Speed square

A Swanson® Speed® Square.

A Speed Square (rafter square, rafter angle square, triangle square) is a triangular-shaped, carpenters' marking out tool manufactured and sold by Swanson Tool Co., Inc. The Speed Square combines some of the most common functions of the combination square, try square, and framing square into one. It is used to make basic measurements and mark lines on dimensional lumber, and may be used as a saw guide for making short 45 and 90 degree cuts.

History

A Speed Square is a carpenters layout tool invented in 1925 by Albert J. Swanson who later founded Swanson Tool Company, Inc. to produce his invention.[1] Today, Swanson Tool Co. continues to manufacture and distribute the Speed Square and other carpentry tools from its headquarters in Frankfort, Illinois. SPEED and SPEED SQUARE are also registered trademarks of Swanson Tool Co., Inc.[2] [3]

Design

Common lines made using a Speed Square include perpendicular cut marks and angles for roofs, stairways, and decks. Embedded degree gradations on the tool eliminate complex trigonometry, making for speedy lines.

Variants of the tool made of aluminum, steel, and composites such as HDPE, and come in two basic sizes, the original 7 inch and a 12 inch model for larger tasks.

The tool is a right triangle with a ruler on one equal side and a fence on the other. It is marked with the word Pivot at the right angle point and displays Degrees on its hypotenuse, Common and Hip/Val markings on its midsection.

Some models have divots for fitting a writing utensil to mark lumber with. Genuine Swanson Speed® Squares will also have a diamond shape cutout on the ruler side at 3½ inch.

Usage

Swanson Tool Co., Inc. describes the tool as a "Try Square, Miter Square, Protractor, Line Scriber, & Saw Guide" in one. Swanson Speed Squares come with a pocket sized blue reference book describing the tool's functions and containing charts listing rafter lengths for building widths from 3 to 40 feet.

Among its basic uses are marking common, hip, valley and hip, or valley jack rafters, laying out stair stringers, determining and marking angles, and making square cuts on boards.

See also

References

External links

This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Sunday, December 06, 2015. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.