Tags: protractor

12" Combination Square Set

08/01/10 | by theprofessor [mail] | Categories: Hand Tools, Hot Buys, Measurement

Link: http://HarborFreightReviews.com

12-inch Combination Square
Item: 12" Combination Square Set
Item number: 92471
Retail price: $7.99
Frequent sale price: $5.99
Target price: $4.99 (with coupon)
Item Link

This review is more of a price advisory than a real evaluation of the product. An unadvised shopper should easily walk into the store and pay full price for this item if they weren't aware that it can often be purchased for half of the normal retail price. If you think you might use it, buy it while it's on sale for half the normal retail price.

We normally remove two of the slides and keep only the 90-degree arm on this tool. We use it to draw simple, perpendicular lines on wood and other material. We've reattached the protractor a few times and used it to draw angled lines. It too seems to work very well, securely locking the desired settings. Unlike the aluminum angle rafter square which has gradations etched into the drawing surface, this combination square makes perfectly smooth lines. We still like the rafter square for 'squaring up' our machinery, but this is the tool for measuring and drawing small lines. For drawing perpendicular lines on larger pieces, we use Harbor Freight's 16 x 24" steel square which can be found on-sale for as little as $4.99.

Hint: We use this combination square far less since we've purchased a 12" sliding compound miter saw (click here for the review). The miter saw cuts perfectly perpendicular cuts without having to draw out the cut-line first on the work piece. This is much quicker and more accurate than when we use to draw a perpendicular line on a board and then cut it with a handsaw or with a hand-held power saw. Of course there are materials not suitable for cutting with our miter saw and we still use this combination square on occasion.

Bottom line: A good, inexpensive combination square which locks firmly and has clear, smooth gradations for marking work pieces. Buy it on-sale for half its normal retail price.

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This review and discussion forum was created for those of us who love Harbor Freight(tm). It's well known to those who frequent the store that the prices are always cycling up and down, and most of us usually accept it as a personal challenge to get the lowest price possible. It's also well appreciated that some products at Harbor Freight are good, even very good, but that many others are also substandard, yes, even junk. This review and discussion forum is dedicated to the savvy Harbor Freight shopper and is intended to provide some guidance to the best and the worse buys. Similar products from other retailers will also be reviewed from time-to-time. Please be advised that everyone's experience is unique, and what works well (or doesn't work at all) for the reviewers here may or may not suit your personal needs. With this caveat and with notification that Harbor Freight Reviews assumes no liability for the accuracy of information provided here for educational purposes, enjoy the forum and good 'sa(i)ling' at Harbor Freight!

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