Cylinder square

[wizard69]

I have never owned a cylinder square and at the price of commercial ones I decided to have a go at making one, at work we used to make our own for the shop table although they were case hardened and ground and strangely rarely used, when the factory closed I could have had one for the asking.

Sometimes it is hard to turn down these opportunities to get free stuff and other times you don't want to feel like a pack rat. Learn from your mistakes and take everything allowed and will fit in the car/truck.

I have a number of old squares which I have been having doubts with and so need need checking apart from its use for machined items.
It is not that difficult to make your own cylinder square for home use say 2" x 5", accurate turning and facing between dead centres with a lapped & polished finish would suffice. With careful use and a descent steel (mine is some pre hardened mystery steel) this is not a high wear item, just a reference point. The only wear would be on the faces which could be refaced if need be.
I had to step back from the chrome like finish I had produced as the reflective effect made it difficult to use. With a 2-3 mike it is within 2 tenths on dia end for end, good enough for me.
Well after checking all my squares they are NBG so they will go to my carpentry box and I will buy a couple of good quality ones, at least I now know for sure.

This is something I learned the hard way when just a young guy working in my fathers garage. I had a little wood working project that just wouldn't go together right I finally discovered that the cheap department store square I had was grossly out. Wasted a bit of material due to that tool not being up to spec. After getting some cash together I went out and bought a good Starret square. To this day I will not trust a square I don't own. Fortunately they are easy to check.

By the way, a square like this, assuming it is hardened, would be worth having it professionally ground. Make it out of A2 to reduce corrosion and you will have a primary reference tool. Some tools are worth investing a little extra money in. Actually a lined casket for the square would be a fitting place to put it when not in use.