Starrett combo square clarification please.

Thanks 🙏 for that [member=71478]FestitaMakool[/member] ...I watched it 3 times.  [big grin]

Very interesting that they etch the markings using photo resist and UV light, those are some of the same steps that are used when producing semiconductors.

I’m curious if they will eventually transition to laser etching?
 
Festita, that's a good video  [smile] . 

I have always wondered how Laroy Starrett was able to machine the first combination squares in the 1870's, to such a high standard of quality.  From what I have read, apparently the way we see the combination squares now is largely unchanged from his first model.
 
Thanks [member=44099]Cheese[/member] and [member=3208]RobZ[/member]
.. I guessed that you already had seen it  [blink] [big grin]

Well, I thought so too, saving for another play tonight  [smile] It is such documentary that make you understand the thought and care put into seemingly simple product.
Also your explanation of the different rulers you can opt from Cheese, this is what makes me understand and appreciate even the “simplest” designs, and in the end make me want to buy that particular brand or item. I loved the “calibration check” in the end. I guess that particular tool is used under specific temperatures and is officially checked annually at an official department for accuracy.

I’m actually thinking of buying one ruler in imperial, for those rare occasions I could have the use. And I love the ones that goes into fractions! (I still mostly, for some odd reason [huh] buy folding rules with imperial in addition to metric. I guess it was my early learning of wood sizes back then from my uncle. It was easier to determine if the wood was in metric or imperial) Today however, all is in metric. But I do live in a house that is built with imperial wood, mostly 4x4”. And I’m resourcing old wood for restoration.
 
I had been thinking about getting an 18" blade for my 12" Starrett combination square -- thanks to this thread I've just gone ahead and made my pockets a little lighter.
 
Edward, I’ve used the 24” Starrett scale with a 90 degree head for an absolute square for many years before Woodpeckers released their large framing squares.

Now I use the Woodpeckers framing square because it is more durable...but not more accurate than the Starrett square.

One of the things I use the 24" Starrett blade for is to ensure the wheels on my band saw are coplanar. 
 
Rob Z said:
Cheese, the Starrett I always wanted but never felt I really needed is the builders combination tool.  [big grin]
https://www.starrett.com/metrology/product-detail/439-24
Click to expand...

Ya I certainly hear you Rob...If I were God and had the ability to mint all my own coins...the Starrett builders combination tool would be mounted on the wall like the RED BADGE of COURAGE.  [big grin] [big grin] [big grin]

Serious wood workers & metal workers all need a test standard...something that can be measured and be put to the test. A standard that defies all the naysayers and those that declare that it's "good enough" and then when "good enough" isn't really good enough...they find fault with the tool instead of their own measurement methods.
 
FestitaMakool said:
I loved the “calibration check” in the end. I guess that particular tool is used under specific temperatures and is officially checked annually at an official department for accuracy.
Click to expand...

Festita...I don't know if you have any background in manufacturing, but since the introduction of ISO manufacturing standards about 30 years ago, it's been common place to mandate temperature/climate controlled QA areas and annual inspection and verification of all inspection tools.

Also, along with the company QA people that are under the microscope, that also includes a complete verification of personal members (mechanical engineers) measurement tools if they are taking measurements to qualify a tool/product/jig/fixture/finished product. It may seem like an unnecessary/frivolous step at first but when dimensional issues raise their ugly head later on, the commonality of measurement standards is actually a God-send.
 
Cheese.. That part was a purely an ironic comment  [big grin]
Knowing Starret and also other well known brands that manufacture high quality equipment does come in contrast to other, maybe not even unknown brands delivering equipment that one might wonder have calibrating QA. On occasions I’ve measured my measure tools up against each other, and there have been a couple of tools thrown in the bin. And I don’t buy and use cheap stuff without “calibrating” against my known measuring tools.
If I don’t have this in order (in woodworking that is) I’ll be sure to measure, mark and cut with one measuring tool where uniform shapes are not required.

I only have a tiny experience in manufacturing, nothing big, but significant enough to think and measure before I do.
 
Have you guys suggestions to where to buy Starret, in metric?
I can’t find a store that carry a wider range of metric Starret squares that ships internationally. Lee Valley does have a pretty good selection.
 
FestitaMakool said:
Have you guys suggestions to where to buy Starret, in metric?
I can’t find a store that carry a wider range of metric Starret squares that ships internationally. Lee Valley does have a pretty good selection.
Click to expand...
I bought my C434M-300 combination set from Amazon.de:
https://www.amazon.de/gp/product/B000VDVSWA/

I bought the 14MA and 14MD from Dieter Schmid Fine Tools:
https://www.fine-tools.com/praezisionswinkel.html

Dieter Schmid also carries the C434M-300, as well as other metric Starrett tools, but I didn't find this store until I was looking for the 14MD.

 
FestitaMakool said:
Have you guys suggestions to where to buy Starret, in metric?
I can’t find a store that carry a wider range of metric Starret squares that ships internationally. Lee Valley does have a pretty good selection.
Click to expand...

Based on [member=44099]Cheese[/member]'s link above it looks like Starret sells directly, and the prices don't look to be that far off what I've seen from retailers. I'd presume you could order it from them or perhaps they'd point you to a local distributor. I contacted them via email a few years ago to get parts for an indicator, and found them to be very responsive and prompt with shipping. I'd try contacting them and see what they say.
 
Festita

If you can't find what you want on Amazon, you could try calling "Tools For Working Wood" in Brooklyn, NYC.  I ordered Starrett from them (as well as many other tools) and maybe they would include what you need in their next order from Starrett.

I see they have a 100 mm double square in stock.
 
Thanks a lot all!  [smile]

Now I have a few places to look into. (Me to just noticed that Starret has a web shop, it could be they would ship, as I really can’t find any distributor in my country)

I really like the pearl semi matte finish on the blade. Visibility really counts.
And that contractor combination square [scared].. oh, that was nice..
But, then again, not too much combination in one tool - the original is simple, effective, secure and fast to work with.
 
I seem to remember reading somewhere that Starrett offed a repair or refurbishment service for their products, but I did not see any mention of it on the website.  I was curious to see if anyone knows whether this exists or not?  I do have a number of Starrett items inherited from both my father and father-in-law; most in good to excellent shape, but a few that might benefit from a little work.  I did see that they have nearly 1,400 spare parts listed on the website so that might be an option for fixing things like squares with worn or unreadable rules.

Thanks, Mike A.
 
Festita, it just occurred to me that maybe you aren't in the US? I saw "NO" in your avatar and was thinking New Orleans, which is somewhat of a different place, as well LOL . [big grin]

If so, then maybe Tools For Working Wood isn't a good option for you. I don't know if they will ship out of the US?

Either way, good luck with the pursuit of Starrett tools.  They are expensive but man-oh-man are they nice to use.
 
GoingMyWay said:
I just did a quick Google search and found their Repair Services page on their site:https://www.starrett.com/repair-services.
Click to expand...

[member=66216]GoingMyWay[/member]  Thanks!  Since I was looking directly on their website and couldn't find anything, I never thought to google it!  [doh]

Has anyone here had any experience sending in an item?

Thanks, Mike A.
 
I tried searching using Starrett's website's search and I couldn't find that page either [huh].  Good thing Google knows everything!
 
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