to the people who have left long reviews on this tool and apparently have forgotten more about combination squares than I will ever know. But I can tell you the turn screw to tighten the Starrett combination square down works with smooth precision and offers a satisfying grasp of the ruler that speaks of the quality my Irwin could only jealously dream of. I am happy to report it loosens with the same ease. My advice after years of sorrow and woe: buy the Starrett. Life is too precious to spend it carrying pliers around with your combination square.

This square is well built and easy to read. I have and older Stanley Combination square, same design, as well as a wooden and brass fixed square. In comparison to the Stanley, squareness is equal, but ease of reading the measurements goes to the Starrett. Also the twist tightener on the Starrett is more stabler and easier to use if that makes sense. I feel the improved engineering of the Starrett does offset the increased price ($20 bucks or so for the Stanley, in comparison to over $100 for the Starrett). Fair deal but again, I compared to a older 1980's Stanley. The fixed wooden and Brass Square, also pre 1980's can only be used for squareness, measurements are really tough to read. I would recommend this square for those wishing to upgrade or make an initial high end buy.

Shipping was fast and on time. As far as quality of product. Exactly as advertised. There is no better, bar none.

It’s absolutely worth the money. I didn’t realize how not square my tools were until I got this. Excellent value for wood working.

This is a good combination square for serious use.

Very High Quality; absolutely as accurate as anything I need to do woodwork; but best of all I love the markings on this square -- they're ALL in English units...so I don't have wasted space filled with cm scales on both sides of the rule. I have nothing against the metric system but if I'm working in inches and fractions thereof then I want to be able to set the square on either side and easily see that it's set to the inch value I want. It is a bit pricey; and in comparison to the Swanson square which is about as accurate but has a rule with cm and inches on each side; it's also about 1/4th the cost; but the difference in size and solid weight is easily seen and felt

Hace tiempo buscaba una escuadra exacta, la mayoría en el mercado son inexactas y cuando elaboras muebles sobre diseño esa diferencia se vuelve significativa. El precio es elevado, pero lo vale está herramienta!

I know its expensive and sometimes spending more does not insure you get accurate. Ive bought other Sterrett things that were not that acurate but this 12" combo square I recieved it dead on accurate and feels premium in my hand.

Totally accurate and very functional. A tribute to Starrett manufacturing in quality. It is expensive though.

Compré este producto porque "Starrett" era signo de calidad. La escuadra venía desmadrada y por casi 2 milímetros. Me da la impresión que era un artículo defectuoso que ya alguien había regresado anteriormente. Cuando lo recibí estaba lleno de huellas, grasa, polvo y estaba todo raspado.

Got this to replace my old combo square only real complaints are that the square has oil and finger prints in beaded in it but fixed that and the other is that it doesn’t come with a storage box. Otherwise it’s super easy to read and use and I’m happy that I bought it