As some of you know, I give kind of informal classes in beginning scrollsaw. This is something I do without any compensation - I consider it a kind of volunteering. Anyhow, I am rather fiscally challenged, so I get cheap wood, leftovers, etc. to keep the costs down for the class. I've been sharing my 2" square around the class, but I keep reminding them to check their cuts for square (to make sure they're not pushing the blade out of perpendicular) as well as checking the blade to table for the 90 degree angle. That little square was really in demand.
Last week I was in my friendly hardware store, and spied the metal reinforcing L's. I bought a package of the 2" ones and checked them at home for accuracy. They were right on, as close as I could tell. So... I can now supply each student with a good enough square for about 40 cents (79 cents for a pkg of 2). They get to keep them - for some of these women, it is the first "tool" they've ever owned. (Hard to imagine, I know!)
These are the ones that are just a flat piece of L-shaped metal with some screw holes in them - not the ones that are bent into an L-shape.
Of course, I will never give up my good square, but now I get to keep it for me, and still nobody has an excuse for not checking for square.
Sandy
I'm thinking some of you might want to use them for the youngsters in your shop, or even to take out where little tools might be - ahem- borrowed like at a fair or other demonstration. Or maybe even when you can't find that dratted square amongst the sawdust.
Last week I was in my friendly hardware store, and spied the metal reinforcing L's. I bought a package of the 2" ones and checked them at home for accuracy. They were right on, as close as I could tell. So... I can now supply each student with a good enough square for about 40 cents (79 cents for a pkg of 2). They get to keep them - for some of these women, it is the first "tool" they've ever owned. (Hard to imagine, I know!)
These are the ones that are just a flat piece of L-shaped metal with some screw holes in them - not the ones that are bent into an L-shape.
Of course, I will never give up my good square, but now I get to keep it for me, and still nobody has an excuse for not checking for square.

Sandy
I'm thinking some of you might want to use them for the youngsters in your shop, or even to take out where little tools might be - ahem- borrowed like at a fair or other demonstration. Or maybe even when you can't find that dratted square amongst the sawdust.
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