Recently I have inherited some older tools. In the bunch are two try squares. I have checked them for square and they are both out. They have the rosewood brass reinforced handled, with a steel blade. The blade does not wiggle at all, the rivets seems to be holding it solid. Does anyone has any suggestions as to how to get the try squares back to square?
Thanks
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Replies
If you have access to a table saw or a router table with a miter gauge you could hold the blade of the square on a support against the miter gauge and take very light cuts in multiple passes against the table saw blade or the router bit. Brass is very soft and will cut with a carbide tipped blade (the more teeth the better) or any router bit. You will actually be milling the brass on the handle.
Just be sure to stop before you hit the intersection of the handle and blade and finish off with a file.
Make sure you wear a face shield and be careful - take it slow.
Those rosewood squares sure are pretty but they are seldom square. Even if they start out that way new, they go out due to wood movement or failure of the connecting pins. If they are old, just hang them up for decoration. You can file the blade if it's solidly affixed but that would negate any antique value. They can go out again in a couple of seasons.
Beat it to fit / Paint it to match
Post over on the knot next door, I've read several threads on the subject of sqauring squares.
Just did this myself and can confirm that it works.
Take the square and scribe a line on a scrap piece of stock. Flip the square over and scribe a second line where both lines join at one side of the board. The amount the lines are out of parallel equals 1/2 the amount of material you need to remove from the blade. I used a fine tooth metal file and corrected mine in about ten minutes. Check your progress frequently so you don't remove too much material. Repeat the process on the inside edge of the blade and you're all set.
Good luck.