You may not realize how mind-bogglingly informative this was. For those who know, great. But for me, I was stunned by the tons of genius built into this tool!
It really is pretty amazing, and most of these guys didn't really do well in geometry, they learned it on the job with practice and real world experience
@@acaughey09 I remember having one when I was younger and thought, "what on God's green earth could I possibly do with this contraption". Got rid of it along with a bunch of other stuff that now, many years later, I would like to have back.
Thank you for your kind words about this product. ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxgmlSSlIRNE_C2UjNrRD8KfUXsZIM7WNF I'm pleased to hear that you have found the plans to be informative and helpful. This product aims to provide you with a variety of shed designs and styles, each with a clear picture and a detailed diagram. You can easily visualize and build your own shed, or get inspired by the different options available. I hope you enjoy your shed building experience with this product. blush
As a 70 year young carpenter. The speed square wasn't around when I started. Everybody carried a Tri-square. Thank you for your well made short straight to the point very helpful videos. I wish You Tube was around when I started.
I have a speed square from my grand father dated from 1937. So it might have not been a nation wide thing, but reading off Swanson Tool Company, Inc website says it was around since 1924. Also wish youtube was around even 10 years ago lol, I had to learn the hard way or figure it out 100% of the time. But thats what makes a good carpenter anyways, figuring out problems yourself and solving them with out getting the answers. also opens up new ways in getting the job done.
@@marshallferron Yes I know, but there weren't very many, if any informational videos 15 - 12 years ago, maybe they trickled in around 2008 - 2009 though, but nothing compared to the last 3 years when it comes to trade-craft and skill based videos.
I used a hacksaw and fine file to cut 1/4 deep lines down the inch marks and 1/8th marks down the 1/2, the rest, I just slightly passed a thin hacksaw blade down the rest. The grooves help keep the tip of the pencils from wandering off down into a crack and around a knot.
Robert Beirne ahh not all true. Still need angles for allot of other things. Or if you gotta cut an angle you can just get the pitch and then put it on another board. But you’re right when it comes to rafters, those are a need to know. I started out framing new construction so learned that pretty quick but i guess since I knke that’s maybe why I use them for more things. Also stairs as well but typically use a 2’square for those. Crown molding too if the angles aren’t perfect 22.5, 45 degree angles also.
Hey this is a very very good vid. Im prior service Army Combat Engineer. In Advanced training they never touch on using a speed square, yet in our varing missions we were often tasked with temp building build outs when tents would not sufice. This was back in the 1980s and early 1990s when I served. Prefabed buildings were not a thing then like they are now. And I was lucky enough to have had a sergeant when I was a lower ranker enlisted that had serious construction knowledge. One of the many things he vehamitly insisted that we knewing was to 100% know how to incorporate the use of a speed square. The other was knowing by heart the various basic demolition calculations for various applications. Seeing this video was great and This retired Army Vet 100% approves this informative video. This young man kbows very eell what he isxtalking about 👍
This sets a benchmark for informative videos. Get right into it, no BS intro or videos of you drinking coffee or jabbering away, packed full of info. Thank you.
I just recently got into woodworking/ carpentry. I knew the speed square was important and bought a good one..... only to find out in this video how much I was missing. Thanks
I was a handyman for twenty years and NEVER thought to use the speed square as guide for my circular saw!! What can I say? I taught myself all i knew and did pretty good. Never had a single problem with the work i did. All happy customers. But using that speed square as a circular saw guise would have helped me a lot! Great video! Thank you!🙏
This guy rocks. He’s the Cliff Notes of the instruction manual! I’m a metal fabrication guy. Custom bumpers, heavy farming equipment, one off tools because you can’t buy them, etc... The speed square applies as well to my craft. I honestly keep three to four laying on the fab table at any given time. Thanks for doing our homework for us buddy!
Who are the people giving this a thumbs down? Totally helpful video, simply explained, and steady camera when filming. Trolls giving it thumbs down need to get a life. Thanks for the video. Exactly what I was looking for to figure out how to do the pitch and bird cuts for the roof of a garden shed I was adding to the outside of my shed. Well done!
Yeah! I've run into some framing situations during remodels, (mainly in condos) that leave me like !WTF! I couldn't frame this bad if I tried. So........keep shimming lol.
@@badboyvids1 the drywall follows the wall... not sure what you're insinuating here. I can't imagine a taper so bad that it interfered with the finish carpenter. There are alot of DIY guys that try to pretend at being in the trades though... so I guess it's possible. I saw a guy do butt joints with just a hawk once. No trowel... just a hawk.
@@oldscrubgamer1853 true to a point however drywallers love to float the walls to make them look straight. just saying no need for anger issues. There was a lol after my comment
He actually drew a 50 degree angle in relation to the edge of the board. It was 40 degrees from a line drawn perpendicular to the length of the board. Still a great video. Learned a lot even though I use one almost every day.
@@kymana01 At 3:08 imagine him aligning the speed square with the 10 degree mark instead, and you'll see what these 10 degrees will be in relation to. Definitely not to the board, as the line will be almost perpendicular to the board. Only 10 degrees off the actual perpendicular line (that's not drawn). That's what these degrees are in relation to - the line perpendicular to the length of the board.
@@Ruslan-S I see what you mean! So these marks are actually degrees from the (imaginary) line perpendicular to the board edges (let's call them X degs). So 90-X degs= degree angles relative to the board edges. Since the line he drew was 40 degs from a perpendicular line) that line would actually be 50 (90 minus 40) degs relative to the board edges. Thanks for the explanation!
@@vonwilson668 that's for a common rafter cut for a roof pitch of 10 inches vertically to 12 inches horizontally. 12/12 would be 45 degree roof, so 10/12 is around 40 degrees and 6/12 is around 25 degrees relative to the ground. See Roof pitch calculator online. Not sure why 12 is a common denominator in the US but likely traditional, because there's 12 inches in a foot, and also 12 divides well.
I like the speed square so much I got the larger one. I've been a carpenter for 42 years and have used the speed square to do cut roofs, including hip roofs, for my entire career. I started in production framing and had no time to make a second line during layout. Everybody understood the stud goes on the X side of the line. At openings, S is for stud and C is for cripple.
Not S for stud, K for king stud on the header, T for trimmer under the header, and C is for cripple, they hold up the sill. An adjustable speed square is your best friend on the roof!
Same, and I probably won't remember this anyway, plus I can't stand working in inches so it all just went over my head. If the world was imperial things like this would be useful. Instead it's yet another tool stuck in the dark ages and should have gone metric by now.
@@psidvicious it's to do with quantity, mass produced in China. We end up with all the cheap American designed imperial tools even if there are metric equivalents out there hiding away in some hardware store in Germany. No one imports them to Australia because imperial is far cheaper and produced by the millions. We are taught metric at a young age then spend our lives frustrated with imperial crap.
@ Andrew Wilkerson - That is so interesting to me! So in AUS, you buy an imperial marked speed square (made in China) and use it in a metric society and, I’m guessing you chisel out your own marks on it to suit your metric needs? That makes me want to laugh and ‘cry’ all at the same time, if I’m understanding you right. Mate! 😂😢 🤜🤛
I learned how to use one in my high school woodshop class, we used it everyday. Then a year later at university, one of my friends hot me a standard swanson speed square which was one of my FIRST tools I ever owned and I now have a full shop of almost every tool I will ever need and I STILL use the same square every time im working in my shop 👍
I own one of the original Speed Square prototypes, handed down to my husband from his grandfather (via his dad), who knew and worked alongside Al Swanson on the south side of Chi-town. Thanks for your upload!
I remember trying to make sense of the instructions when I purchased my speed square whereby it became a straight edge. Now at least I have a clue as to what all those numbers stamped on the thing are for. Now we will see if I am smart enough to put some of this info to use. Thanks for the great vid.
Hello from Friday, August 27, 2021. this video has 3,060,898 views and 324k subscribers. We all know by now Erik found the speed squares in the construction belts of his friends and company. Very thorough vid on the mysteries of the Speed Square!
Using it to space decking is one way I’ve used mine more often. That’s mainly because I haven’t had much practice with layout/cutting yet. I’m hoping to get into carpentry soon (framing specifically). And have been trying to learn the skills I need while I look for a job. Videos like this help me a lot more than reading a book. Thanks for posting!
I would always place a nail between them before I nail it to give it just a tiny about of space but the guy is right about it shrinking. The salt water in the treated wood drys out within a few days then it's water seal time. I miss doing carpenter work. It's a trade that not all men can do.
Good video. I have a tip for you that you may already know. Peel the label off your tape measure and sand the plastic with some fine sandpaper. Write your measurements on your tape and erase them with your sweaty thumb. The fine sandpaper is the key - it holds the pencil markings until you actually try to rub them off, but if you go too coarse the marks are difficult to remove.
That has to be the best video on explaining/showing/Teaching someone how to use Carpenter tools really nice work and amazingly done incredible work thanks for taking time showing us how to use a Speed Square
I'm self building a recreational cabin for when my seasonal work is over. This video has helped immensely figure out the angle usage of the square. Thank you.
5 років тому+17
Thanks I learned a lot. I didn't realize how little I knew about these..
Good knowledge. My dad when teaching carpentry work always said the old framing square is usually smarter than the person using it. Seen it proved true many times.
The original power tool. I don't do framing very often, so I forget most of the used for all of the markings quite often. I enjoy watching videos like this every now and then just to be amazed by the ingenuity in this seemingly simple tool.
Doing a career switch next year, always wanted to do carpentry. This was an amazing video, only really knew a few of these uses prior. Thanks a ton my guy!
Been several years since I last watched this. Just as exciting and fun to watch as first time as you do such excellent work. I actually learn and no better way than to watch a guy who is like myself and who appreciates well made, very handsome very practical tools. Excellent video, friend. Victor from Gresham, Oregon USA 🤩🙌
3/16" thickness... THANKS! Been doing craftsman style finish work lately with 3/16" reveals for doors and windows and using a combination square to mark (or 3/16" block cut from drop until it gets lost in the depths of my pouch). Realizing I can just use my speed square should produce some pretty noticeable increases in efficiency.
Just a quick correction. When you marked the 40 degree line (3:00), you mentioned it was in reference to the base of the board (3:11) but in fact it is in reference to the perpendicular to the base of the board. Notice when you set the square at 0 degrees that is the reference point in which the angle is coming off of. Then rotate to desired angle and that is the angle between the starting point and finish point. Otherwise great video
Thank yoooouuuu!! I bought a speed square over a week ago as im waiting on my drill and saw before I start trying out all these beginnner projects. I didn't know that it could do so many things. Thank you so much for this. I'm saving this video and I'm very sure it will come in handy!
I've been building a upcycled room 2m by 2m I don't have any experience building everything I've learned has been from UA-cam by far your video has helped me the most
Thanks so much, man. I learned so much from this video, given that I didn't even know the most common uses for a speed square. Or even that it was called a speed square. I always just called it the triangley-looking thingy.
Great speed square advice! One practice that I found to keep your fingers farther out of the way when you’re using a Skillsaw, is put the edge of the speed square on the bottom instead of the top like you had it. Keeps your fingers where you can see them easier:)
The reason you put it the way he did is because the saw will catch it the other way, plus as you push the saw the square can move more easily away from the board making it out of square cut.
I used to build houses and after hits in the Army I started working in a weld shop the boss looked at me like I had a third eye when I brought my speed square to work next thing I know we have speed squares all over the shop
Angles? Not sure what else it would be good for. Tubing has radius so it rarely grabs the edge right. Maybe you're referring to a shop that uses inches over feet values such as in a structural beam shop.
Adding to the stud layout tip, the base of the square also has marks in 1/4" increments (small triangle inside) and 90 side to opening for inner triangle is 1". Hold the square at mark and mark 2 over = 1 1/2" tick, scribe and scoot.
Thank you for the video. I'm an average DIY guy with several of these and only knew a few tricks. My dad and I struggled for hours on how to do a birds mouth. Wish we saw this video 6 years ago! LOL
Shalum The only thing you missed is the use of the degrees side of the square... For example if you are making a back cut(this is were an angled board is setting on another angled board... ie facia on a common rafter). Now your square becomes a calculator... Every angle derives from a 90° right angle so if the rafter pitch is on a 10 common which is equivalent to a 40° angle you would subtract 40° from 90°=50° on a back cut. Great video thanks
Thank you so much, this video was extremely informative. I am a carpenter apprentice and still learning. This video helped to make me more quicker and accurate with my cuts on the job
Extend and Hang your snap line to the "pivot” at the top of the square, you now have plum and angle level utilizing the degrees along the bottom of the square.
Framed so many house when I was younger that I lost count. Speed square is a must. Licked the video, even though we do things differently. Neither is correct or neither is wrong just different. Stay healthy my friend.
I use that all the time,, but if you hook the edge of the square over the board you are cutting on the near side of the board it is easier to keep your fingers clear of the blade, and because the saw is pushing in the same direction that the lip is locking up in, it is less likely to shift on you
The best video I’ve seen on said tool man. Some reason nobody else can use a pencil n strike lines with that thorough n complete of explanations. Well done 👍
Thanks for sharing I always wanted some one to show me how to use the tool. Everybody says I don’t know!! I got 2 of them and I got to go to work on my roof!!
Great video here is a few more tip's. To figure out what the pitch is to an existing rafter set your pivot end on top of the rafter take your torpedo place on top of square and raise square until level then you'll have your common rafter cut. The other is to teach them how to do a long cut for a valley rafter lay on. Lastly explain how to get the bevel degree for your saw using the numbers off your speed square for said valley rafter long cut, you can also use the pivot on your speed square plus your chalk line to form a plumb bob. I'm the cut guy on our crew. Lol
i was building some skate ramps for the garage today and pulled my square. once I learned about the angles and some of the other uses it was game over!!!! made it so much faster. the level is my fav tool but today, the Speed Square moved up in rank a lot!
A lot of guys that call themselves carpenters are not carpenters either....so no harm Matter of fact you are now more educated about how to use a square than probably 95% of “carpenters”
Great video and fun too. I find mine really useful for small length measuring, easier than a tape. Also, make sure the base is 1/8 of an inch, makes it easier to adjust your measurement when the square is standing on the base.
This is my first video. I'm 72 was a framer at 19. Speed square wasn't invented yet. So I'm checking off all the other tools in the belt, red bull wasn't invented yet but we had coffee all day long. then the HOT SAUCE?? You guys are nuts. and I'm gonna try to follow how to use the Speed Square cause I got one in my shop! Love the energy of your presentation.
If using as a cut guide, turn square around so that the lip hooks the board the same way you're pushing saw= much safer ! And quit throwing your tools around.
That seems so obvious to me that I wonder why he does it the other way around. Is there something we're missing? Perhaps the board is more stable his way?
The lip on the leading edge causes issues with the blade guard, doesn't it? I understand what y'all mean about pushing, but I'd assume the reason for his method is the guard.
If you are cutting a board thinner than the length of the speed square (like a 2x4), the square edge extends past the leading edge of the board giving more immediate support for the saw table. It's irrelavent in this case because the width of the board he uses for his example is wider than the square is long.
When using the speed square for a straight-edge against the saw shoe, the square can be set on the edge closest to the operator and held more securely on the same end as you show.
If I put the square on that side my saw hits the high edge of my square. To do it the way you suggest I would have to raise my blade making it harder to make a true cut.
The only complaint I have is that when you're making a cut on a board with a skilsaw, the base plate of the saw should be on the longer portion of the board to keep the cut smoother and helps protect not only the blade from unnecessary wear from blade flutter but also less wear on your saw's bearings from blade flutter.
I know your comment is 2+ years old but for anybody else reading this, old mate’s above comment is really only applicable to people with little to no experience using circular saws. It’s not difficult to learn to hold your saw flat to a board with very little baseplate purchase on that board. It really just comes down to experience and practice.
I have been cutting 20 ft trex all day by running my skil saw along my square. There just to unruly to get on a chop saw table so it is easier to bring the saw to them, with a fresh blade, it cuts square and like butter.
You may not realize how mind-bogglingly informative this was. For those who know, great. But for me, I was stunned by the tons of genius built into this tool!
Lol ya my dad works in construction and I work for him! When I started out I said the same thing 😂 lol
That's too funny!!! 🤣🤣🤣
🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
It really is pretty amazing, and most of these guys didn't really do well in geometry, they learned it on the job with practice and real world experience
@@acaughey09 I remember having one when I was younger and thought, "what on God's green earth could I possibly do with this contraption". Got rid of it along with a bunch of other stuff that now, many years later, I would like to have back.
Thank you for your kind words about this product. ua-cam.com/users/postUgkxgmlSSlIRNE_C2UjNrRD8KfUXsZIM7WNF I'm pleased to hear that you have found the plans to be informative and helpful. This product aims to provide you with a variety of shed designs and styles, each with a clear picture and a detailed diagram. You can easily visualize and build your own shed, or get inspired by the different options available. I hope you enjoy your shed building experience with this product. blush
As a 70 year young carpenter. The speed square wasn't around when I started. Everybody carried a Tri-square. Thank you for your well made short straight to the point very helpful videos. I wish You Tube was around when I started.
I have a speed square from my grand father dated from 1937. So it might have not been a nation wide thing, but reading off Swanson Tool Company, Inc website says it was around since 1924. Also wish youtube was around even 10 years ago lol, I had to learn the hard way or figure it out 100% of the time. But thats what makes a good carpenter anyways, figuring out problems yourself and solving them with out getting the answers. also opens up new ways in getting the job done.
@@hardboiled7774 UA-cam has been around for 15 years.
@@marshallferron Yes I know, but there weren't very many, if any informational videos 15 - 12 years ago, maybe they trickled in around 2008 - 2009 though, but nothing compared to the last 3 years when it comes to trade-craft and skill based videos.
@C life 403 Is that the big Johnson or the little Johnson?
@@mikeking7470 the old long Johnson
I watch these vids even tho Iv been a carpenter for 25yrs, you always can pic up new tricks or be reminded of forgotten ones👍🏻
Thank you so much! I'm a 1st year Carpenter and now I know how to use my speed sqaure!
I spray painted mine with orange paint and immediately wiped it off. Left a nice orange paint fill in the numbers and made them easier to read.
Thanks for the insight. I will do the same, but gotta go with green paint on mine.
Also you can keep other Carpenters from steeling your square.
Good idea
Clark Eugene I see what you did there. 🇨🇮
I used a hacksaw and fine file to cut 1/4 deep lines down the inch marks and 1/8th marks down the 1/2, the rest, I just slightly passed a thin hacksaw blade down the rest.
The grooves help keep the tip of the pencils from wandering off down into a crack and around a knot.
“I’m not worthy !” Been using one for years , didn’t know even a quarter of the shit you can do with it ! You are a star !!!!!
Dig that. i didn't know as much as you.
druid799 don’t feel bad, unless you’re framing roofs, you’ll never use all of its features.
Robert Beirne ahh not all true. Still need angles for allot of other things. Or if you gotta cut an angle you can just get the pitch and then put it on another board. But you’re right when it comes to rafters, those are a need to know. I started out framing new construction so learned that pretty quick but i guess since I knke that’s maybe why I use them for more things. Also stairs as well but typically use a 2’square for those. Crown molding too if the angles aren’t perfect 22.5, 45 degree angles also.
😂 I really hope you are not a carpenter then
Terry Priestley I’m not a carpenter, but i do some carpentry and I do use a speed square. I’ve not had to calculate bird mouths on a rafter.
Hey this is a very very good vid. Im prior service Army Combat Engineer. In Advanced training they never touch on using a speed square, yet in our varing missions we were often tasked with temp building build outs when tents would not sufice. This was back in the 1980s and early 1990s when I served. Prefabed buildings were not a thing then like they are now. And I was lucky enough to have had a sergeant when I was a lower ranker enlisted that had serious construction knowledge. One of the many things he vehamitly insisted that we knewing was to 100% know how to incorporate the use of a speed square. The other was knowing by heart the various basic demolition calculations for various applications.
Seeing this video was great and This retired Army Vet 100% approves this informative video. This young man kbows very eell what he isxtalking about 👍
This sets a benchmark for informative videos. Get right into it, no BS intro or videos of you drinking coffee or jabbering away, packed full of info. Thank you.
Redbull ✔️
Finally figured out how to make a 45 degree angel ✔️
Awesome video ✔️
Thank you!!
I just recently got into woodworking/ carpentry. I knew the speed square was important and bought a good one..... only to find out in this video how much I was missing. Thanks
I was a handyman for twenty years and NEVER thought to use the speed square as guide for my circular saw!! What can I say? I taught myself all i knew and did pretty good. Never had a single problem with the work i did. All happy customers. But using that speed square as a circular saw guise would have helped me a lot! Great video! Thank you!🙏
This guy rocks. He’s the Cliff Notes of the instruction manual! I’m a metal fabrication guy. Custom bumpers, heavy farming equipment, one off tools because you can’t buy them, etc... The speed square applies as well to my craft. I honestly keep three to four laying on the fab table at any given time. Thanks for doing our homework for us buddy!
It's pouring rain and freezing right now, but this video makes me want to go, right now, and build something awesome.
Who are the people giving this a thumbs down? Totally helpful video, simply explained, and steady camera when filming. Trolls giving it thumbs down need to get a life. Thanks for the video. Exactly what I was looking for to figure out how to do the pitch and bird cuts for the roof of a garden shed I was adding to the outside of my shed. Well done!
My uncle once told my cousin to go get me that square , cousin said you ain’t tricking me that’s a triangle 😂
has he ever asked your cousin to grab the board stretcher? cuz prolly too slick for that one...
@@johnlecorchick2039 I'd love to have a bucket of corner mortar.
@@johnlecorchick2039 I've cut this board 3 times and it's still too short.
Go get me a box of toe nails.
@@johnfoge1742 i think you'll find that right next to the sledgehammer grease. :)
As a drywaller, I can confirm that this video is necessary. All framers should watch this lol.
OldScrubGamer hahahaha
im a finish carpenter and you drywallers should watch some videos. lol
Yeah! I've run into some framing situations during remodels, (mainly in condos) that leave me like !WTF! I couldn't frame this bad if I tried. So........keep shimming lol.
@@badboyvids1 the drywall follows the wall... not sure what you're insinuating here. I can't imagine a taper so bad that it interfered with the finish carpenter. There are alot of DIY guys that try to pretend at being in the trades though... so I guess it's possible. I saw a guy do butt joints with just a hawk once. No trowel... just a hawk.
@@oldscrubgamer1853 true to a point however drywallers love to float the walls to make them look straight. just saying no need for anger issues. There was a lol after my comment
Thanks for just busting through the basics and not spending time talking about garbage
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Amen to that brother!
Being new to woodworking I have learned so much from this video and it has been really helping a lot in the shop. Thank you for doing this.
This is hands down the best speed square vid on UA-cam!
I got lost out in the woods one time but thankfully I just happened to have my speed square with me and navigated my way out. Life saver believe me.
shagintoo ooohhh did you have the Bear Grylls certified one???
Lmfao!
Well its got degree on it and if you have a watch.. you can navigate with degree minute. One of the first thing you learn in the army bud.
If you had your hot sauce you'd never have gotten list in the first place.
He actually drew a 50 degree angle in relation to the edge of the board. It was 40 degrees from a line drawn perpendicular to the length of the board. Still a great video. Learned a lot even though I use one almost every day.
I don’t understand can you explain a little better it looks like 40 degrees. Thank you
@@kymana01 At 3:08 imagine him aligning the speed square with the 10 degree mark instead, and you'll see what these 10 degrees will be in relation to. Definitely not to the board, as the line will be almost perpendicular to the board. Only 10 degrees off the actual perpendicular line (that's not drawn). That's what these degrees are in relation to - the line perpendicular to the length of the board.
@@Ruslan-S I see what you mean! So these marks are actually degrees from the (imaginary) line perpendicular to the board edges (let's call them X degs). So 90-X degs= degree angles relative to the board edges. Since the line he drew was 40 degs from a perpendicular line) that line would actually be 50 (90 minus 40) degs relative to the board edges. Thanks for the explanation!
@@Ruslan-S can you explain the 10/12 he was talking about? I get he had it on the 10 degree mark but where and why did the 12 come into it? 12 what?
@@vonwilson668 that's for a common rafter cut for a roof pitch of 10 inches vertically to 12 inches horizontally. 12/12 would be 45 degree roof, so 10/12 is around 40 degrees and 6/12 is around 25 degrees relative to the ground. See Roof pitch calculator online. Not sure why 12 is a common denominator in the US but likely traditional, because there's 12 inches in a foot, and also 12 divides well.
That was a heck of a demo. You sold me, I'm buying one asap and I don't even need it right away. That was an excellent lesson, well-shot and edited.
Whoever invented the speed square,sure did the world lot's of favors,my time involved,and ease of use.
I like the speed square so much I got the larger one. I've been a carpenter for 42 years and have used the speed square to do cut roofs, including hip roofs, for my entire career. I started in production framing and had no time to make a second line during layout. Everybody understood the stud goes on the X side of the line. At openings, S is for stud and C is for cripple.
Me too
Not S for stud, K for king stud on the header, T for trimmer under the header, and C is for cripple, they hold up the sill. An adjustable speed square is your best friend on the roof!
Free Radical - I think it’s a east coast- west coast thing.
@@michaelgarrow3239 so is holding headers down! lol
Free Radical - I’m guessing your out west?
Damm man, I’m 46 years old and you taught me more in 7 min than all my years of hacking up my rentals!😂😂😂💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼
This is great, I've had one for years and never knew most of what you just explained.
Lmao.
Same, and I probably won't remember this anyway, plus I can't stand working in inches so it all just went over my head. If the world was imperial things like this would be useful. Instead it's yet another tool stuck in the dark ages and should have gone metric by now.
@ Andrew Wilkerson - They don’t make metric speed squares?? Somebody’s missing the boat! Just send residual earnings checks to my UA-cam address.
🤜🤛
@@psidvicious it's to do with quantity, mass produced in China. We end up with all the cheap American designed imperial tools even if there are metric equivalents out there hiding away in some hardware store in Germany. No one imports them to Australia because imperial is far cheaper and produced by the millions. We are taught metric at a young age then spend our lives frustrated with imperial crap.
@ Andrew Wilkerson - That is so interesting to me! So in AUS, you buy an imperial marked speed square (made in China) and use it in a metric society and, I’m guessing you chisel out your own marks on it to suit your metric needs? That makes me want to laugh and ‘cry’ all at the same time, if I’m understanding you right. Mate! 😂😢
🤜🤛
Great video. They're also handy for ensuring your sawblades are squared to the tool.
The Snekker Show yes they are.. I have a video coming up about that
Well not that square after he throws it.
That’s what I use em for too
I used mine to help move, clear and level dirt under an outdoor step I was replacing at my father in laws. It worked beautifully!
I learned how to use one in my high school woodshop class, we used it everyday. Then a year later at university, one of my friends hot me a standard swanson speed square which was one of my FIRST tools I ever owned and I now have a full shop of almost every tool I will ever need and I STILL use the same square every time im working in my shop 👍
Lol I learned how at 4 years old
Not even kidding
We lived on a farm and I helped my dad build a shed,clubhouse,our house, and fencing for our animals
I own one of the original Speed Square prototypes, handed down to my husband from his grandfather (via his dad), who knew and worked alongside Al Swanson on the south side of Chi-town. Thanks for your upload!
Laura Weiss wanna sell it
I grew up with his grandson in Oak Lawn, Illinois. He made his first ones in his basement and sold them on the jobsite.
j g , no thanks. Passing it down to one of my kids.
@@lauraweiss7875 do you have a picture of it, thanks
You forgot scraping ice and snow off your lumber in the winter
😂😂
Just scraping off foundation before squaring and snapping.. lol
@@Framer_Mike nice!
or sometimes mud in the spring.
@@maertsaidaem2106 indeed we do!
I remember trying to make sense of the instructions when I purchased my speed square whereby it became a straight edge. Now at least I have a clue as to what all those numbers stamped on the thing are for. Now we will see if I am smart enough to put some of this info to use. Thanks for the great vid.
Hello from Friday, August 27, 2021. this video has 3,060,898 views and 324k subscribers. We all know by now Erik found the speed squares in the construction belts of his friends and company. Very thorough vid on the mysteries of the Speed Square!
HI you! It's me YOU!. Hello from Friday, November 4, 2022 and over 600k subs in one year!!!
The 3/16” thickness of the speed square is also a good way to space the next top board when building decks
It sure is.........if you suck at life.....go right ahead
Maybe on composites, I’d just treated I always lay them tight because they’ll shrink a 1/4 within a few weeks, anybody else
Using it to space decking is one way I’ve used mine more often. That’s mainly because I haven’t had much practice with layout/cutting yet. I’m hoping to get into carpentry soon (framing specifically). And have been trying to learn the skills I need while I look for a job. Videos like this help me a lot more than reading a book.
Thanks for posting!
They will shrink so no gaps is the way to do it
I would always place a nail between them before I nail it to give it just a tiny about of space but the guy is right about it shrinking. The salt water in the treated wood drys out within a few days then it's water seal time. I miss doing carpenter work. It's a trade that not all men can do.
“This is my spare in case something happens to this one”.
*Instantly throws good square like a ninja star into ground*
Sam Splatter - Right! I noticed that too!
and then the mud was cake on the thing for the rest of the vid. fuck me
Yes definitely not square after that!! 😂 😂 this guy
"..(just) in case.."
Good video. I have a tip for you that you may already know. Peel the label off your tape measure and sand the plastic with some fine sandpaper. Write your measurements on your tape and erase them with your sweaty thumb. The fine sandpaper is the key - it holds the pencil markings until you actually try to rub them off, but if you go too coarse the marks are difficult to remove.
This video was very informative and simply very very helpful to me. Thank you for sharing it with us all.
That has to be the best video on explaining/showing/Teaching someone how to use Carpenter tools really nice work and amazingly done incredible work thanks for taking time showing us how to use a Speed Square
I'm self building a recreational cabin for when my seasonal work is over. This video has helped immensely figure out the angle usage of the square. Thank you.
Thanks I learned a lot. I didn't realize how little I knew about these..
You and me both 🤦♂️🤦♂️
This was really great. I own one and didn't know why. Loved the humor as well!
I also have used my speed square as a straight edge for small concrete projects like sealing holes in concrete walls
Great vid!
Good knowledge. My dad when teaching carpentry work always said the old framing square is usually smarter than the person using it. Seen it proved true many times.
The original power tool. I don't do framing very often, so I forget most of the used for all of the markings quite often. I enjoy watching videos like this every now and then just to be amazed by the ingenuity in this seemingly simple tool.
WHOAH! MIND BLOWN!!! Thank you for the excellent video... I am so much smarter now :)
This video is a jem!!
Thank you kind sir, i wish we were neighbors, you are good stuff!!
Doing a career switch next year, always wanted to do carpentry. This was an amazing video, only really knew a few of these uses prior. Thanks a ton my guy!
Yeah, Im a carpenter but Ive been thinking about getting into brain surgery. Im going to start next week.
Don't share your dreams. People will just shit on you for it. For what it's worth, I'm getting ready to do the same as you.
Well, it's a year later according to UA-cam. Did you take the steps to start doing what you want to do?
Been several years since I last watched this. Just as exciting and fun to watch as first time as you do such excellent work. I actually learn and no better way than to watch a guy who is like myself and who appreciates well made, very handsome very practical tools. Excellent video, friend.
Victor from Gresham, Oregon USA 🤩🙌
3/16" thickness... THANKS! Been doing craftsman style finish work lately with 3/16" reveals for doors and windows and using a combination square to mark (or 3/16" block cut from drop until it gets lost in the depths of my pouch). Realizing I can just use my speed square should produce some pretty noticeable increases in efficiency.
A 16 penny nail works just as good
Just a quick correction. When you marked the 40 degree line (3:00), you mentioned it was in reference to the base of the board (3:11) but in fact it is in reference to the perpendicular to the base of the board. Notice when you set the square at 0 degrees that is the reference point in which the angle is coming off of. Then rotate to desired angle and that is the angle between the starting point and finish point.
Otherwise great video
Lots of good information, with a bit of humor, good job, Just found your channel, I will be watching.
Thank yoooouuuu!! I bought a speed square over a week ago as im waiting on my drill and saw before I start trying out all these beginnner projects. I didn't know that it could do so many things. Thank you so much for this. I'm saving this video and I'm very sure it will come in handy!
I've been building a upcycled room 2m by 2m I don't have any experience building everything I've learned has been from UA-cam by far your video has helped me the most
This is a great video! Like how you put pictures with the video to explain what your cutting. I'm a new union apprentice in Hawaii
Thanks so much, man. I learned so much from this video, given that I didn't even know the most common uses for a speed square. Or even that it was called a speed square. I always just called it the triangley-looking thingy.
Great speed square advice! One practice that I found to keep your fingers farther out of the way when you’re using a Skillsaw, is put the edge of the speed square on the bottom instead of the top like you had it. Keeps your fingers where you can see them easier:)
The reason you put it the way he did is because the saw will catch it the other way, plus as you push the saw the square can move more easily away from the board making it out of square cut.
I never knew that tool had so many uses. Very impressed with this video.
Pretty sure I just learned more useful/practical information in less than 8 minutes than I did my whole first year of shop class. Thanks for sharing.
I used to build houses and after hits in the Army I started working in a weld shop the boss looked at me like I had a third eye when I brought my speed square to work next thing I know we have speed squares all over the shop
That is awesome, Don.
Angles? Not sure what else it would be good for. Tubing has radius so it rarely grabs the edge right. Maybe you're referring to a shop that uses inches over feet values such as in a structural beam shop.
@@BGraves ummm, he didn't imply that he was working with round pipe. Speed square would have as many uses on metals as well
Use mine on pipe...have cut the "corner" out to measure ya 90 running socket pipe!
Yea dude, I'm an industrial maintenance technician at a heat treat facility and I use mine atleast once or twice a week when I'm fabricating something
I used mine to open a gallon paint can once
Thanks for letting us know
I killed a snake with mine once.
I wasn't gonna tell anyone but I ninji stared mine at a guy and decapitated him once or twice
Pretty funny
Adding to the stud layout tip, the base of the square also has marks in 1/4" increments (small triangle inside) and 90 side to opening for inner triangle is 1". Hold the square at mark and mark 2 over = 1 1/2" tick, scribe and scoot.
Thank you for the video. I'm an average DIY guy with several of these and only knew a few tricks. My dad and I struggled for hours on how to do a birds mouth. Wish we saw this video 6 years ago! LOL
I'll be building a tool shed next year, and I'm learning ahead of time so I'll be ready in the spring. Info like this is priceless, thank you!
These guys are the best around by far..Fantastic work always!!
Shalum
The only thing you missed is the use of the degrees side of the square... For example if you are making a back cut(this is were an angled board is setting on another angled board... ie facia on a common rafter). Now your square becomes a calculator... Every angle derives from a 90° right angle so if the rafter pitch is on a 10 common which is equivalent to a 40° angle you would subtract 40° from 90°=50° on a back cut. Great video thanks
I know nothing about carpentry, but the youtube algorithm brought me here. This was great. I’m thinking why do they not teach this in school.
Thank you so much, this video was extremely informative. I am a carpenter apprentice and still learning. This video helped to make me more quicker and accurate with my cuts on the job
I just watched 3 other videos on how to use a speed square. Yours was shortest but most informative. 👍
Glad it was helpful!
Good info. I just now realized I knew almost nothing about speed squares.
Same here
I loved this and learned without having to ask my "merciless" sons! :-)
What
Extend and Hang your snap line to the "pivot” at the top of the square, you now have plum and angle level utilizing the degrees along the bottom of the square.
fredrick brown..another one of my favorite tricks with a speed square. I’m surprised it wasn’t in the video
I have done the same thing!!!
Framed so many house when I was younger that I lost count. Speed square is a must. Licked the video, even though we do things differently. Neither is correct or neither is wrong just different. Stay healthy my friend.
I love tools like this that are overloaded with functionality, thanks for sharing this.
iamamish yea makes you want to go out looking for jobs that you didn't have played before you bought your speed Sqaure . 🤣😘
The skill saw straight edge was cool. Never thought of that.
I use that all the time,, but if you hook the edge of the square over the board you are cutting on the near side of the board it is easier to keep your fingers clear of the blade, and because the saw is pushing in the same direction that the lip is locking up in, it is less likely to shift on you
@@UncleRons_3D_Pub Thanks for the heads up Uncle Ronny. You're probably a lot older and wiser than this young buck, since you're already a uncle.
Good safety tip as well 👍
Bigg Puph used to have to chip my own saw blades out of flint and obsidian
Skill is a brand. It's a circular saw. Common misconception.
The best video I’ve seen on said tool man. Some reason nobody else can use a pencil n strike lines with that thorough n complete of explanations. Well done 👍
Thanks for sharing I always wanted some one to show me how to use the tool. Everybody says I don’t know!! I got 2 of them and I got to go to work on my roof!!
Great video!! I've been doing construction since 1974 and still going. I always have 2 or 3 speed squares available. Really good advice. Bravo
I keep a 7" speed square in my tool belt and a 12" one at the cut station. The bigger square keeps my fingers well away from my saw blade.
Me too.
3:08 you said its a 40 degree angle in relation to the board edge- but the angle is measured as 40 degrees from the square cut line.
Noticed that too, you can instantly tell as 5 degrees is still nearly perpendicular.
@Mak Roberts nice wordplay handsome. Where do these words come from anyway?
Great video here is a few more tip's. To figure out what the pitch is to an existing rafter set your pivot end on top of the rafter take your torpedo place on top of square and raise square until level then you'll have your common rafter cut. The other is to teach them how to do a long cut for a valley rafter lay on. Lastly explain how to get the bevel degree for your saw using the numbers off your speed square for said valley rafter long cut, you can also use the pivot on your speed square plus your chalk line to form a plumb bob. I'm the cut guy on our crew. Lol
please do a video!!!
Ya do a video, Sounds like mega carpentry smarts
i was building some skate ramps for the garage today and pulled my square. once I learned about the angles and some of the other uses it was game over!!!! made it so much faster. the level is my fav tool but today, the Speed Square moved up in rank a lot!
best carpenter video ever made about marking Cuts
I have no idea why this video was recommended to me (i'm the furthest thing from carpenter) but god damn was it fascinating anyways
The furthest thing from a carpenter? A peace of wood?
A lot of guys that call themselves carpenters are not carpenters either....so no harm
Matter of fact you are now more educated about how to use a square than probably 95% of “carpenters”
I just bought a miter saw and got this
Cursing necessary?
I'm in that same department 😂
Great video and fun too. I find mine really useful for small length measuring, easier than a tape. Also, make sure the base is 1/8 of an inch, makes it easier to adjust your measurement when the square is standing on the base.
Great videos! probably the best reference building my deck at!
Andres Rodriguez Uribe glad to help.. thanks for the feedback!
I like your tutorials, I lived and worked three years in construction in the USA and it is a job that I like very much, Regards
This is my first video. I'm 72 was a framer at 19. Speed square wasn't invented yet. So I'm checking off all the other tools in the belt, red bull wasn't invented yet but we had coffee all day long. then the HOT SAUCE?? You guys are nuts. and I'm gonna try to follow how to use the Speed Square cause I got one in my shop! Love the energy of your presentation.
If using as a cut guide, turn square around so that the lip hooks the board the same way you're pushing saw= much safer ! And quit throwing your tools around.
James Sherosick I was thinking exactly that as he was doing it lol
That seems so obvious to me that I wonder why he does it the other way around. Is there something we're missing? Perhaps the board is more stable his way?
The lip on the leading edge causes issues with the blade guard, doesn't it? I understand what y'all mean about pushing, but I'd assume the reason for his method is the guard.
@@DHcrazed no not at all , as it is the table only that touches the edge of the square. The guard is an inch and a quarter inside the table.
If you are cutting a board thinner than the length of the speed square (like a 2x4), the square edge extends past the leading edge of the board giving more immediate support for the saw table. It's irrelavent in this case because the width of the board he uses for his example is wider than the square is long.
When using the speed square for a straight-edge against the saw shoe, the square can be set on the edge closest to the operator and held more securely on the same end as you show.
If I put the square on that side my saw hits the high edge of my square. To do it the way you suggest I would have to raise my blade making it harder to make a true cut.
Awesome vid man.. i just learned a ton of good stuff there
Great video, immediately bought a speed square because of you. It’s an absolute necessary tool
Awesome, 4yo qnd still showed me more than other recent ones. You the man.
This video answered my question about this tool. Now I can sleep until the next question wakes me up in the next hour or so.
worked construction like, one summer in my life ever. anyway, subscribed.
The only complaint I have is that when you're making a cut on a board with a skilsaw, the base plate of the saw should be on the longer portion of the board to keep the cut smoother and helps protect not only the blade from unnecessary wear from blade flutter but also less wear on your saw's bearings from blade flutter.
I know your comment is 2+ years old but for anybody else reading this, old mate’s above comment is really only applicable to people with little to no experience using circular saws. It’s not difficult to learn to hold your saw flat to a board with very little baseplate purchase on that board. It really just comes down to experience and practice.
Try getting an 'other handed' skill saw. I am constantly cutting from thin edge.
Thanks man ! I’m getting ready to build my backyard shed and you just made it a WHOLE LOT EASIER! Cheers
CMF
Best explanation on use of square that I have very seen! Great job!
If your cutting rafters, C.J. or beams get the 12 in version
Yes definitely
I have been cutting 20 ft trex all day by running my skil saw along my square. There just to unruly to get on a chop saw table so it is easier to bring the saw to them, with a fresh blade, it cuts square and like butter.
But the stuff is so slick, it's hard to keep the square motionless on the board!