12" Starrett Combination Square best Price?
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rmwarren
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$65 is pretty good price for a 12" Starrett adjustable square if new.
You might also look at PEC Tools, not Starrett but USA made and reasonably priced: http://www.productsengineering.com/squares/index.html
Blades are satin chrome and interchangeable with Starrett.
Penn Tools (www.penntoolco) has the entire line, I like that I can buy one head and then metric/imperial blades. Their website is not great but they will send you a printed catalog, full range of machinist tools with some reasonably priced, quality stuff.
RMW
You might also look at PEC Tools, not Starrett but USA made and reasonably priced: http://www.productsengineering.com/squares/index.html
Blades are satin chrome and interchangeable with Starrett.
Penn Tools (www.penntoolco) has the entire line, I like that I can buy one head and then metric/imperial blades. Their website is not great but they will send you a printed catalog, full range of machinist tools with some reasonably priced, quality stuff.
RMW
jmarkflesher
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If you go Starrett check if it's made in USA or China. $65.00 is to cheap for a Starrett made in USA. MARK
if its the made in usa one like the old one i use, it's a superb tool and thats a great price.
(i don't know if they even offer one that is not made here, i doubt it)
i recently heard PEC is made by Starrett, or Brown and Sharpe, or some other high end US manufacturer (???)
i can't confirm from experience, but PEC looks nice and is quite inexpensive.
(i don't know if they even offer one that is not made here, i doubt it)
i recently heard PEC is made by Starrett, or Brown and Sharpe, or some other high end US manufacturer (???)
i can't confirm from experience, but PEC looks nice and is quite inexpensive.
jmarkflesher
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Some Fowler squares in the $65 range are made in China and also some Starrett's. The Starrett 20's and 55's are made in Mass USA. Cost for a 6 inch square is about $300.
Precision and quality.....for a bargain. ....not sure that is a achievable goal. One question you should ask is how you plan on maintaining and verifying the accuracy of the square that you require. Without the ability to test your square, does it really matter? Any cheap machinist square should do. Moisture and temperature variation should cause more accuracy issues than a lack of "precision" in your square. Don't get me wrong, I love starrett and have stacks of their wood boxes, it's like Festool in a way but much more expensive
. Precision, accuracy, and repeatability are tough task masters tha require control of temperature, humidity and references just to name a few. So I would argue that unless you really are willing to go down that road, just get an inexpensive machinist square of what ever size you need and go from there. Look at enco, they have a selection of inexpensive useful stuff.
. Precision, accuracy, and repeatability are tough task masters tha require control of temperature, humidity and references just to name a few. So I would argue that unless you really are willing to go down that road, just get an inexpensive machinist square of what ever size you need and go from there. Look at enco, they have a selection of inexpensive useful stuff.GregBradley
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Let's start with what exact kind of square do you want?
Since you said "starrett combination square" and around $65, I'm assuming you are looking at a 2 piece combination square such as a 11H-12-4R. You can find them for $65 or more commonly at closer to $100 such as here: http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=19420&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=pla&utm_campaign=PLA&gclid=CIibnYLp5bUCFShgMgod0CwA7g
The quality on these has take a nosedive as Starrett is looking to compete with companies with a better business model. The PEC equivalent is a better tool for about the same price or a bit less. Harry J Epstein has blems that is what I used to buy for basic tools in a machine shop. They vary according to demand but the 2 piece is an incredible deal: http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/ProductsEngineering/7131-4R.html
In case that wasn't clear, that is a BETTER square than the Starrett discounters sell for $65 on "closeout", for one third the price.
Another poster mentioned Starrett 20 squares and these are Precision one piece squares. Very useful but massive overkill for woodworking unless you are checking other squares.
I have a drawer full old Starretts in wooden cases, newer PEC squares, BUT for woodworking, I find this the most useful: http://www.woodpeck.com/1281.html
Notice the extra pieces on the body? See how it will lay on the wood? Quality is incredible. Also, the weight is less, which makes it easier to use and less likely to ding your work.
Since you said "starrett combination square" and around $65, I'm assuming you are looking at a 2 piece combination square such as a 11H-12-4R. You can find them for $65 or more commonly at closer to $100 such as here: http://www.rockler.com/product.cfm?page=19420&utm_source=google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_term=&utm_content=pla&utm_campaign=PLA&gclid=CIibnYLp5bUCFShgMgod0CwA7g
The quality on these has take a nosedive as Starrett is looking to compete with companies with a better business model. The PEC equivalent is a better tool for about the same price or a bit less. Harry J Epstein has blems that is what I used to buy for basic tools in a machine shop. They vary according to demand but the 2 piece is an incredible deal: http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/ProductsEngineering/7131-4R.html
In case that wasn't clear, that is a BETTER square than the Starrett discounters sell for $65 on "closeout", for one third the price.
Another poster mentioned Starrett 20 squares and these are Precision one piece squares. Very useful but massive overkill for woodworking unless you are checking other squares.
I have a drawer full old Starretts in wooden cases, newer PEC squares, BUT for woodworking, I find this the most useful: http://www.woodpeck.com/1281.html
Notice the extra pieces on the body? See how it will lay on the wood? Quality is incredible. Also, the weight is less, which makes it easier to use and less likely to ding your work.
GregBradley
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They do NOT have a case. I have seen Starretts with case at about 10 times the price of the PEC seconds from HJE. I guess that makes sense if somebody thinks the case is worth more than $200.briankb said:
There are a few companies that sell a Chinese made case that fits any of the 4 piece 12" combination squares for about $25. I don't care for them as they hold all 4 pieces individually.
For the price of a Starrett in a case you could have the two 4" and two 6" double squares, 6" 2 piece combo square, 12" 4 piece combo square, and 18" + 24" blades in PEC that I have and probably have enough money left over to buy a Woodpeckers 1281.
You seem very confident with the quality from either PEC or DJE despite the lack of a glorious $200 case.
I guess I could spend some of that savings on some nice hardwood and have my CNC machine route out something similar and then find a place for it along side some of my woodpeckers too.
Thanks for the additional info
I guess I could spend some of that savings on some nice hardwood and have my CNC machine route out something similar and then find a place for it along side some of my woodpeckers too.
Thanks for the additional info
GregBradley
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I've mostly been happy with the quality of Starrett. They lost a lot of business to the less expensive newer brands and did not do so well trying to bring their costs down by having parts made elsewhere. The quality of their tools made in Massachusetts never seemed to be affected but just steadily became really expensive. A 20-12 12" master square is about $600 and another $100 if you want a wooden case!
I've always been happy with the quality of PEC. By 1980 or so, PEC was selling tools that equaled Starrett in quality for less money. They were made in California. I've toured the factory and saw tools being made for PEC, Fowler, Mitutoyo, and a couple other brands I've forgotten.
HJE sells PEC seconds that may have any of the brand names above on them but they are mostly PEC. In a business, I bought 100-200 PEC seconds from HJE. Most of them are hard to tell as seconds, usually just a small pit where the finishing found a void in the material. They name has a line through it so that PEC knows not to warranty them as firsts. The worst defects were on the head of the 12" Combo squares where the groove had a defect in the grinding. They still lock up square but clearly will not last as long in use as a first. I did not send those back as I though they were still worth the price even with that actual defect. HJE is great about returns if you find an actual defect.
If you want one of the unusual PEC squares or a case, you won't find it at HJE.
I have several brand new Starrett 13A 4" double squares that my customer paid $70 for. The PEC 7104 is every bit as good and is 40-45% less. The HJE seconds are 99% as good for $12.
Anyone want some new Starrett 13A 4" double squares still in the box for $50? That's about what I will net if I sell them on eBay.
I've always been happy with the quality of PEC. By 1980 or so, PEC was selling tools that equaled Starrett in quality for less money. They were made in California. I've toured the factory and saw tools being made for PEC, Fowler, Mitutoyo, and a couple other brands I've forgotten.
HJE sells PEC seconds that may have any of the brand names above on them but they are mostly PEC. In a business, I bought 100-200 PEC seconds from HJE. Most of them are hard to tell as seconds, usually just a small pit where the finishing found a void in the material. They name has a line through it so that PEC knows not to warranty them as firsts. The worst defects were on the head of the 12" Combo squares where the groove had a defect in the grinding. They still lock up square but clearly will not last as long in use as a first. I did not send those back as I though they were still worth the price even with that actual defect. HJE is great about returns if you find an actual defect.
If you want one of the unusual PEC squares or a case, you won't find it at HJE.
I have several brand new Starrett 13A 4" double squares that my customer paid $70 for. The PEC 7104 is every bit as good and is 40-45% less. The HJE seconds are 99% as good for $12.
Anyone want some new Starrett 13A 4" double squares still in the box for $50? That's about what I will net if I sell them on eBay.
