Woodpecker 32 inch T Square

[gnlman]

Hi. I have been looking at this square and wondering how many people use them, and in what way. I already have the large carpenter square as well as the large triangle and a few other smaller squares and triangles (all Woodpecker) and when cutting down sheet goods I use a woodpecker ruler and stop to set my guiderails to the correct distance, and seldom mark lines to align my track for cuts. I usually butt the ruler up the the non cut side of the rail using the rule stop to set my cuts. My woodworking projects to date have only been case goods and just wondering if  anyone uses this type of square for furniture making or in any other way....I am thinking other than the extra length over my large square I may be duplicating what I already have....thoughts??
thanks, Greg

 

[Grasshopper]

I got the 32" T-square for Christmas and I LOVE it!  I use it to make layout lines on my sheet goods to ensure dead nuts measurements.  The ability to select the one of the holes that are laid out every 16th of an inch is amazing. 

To put the t against a good reference edge, slip the pencil (need a mechanical pencil) in the designated hole, say 24 1/16" and slide the t securely against the edge, drawing a perfect line down the sheet good at the EXACT location.  This is way more accurate that trying to measure with a tape which can be off 1/32" between your two points (you always have a little play in the tape, and if you are holding at any angle you can be off a tad as well).  When you are off even a hair on the tape you get a cut that can be off a tad as well.  This tsquare makes that an easy task.

I wouldn't be without mine, that's for sure!

 

[gnlman]

Thanks for the reply Grasshopper.
Do you also use parallel guides of any sort with your festool track, or do you always put the splinter guard on the lines that you draw?
Thanks, Greg.

 

[Grasshopper]

I am just a hobbyist, so take my experience for what it's worth.

I don't use the parallel guides, just lay the splinter guard right on the line.  Just today I laid out a 1/4" line to take off a clean reference edge on some 1/4" baltic birch for some drawers i am making.  Came out dead nuts.  it helps a lot because the t-square's holes are so small that only a mechanical pencil fits.  Before I had this, I used a regular pencil and I had to compensate for the thickness of the pencil line.  Not anymore, just place the guide right on the line and I'm set!

I really wanted the parallel guides since I am always looking for an excuse to get a new toy.  My local dealer actually talked me out of them.  I decided that for the time they took to setup for each cut, I could just layout the cuts one by one.  If I were a production shop, and needed to make repeated, production cuts the setup time would be justified in the savings over multiple cuts.

Thanks for the reply Grasshopper.
Do you also use parallel guides of any sort with your festool track, or do you always put the splinter guard on the lines that you draw?
Thanks, Greg.

 

[gnlman]

Hi. I am a learning hobby guy too so all experience is good to me....lol

Sounds like your system is working for you quite well, and I would skip the parallel guides as well. I have them and stopped using them...bought an aftermarket set which are far less fussy to use.....don't get me wrong, the festool ones are very nice and good quality and would be a great choice for a mobile pro as I'm sure they would stand the test of time...mine don't leave my garage...now that I think of it I should try and find them and maybe sell the set...lol
Anyway, sounds like a new square is in my future, thanks for the replies Grasshopper.
Greg. 

 

[Grasshopper]

You are welcome.  Enjoy your new square.  I bought mine from Amazon, which I think was fulfilled by Acme Tools.  I was pretty pleased.  Not sure what would work best for Canada.

Hi. I am a learning hobby guy too so all experience is good to me....lol

Sounds like your system is working for you quite well, and I would skip the parallel guides as well. I have them and stopped using them...bought an aftermarket set which are far less fussy to use.....don't get me wrong, the festool ones are very nice and good quality and would be a great choice for a mobile pro as I'm sure they would stand the test of time...mine don't leave my garage...now that I think of it I should try and find them and maybe sell the set...lol
Anyway, sounds like a new square is in my future, thanks for the replies Grasshopper.
Greg.

 

[stens]

I have the 600 mm version. I find, like Grasshopper, that it works really well with a mechanical pencil for layout lines. There are lots of ways to do layout lines, but I really like doing them with the T-square. I'm a hobbyist, so anything that makes any part of the task enjoyable is a plus.

Regarding repeated cuts, I do like the parallel guides. They make the cuts pretty quickly and precisely. A table saw would be faster yet, but, in my hands, I think the tracksaw is safer for cutting large sheets. Can one lay out each cut manually?Certainly, and with good precision (I've done that). The parallel guides are quite expensive, and it's reasonable to spend that money on something else. I find that the guides speed up repeated cuts with the tracksaw. The downside is that you don't do layout lines with the parallel guides, so you don't get to use the T-square as much!  :

 

[semenza]

  Same as above I use it for marking sheet goods, mostly to position guide rails. Works great for that! Not sure if it would be a big improvement over using the rule stop though. With the possible exception of repeatability compared to counting on exact positioning of the rule stop.

    Mechanical pencil in the .9mm size is perfect.

Seth

 

[gnlman]

Hi. Yes I much prefer the track saw to the table saw....only owned a table saw for a couple years, and quite frankly it scares me most times.....lol.....
I should have been more clear, I use the rule stop and ruler against the back of the rail deducting the width of the rail and then set my parallel guides. I find greater accuracy on each end of the rail that way.
Thanks, Greg.

 

[Grasshopper]

Seth,

Which pencil do you use?  I have one that works, but I keep breaking leads and the tip is a little large for the holes.  If you have a pencil you've found that you like, I'd like to know which one so I can order it right away.

  Same as above I use it for marking sheet goods, mostly to position guide rails. Works great for that! Not sure if it would be a big improvement over using the rule stop though. With the possible exception of repeatability compared to counting on exact positioning of the rule stop.

    Mechanical pencil in the .9mm size is perfect.

Seth

 

[semenza]

Seth,

Which pencil do you use?  I have one that works, but I keep breaking leads and the tip is a little large for the holes.  If you have a pencil you've found that you like, I'd like to know which one so I can order it right away.

  Same as above I use it for marking sheet goods, mostly to position guide rails. Works great for that! Not sure if it would be a big improvement over using the rule stop though. With the possible exception of repeatability compared to counting on exact positioning of the rule stop.

    Mechanical pencil in the .9mm size is perfect.

Seth

  Pentel Graphgear 500. It is available in four lead diameters. .3, .5, .7, .9 The gray one is .9. Just make sure you are ordering the size you want. Amazon, Dick Blick and other places have them. It is point heavy. Makes it easy to hold vertically in the holes and just have a light touch. You don't really need to press down. I am using Pentel 2B lead.

Seth

 

[Grasshopper]

Thanks Seth!

Seth,

Which pencil do you use?  I have one that works, but I keep breaking leads and the tip is a little large for the holes.  If you have a pencil you've found that you like, I'd like to know which one so I can order it right away.

  Same as above I use it for marking sheet goods, mostly to position guide rails. Works great for that! Not sure if it would be a big improvement over using the rule stop though. With the possible exception of repeatability compared to counting on exact positioning of the rule stop.

    Mechanical pencil in the .9mm size is perfect.

Seth

  Pentel Graphgear 500. It is available in four lead diameters. .3, .5, .7, .9 The gray one is .9. Just make sure you are ordering the size you want. Amazon, Dick Blick and other places have them. It is point heavy. Makes it easy to hold vertically in the holes and just have a light touch. You don't really need to press down. I am using Pentel 2B lead.

Seth