I acquired my Starrett combination square almost forty years ago. It was used and not well cared for and the price paid matched the condition of the tool. Some time was spent thoroughly cleaning the parts and squaring the ruler. I also replaced the spring. It's a nice tool for me to use. I also acknowledge that the edges have softened with seventy five or so years of use. Thank you for your review.
Thanks for your comment Howard. I know tradesmen who have forgotten more than I know who swear by their Starrett combination squares so I'm not saying for one minute they're all rubbish. What surprised me was when I contacted the supplier where I bought it, it was almost as if they expected it to be returned and said they needed to speak to the company about a drop in quality recently. I am sure this is something they will rectify and also I'm sure older issues will be absolutely superb. Thanks again for commenting, I love hearing people's love of their kit.
I know this is probably too late to matter, but the problem with getting the rule onto the square portion is pretty typical of a lot of combination squares. With the Starrett, the quickest way is to start the rule in the correct direction to meet up with the pin inside the square. Once you've done that, push the adjuster up which is spring loaded and then slide the rule onto the pin. Once its started, you can let go of the adjuster. It should slide right on from there. You had also mentioned it wearing out over time. A lot of combination squares have a fine adjuster pin inside that you can file if necessary and in some cases a screw that you can set to adjust the squareness. I have a very old Starrett combination with all the parts and it is still quite accurate.
Well what can I say, I bought mine back in 1961 when I was an apprentice Pattern-maker costing me about £20 back then for the complete set. Of course back then the scale was imperial with graduations down to 1/100 of an inch. I have retired now but still use the tool regularly for my private projects, so apart from general maintenance it remains the perfect tool it was when purchased and the only downer is that someone stole the scriber about forty years ago. So in response to your comment about difficulty in assembly either Starret’s quality control has deteriorated over the years or you just have a bad one and you should not just send it back but exchange it for another and do a further review.
As far as precision work. Starrett and mitutoyo are absoloutly the reference. I work as an Industrial Maintenance Technician in the states and use precision tools like micrometers, combination squares, and calipers every single day. The tolerance is absolutely insane. The only way a straight edge and base stay as true as possible is for it to have the definition of zero play. As far as putting the straight edge into the 90/45 make sure the spring loaded clamp is lined up with the guide of the straight edge. You typically have to loosed the clamp quite a bit which will alow the clamp to move free. I've shown this to guys at work who refuse to use the starrett for their johnson. Once I show them how to properly assemble these....they have never looked back. I am a precision tool fanatic. I will always find an excuse to break out the micrometers or combo squares. I always have a set of digital mitutoyo 6 inch calipers and a starrett 6 inch combo in my bag. Especaily since I also do design engineering at that facility as well. Fantastic tools, but just like wiha kompact Allen's. If there's any kind of debris in the head of the bolt. They will not fit.
I can't begin to thank you for this comment enough! You see, I'm an enthusiastic lover of tools and sometimes they take a while to adjust too, whereas you're a true professional and know how this kit is best applied. Thanks so much for your insight and knowledge and for better helping me understand the Starrett combination square, thank you.
@@blowfeld38 I wouldn't say a professional, just a guy who fixes things for a living, and a huge appreciation for precision after years of sub-bar fitment lol. Only within the last year have I even remotely had the opportunity to use precision tools. It just makes the end result so much better! I'll always ALWAYS share knowledge. My job field is plagued with ego heavy people never willing to share the knowledge gained. So a young guy (29 years old) like myself has had to take time outside of work to research and use trial and error to become a more competitive technician.
Last month I bought a Starrett 6 inch to replace an inexpensive Empire that had become hard to operate and that would no longer hold a setting, somewhat like the one you started your review with (but not that bad). I got an easier to use tool, but it is not as good as the Starrett 12 inch that I bought used years ago. However, the new Starrett is 0.010 inch out of square over 6 inches! Their quality has really gone to hell; they are not the same as the old Starrett at all! I left reviews at Rockler (where I bought it) and on Amazon (at least I submitted one; hope it shows up) warning people away. On my own channel, I plan to submit videos showing comprehensive accuracy testing of the two Starrett combination squares using professional metrology equipment (already done), and also my planned attempt to fix the 6 inch.
Clearly a hit piece by a Brit. These are the penultimate design created by the innovator of the combination square. This guy has feeble hands who can't handle the simple spring that creates the square angle that this tool registers on. Do not listen to this advice and I recommend you try this item and decide for yourself. I was baffled by why this person said what he said about this nice piece of machined hardware and the only reason I can come to a conclusion has to do with an Independence Day and I think that is just silly. Use your Freedom Units with pride and enjoy this bit of measuring perfection and thank me later.
I work in metal fabrication. My shop is very picky about what brands of measuring devices we use. Tape measures must be Stanley brand. However when it comes to precision we are permitted SPI brand or mititoyo if we cannot afford starrett.
As mentioned in an earlier comment Starrett is the absolute standard in precision. I’m a woodworker and carpenter with 47+ years of experience, who does very high end work. Most of my precision measuring tools are Starrett and early Lufkin with a few Mitutoyo calipers. I really have more Starrett tools than I can count, some I inherited from my father, who apprenticed as a machinist. The tools I use the most are my forged/ hardened Lufkin 6” try square and my Starrett C33HC-12-4R 12” combination square and center head. These are the forged and hardened stocks with the satin chrome rule with the 4R gradient 1/16, 1/8, 1/32, 1/64” markings. It’s so precise and smooth sliding, easy to remove and reconfigure the blade that I was amazed to see your poor review of a Starrett square. I will say the combo squares do loosen up a bit with use and once you get used to them it’s kind of all automatic. Starrett tools are the best in my book and I have a large tool quiver.
I acquired my Starrett combination square almost forty years ago. It was used and not well cared for and the price paid matched the condition of the tool. Some time was spent thoroughly cleaning the parts and squaring the ruler. I also replaced the spring. It's a nice tool for me to use. I also acknowledge that the edges have softened with seventy five or so years of use. Thank you for your review.
Thanks for your comment Howard. I know tradesmen who have forgotten more than I know who swear by their Starrett combination squares so I'm not saying for one minute they're all rubbish. What surprised me was when I contacted the supplier where I bought it, it was almost as if they expected it to be returned and said they needed to speak to the company about a drop in quality recently.
I am sure this is something they will rectify and also I'm sure older issues will be absolutely superb.
Thanks again for commenting, I love hearing people's love of their kit.
I know this is probably too late to matter, but the problem with getting the rule onto the square portion is pretty typical of a lot of combination squares. With the Starrett, the quickest way is to start the rule in the correct direction to meet up with the pin inside the square. Once you've done that, push the adjuster up which is spring loaded and then slide the rule onto the pin. Once its started, you can let go of the adjuster. It should slide right on from there. You had also mentioned it wearing out over time. A lot of combination squares have a fine adjuster pin inside that you can file if necessary and in some cases a screw that you can set to adjust the squareness. I have a very old Starrett combination with all the parts and it is still quite accurate.
Well what can I say, I bought mine back in 1961 when I was an apprentice Pattern-maker costing me about £20 back then for the complete set. Of course back then the scale was imperial with graduations down to 1/100 of an inch.
I have retired now but still use the tool regularly for my private projects, so apart from general maintenance it remains the perfect tool it was when purchased and the only downer is that someone stole the scriber about forty years ago.
So in response to your comment about difficulty in assembly either Starret’s quality control has deteriorated over the years or you just have a bad one and you should not just send it back but exchange it for another and do a further review.
Thanks for the video! I ended up buying a 300mm bridge city and certainly considered this video when making the choice. It’s fairly phenomenal
As far as precision work. Starrett and mitutoyo are absoloutly the reference. I work as an Industrial Maintenance Technician in the states and use precision tools like micrometers, combination squares, and calipers every single day.
The tolerance is absolutely insane. The only way a straight edge and base stay as true as possible is for it to have the definition of zero play.
As far as putting the straight edge into the 90/45 make sure the spring loaded clamp is lined up with the guide of the straight edge. You typically have to loosed the clamp quite a bit which will alow the clamp to move free.
I've shown this to guys at work who refuse to use the starrett for their johnson. Once I show them how to properly assemble these....they have never looked back.
I am a precision tool fanatic. I will always find an excuse to break out the micrometers or combo squares. I always have a set of digital mitutoyo 6 inch calipers and a starrett 6 inch combo in my bag. Especaily since I also do design engineering at that facility as well. Fantastic tools, but just like wiha kompact Allen's. If there's any kind of debris in the head of the bolt. They will not fit.
I can't begin to thank you for this comment enough!
You see, I'm an enthusiastic lover of tools and sometimes they take a while to adjust too, whereas you're a true professional and know how this kit is best applied.
Thanks so much for your insight and knowledge and for better helping me understand the Starrett combination square, thank you.
@@blowfeld38 I wouldn't say a professional, just a guy who fixes things for a living, and a huge appreciation for precision after years of sub-bar fitment lol.
Only within the last year have I even remotely had the opportunity to use precision tools. It just makes the end result so much better!
I'll always ALWAYS share knowledge. My job field is plagued with ego heavy people never willing to share the knowledge gained. So a young guy (29 years old) like myself has had to take time outside of work to research and use trial and error to become a more competitive technician.
@@jordancoleman2693 you're on course for great success with that attitude mate, kudos to you.
Last month I bought a Starrett 6 inch to replace an inexpensive Empire that had become hard to operate and that would no longer hold a setting, somewhat like the one you started your review with (but not that bad).
I got an easier to use tool, but it is not as good as the Starrett 12 inch that I bought used years ago.
However, the new Starrett is 0.010 inch out of square over 6 inches! Their quality has really gone to hell; they are not the same as the old Starrett at all! I left reviews at Rockler (where I bought it) and on Amazon (at least I submitted one; hope it shows up) warning people away.
On my own channel, I plan to submit videos showing comprehensive accuracy testing of the two Starrett combination squares using professional metrology equipment (already done), and also my planned attempt to fix the 6 inch.
Clearly a hit piece by a Brit. These are the penultimate design created by the innovator of the combination square. This guy has feeble hands who can't handle the simple spring that creates the square angle that this tool registers on. Do not listen to this advice and I recommend you try this item and decide for yourself.
I was baffled by why this person said what he said about this nice piece of machined hardware and the only reason I can come to a conclusion has to do with an Independence Day and I think that is just silly.
Use your Freedom Units with pride and enjoy this bit of measuring perfection and thank me later.
Awh Dang, I need a combination square. So that's Starrett off the list where to go now???
Bridge city tools ;)
I work in metal fabrication. My shop is very picky about what brands of measuring devices we use. Tape measures must be Stanley brand. However when it comes to precision we are permitted SPI brand or mititoyo if we cannot afford starrett.
As mentioned in an earlier comment Starrett is the absolute standard in precision. I’m a woodworker and carpenter with 47+ years of experience, who does very high end work. Most of my precision measuring tools are Starrett and early Lufkin with a few Mitutoyo calipers. I really have more Starrett tools than I can count, some I inherited from my father, who apprenticed as a machinist. The tools I use the most are my forged/ hardened Lufkin 6” try square and my Starrett C33HC-12-4R 12” combination square and center head. These are the forged and hardened stocks with the satin chrome rule with the 4R gradient 1/16, 1/8, 1/32, 1/64” markings. It’s so precise and smooth sliding, easy to remove and reconfigure the blade that I was amazed to see your poor review of a Starrett square. I will say the combo squares do loosen up a bit with use and once you get used to them it’s kind of all automatic. Starrett tools are the best in my book and I have a large tool quiver.
I just bought mine for us$350