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Tips & Techniques

Speed Square Hacks

Modification of this measuring tool can make it useful for marking cabinet reveals or creating a pattern for exposed deck screws.

By Travis Brungardt Issue 311 - November 2022
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Click here to enlarge illustration. Edited and illustrated by Charles Miller.

I don’t ordinarily condone the misuse, abuse, or modification of a tool, but from time to time it can be the right choice. One of those occasions is in the case of the very inexpensive plastic Speed Square. I drill a 1 ⁄ 16-in. hole in my plastic square at 3 ⁄ 8 in. in from the index to allow the metal tip of my mechanical pencil to precisely slide through and mark reveals on the back of cabinet drawer fronts.

The plastic doesn’t mar the work even when I slide it down square-edged prefinished cabinet parts. Similarly, I have converted a speed square into a jig by drilling two 1 ⁄ 8-in. holes into the edge index at 11 ⁄ 4 in. and 4-1 ⁄ 4 in. to create a very accurate and aesthetically pleasing pattern for exposed screws on decking.

— Travis Brungardt; Prairie Village, Kan.

From Fine Homebuilding #311

RELATED STORIES

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  1. bobbomax | Oct 30, 2022 06:05pm | #1

    For more useful modifications of Speed Squares, check out Measuring & Marking and Working Alone, 2 books by John Carroll. He figures out the easiest way to do everything, almost as lazy (or efficient) as Larry Haun.

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