Essential Guide to the Steel Square: How to Figure Everything Out with One Simple Tool, No Batteries Required (Fox Chapel Publishing) Unlock the Secrets of This Invaluable, Time-Honored Hand Tool

Over the years, when I have looked at a "framing square", I have been put in mind of going to the beach and seeing a guy wearing a tiny, lime green Speedo. The connection may not seem apparent at first, but as to the inadequately clothed male, I shake my head and think, "There are 11 men in America who might qualify to look right in that miniscule patch of lycra or spandex . . . . unfortunately, he is not one of them." When I have looked at a framing square with all the numbers, hash marks, dots, and seemingly inscrutable sets of fractions, I shake my head and think, "There are only 11 craftsmen in America who qualify to actually make total sense and proper use of that instrument . . . unfortunately, I'll never be one of them." I'm sure I will never be qualified to wear a Speedo. I am even more certain I will never be qualified to fully understand or use a framing square. Further, I anticpate the company of folk ever to have been so qualified in terms of the framing square has never been large in number. Sadly, that number is growing ever smaller as digital tools, hand-held computers, and software capable of near-instant-calculations continue to crop up in the construction trades and woodworkers' shops. Before the framing square slips into antique and woodworking memorabilia emporia, take the time to read and enjoy Ken Horner's Essential Guide to the Steel Square. An intention to use a square (whether it be a try square, combination square, speed square, or otherwise) for anything other than marking lines or simply checking your woodcuts for "square", is not a necessary prerequisite for reading and enjoying this book. This book is part history lesson, part instruction manual, part puzzle solver, and all terrific. It's value is to be measured by much more than the sum of its parts. Whether you want to know how to estimate board feet, lay out stairs, compute complex compound angles for roofing rafters, draw a circle, find the radius of an arc, compute the dimensions of an elliptical hole through a pitched roof necessary to accept a round pipe, or even measure the height of that big red oak in the backyard, you will learn how to do it all in simple step-by-step instructions. Not interested or in need of such eye-opening information for actual application? Then just read, or at least thoroughly browse, the book for pure joy, entertainment, and appreciation. If you need the information, you will be hard pressed to find a better, clearer, more easily applicable resource. If you don't need the information (that's me) read the book and you will find yourself sharing the secrets of the square with friends just for kicks. Nope, don't know Ken Horner; don't get anything else out of this review than the excitement of passing along good news.

I bought this for myself and another copy for a friend of similar nerdiness. I'm not so much a proponent of the steel square as I am interested in the historical aspects of tools, especially old (meaning invented a long time ago) tools, the bodies of knowledge that went with them, and the minds of the people who figured out how to do amazing things with simple tools like the square. I'd read little bits of information about the special capabilities of the steel square, but this compendium brings them all(?) together and has historical information to boot. I really like and identify with the author, visiting the place where the first modern steel square was developed and produced. His obvious delight in road trips to obscure places, in looking around corners and behind walls in small towns to find bits of obscure history hiding in our collective past, makes me grin ear to ear, and makes him a man to my heart. I wish I could meet him, and I wish him as many adventures of discovery as he can fit in between now and our inevitable end. I'm so glad he took the time to write this book, and pack so much knowledge and interesting history into one place. Thanks!

This book helped me figure out some special cutting and I’m happy with it as a resource

You might be asking yourself "how in the world can you write a whole book on something as simple as a framing square?" Well guess what, not only did Ken do just that, but did so with little to no filler. Everything from the history of the square to its uses is presented effectively and in a manner that anyone with a public education can understand and duplicate. On a more philosophical level, his encompassing presentation beckons a time where everything was not just a google search away and people had to rely on gained knowledge and skill sets. If you value your education and take pride in your work, this book is for you. Sure, technology has allowed us to work "smarter" and not harder, but this book proves that sometimes a little know-how and a simple tool is all you need to produce a masterpiece. DIYers and YouTube warriors are a dime a dozen, true craftsmen are a rare find. Be a craftsman, buy this book!

More than you'd ever think you'd need to know about the basics to advanced uses and functions of the seemingly simple framing square. Want to have some fun? Read the book then go into your local DIY center and ask the duty expert in the tool section if there is an instruction manual that comes with the framing square? You will likely get a blank stare and comments about how simple the thing is to use. Then ask him/her if they can explain how to determine the major and minor axis of an elipse using the framing square, or simply how to determine brace length, or calculate board feet using the square? This book shows in simple, easy to follow and understand detail all that and much more. I even asked a professional framer if he knew what all the various scales were for, he didn't. He then bought the book for himself.

This is probably my 3rd or 4th book on the steel square over the years. Overshadowing all is the deep value of this tool... learning about the steel square can lean one closer to, almost a philosophical, certainly, the historical anchors of this tool. This relatively new book is very useful. If you typically reach for the calculator when working out stairs, rafters and other geometric situations, try working it out with a square. Both methods support each other. Through each chapter, I saw practical methods explained how to do very ‘un-square’ things. Like looking at a square rigged ship, applying ohm’s law, or seven semi loads turning into a massive mobile crane, I’m left amazed pondering, “who worked all this out?”

I already know how to use Squares, I was hoping for some new useful insights, and while this book had many, none were for me. Most of the additional information in this book is how to use the square when you don't have a calculator, to set up ratios and whatnot... I see the necessity for this in the Days of Yore, but I have my handy Calculated Industries Construction Calculator. But for someone who had no idea how to use a rafter or speed square and who is interested, for sure get this book. Advanced users, you'll get very little extra gems from here.

This textbook is very informative, and simplifies all framing square questions someone may have in the field. Well done!

Testo base x apprendere gli usi delle squadre da carpentiere, con esempi di calcoli semplici da comprendere. Verifica delle squadre e i trucchi per portale effettivamente a90°, caso mai non lo fossero. Insomma un discreto approccio x chi vuole iniziare, compreso un pezzo di storia degli USA, non raccontata dai ns libri di storia scolastica

Unlocks the usefulness of the carpenters square.

Excellent Book with clear & concise instructions on using the framing square :Having used speed squares For rafter work for most of my roofing work & only occasionally would I venture down the framing square it seeming laborious in doing so figuring out all the marks on the Blade & Tongue ,how wrong & lazy was I being. This book gave me the knowledge to move on & literally make the speed square the one that sits in the bag now when Rafter work is ongoing ...Yes I would recommend it to all Trades as it is so simple to use once you have been guided with the knowledge in this book ,& you always have it for reference if you get stuck ,Unlike websites that disappear at the crucial point you need to look up something ,Old school is cool ,it is very efficient & their is a reason they still make these squares today .. Buy th ebook you will not want any other reference material for the framing square.

Excellent book, very useful!

As described