Starrett Squares & Bevels

Starrett Squares & Bevels at Tooled-Up.com

For over 140 years, Starrett has been synonymous with precision measurement tools that set the industry standard. The company's squares and bevels represent the pinnacle of engineering excellence, combining traditional craftsmanship with modern manufacturing techniques to deliver tools that professionals rely on daily. From the iconic combination square to specialist engineer's bevels, Starrett's measuring instruments are crafted to deliver uncompromising accuracy across carpentry, metalworking, engineering, and precision manufacturing applications.

Tooled-Up.com stocks a comprehensive range of Starrett Squares & Bevels, encompassing everything from hardened steel try squares and precision engineer's squares to adjustable combination squares and sliding bevels. Each tool undergoes rigorous quality control to ensure it meets Starrett's legendary standards for flatness, squareness, and durability. Whether you're setting up machinery, checking right angles on joinery work, or transferring complex angles in steel fabrication, Starrett's measuring tools deliver the confidence that comes from knowing your measurements are absolutely reliable.

The Starrett range includes both imperial and metric calibrations, with many combination squares featuring dual measurement systems to suit different project requirements. These aren't disposable tools – they're precision instruments built to last a professional lifetime, with hardened and tempered blades, graduated scales that resist wear, and robust locking mechanisms that maintain their grip even after years of workshop use.

Why Choose Starrett Squares & Bevels?

Starrett's reputation in the precision measurement field is unmatched, built on over a century of innovation and unwavering commitment to accuracy. When tradespeople and engineers specify Starrett squares and bevels, they're investing in tools that represent the gold standard in their category. The company's manufacturing processes include precision grinding, hardening to specific Rockwell ratings, and multi-point inspection protocols that ensure every tool leaving the factory meets exacting specifications.

The materials used in Starrett squares and bevels reflect the company's no-compromise approach to quality. Blades are manufactured from hardened and tempered steel or stainless steel, with satin chrome finishes that reduce glare whilst resisting corrosion. The graduations are precisely etched or photo-engraved, creating permanent markings that won't wear away even with intensive use. Starrett's combination square heads feature machined surfaces that maintain perfect contact with the blade, eliminating the play and wobble that compromises accuracy in lesser tools.

Perhaps most importantly, Starrett tools maintain their accuracy over time. Whilst budget alternatives may start square but lose their precision through wear and impact, Starrett's hardened construction and superior metallurgy ensure these tools remain reliable reference standards throughout their working life. This longevity makes them a sound investment for professionals who depend on accurate measurements day after day.

Who Uses Starrett Squares & Bevels?

• Precision Engineers and Toolmakers: For setting up machine tools, checking right angles on machined components, and verifying?? piece squareness
• Joiners and Carpenters: Essential for marking out timber, checking frame squareness, and setting saw angles
• Steel Fabricators and Welders: For layout work, checking fabrication angles, and ensuring structural accuracy before welding
• Pattern Makers: Requiring absolute precision when creating templates and patterns for casting work
• Site Engineers and Surveyors: For establishing reference angles and checking construction accuracy
• Workshop Instructors and Apprentice Training Centres: Teaching proper measurement techniques with industry-standard tools
• Quality Control Inspectors: Using Starrett tools as reliable reference standards for component verification
• Shopfitters and Installers: For precise marking and checking of fitted furniture and cabinetry

Key Features of Starrett Squares & Bevels

Precision Ground Surfaces: Starrett squares feature meticulously ground faces and edges that achieve flatness and squareness tolerances measured in thousandths of a millimetre. This precision grinding is what separates professional-grade tools from approximate alternatives.

Hardened and Tempered Construction: Blades are heat-treated to optimum hardness levels that resist wear whilst maintaining sufficient toughness to withstand workshop impacts. This careful metallurgical balance ensures long-term dimensional stability and accuracy retention.

Photo-Engraved and Etched Graduations: Measurement markings are permanently applied through advanced engraving processes, creating crisp, clear scales that remain legible throughout the tool's lifetime. The graduations are precisely positioned to ensure accurate readings.

Machined Heads and Components: Combination square heads and bevel fittings are precision-machined from solid stock, with bearing surfaces ground flat and parallel. This attention to detail eliminates the looseness and inaccuracy common in cast or stamped alternatives.

Secure Locking Mechanisms: The clamping systems on Starrett combination squares and bevels maintain their grip pressure over years of use, ensuring settings remain locked even when tools are subjected to the knocks and vibrations of workshop environments.

Corrosion-Resistant Finishes: Satin chrome and specialised coatings protect against rust whilst reducing glare under workshop lighting, making measurement scales easier to read in varied conditions.

Popular Starrett Squares & Bevels

Starrett Combination Squares: Perhaps the most versatile measuring tool in any workshop, these feature a graduated blade with interchangeable heads for measuring 90° and 45° angles, scribing parallel lines, and checking depths. Available in various blade lengths from 150mm to 600mm, with both metric and imperial graduations.

Engineer's Squares: Precision ground steel squares designed for metalworking applications where absolute accuracy is non-negotiable. Available in sizes from 50mm to 600mm, these tools serve as workshop reference standards for checking right angles on machined components.

Try Squares: Traditional carpenter's squares with hardened steel blades and ebony or rosewood stocks, offering the perfect combination of accuracy and traditional craftsmanship for woodworking applications.

Sliding Bevels: Also known as adjustable bevels or bevel gauges, these tools allow the transfer and duplication of any angle. Starrett bevels feature robust locking mechanisms and hardened blades that maintain their straightness under workshop conditions.

Double Squares: Specialised tools offering increased stability and accuracy for larger work pieces, with extended bases that bridge across wider surfaces whilst maintaining perfect squareness.

Safety and Compliance

Whilst squares and bevels don't pose the immediate safety concerns of power tools, proper use and maintenance are essential for workplace safety and measurement accuracy. Always inspect Starrett tools before use, checking for damage to edges, blade straightness, and secure locking of adjustable components. Damaged squares can lead to inaccurate measurements, potentially compromising the safety of finished assemblies or structures.

Store Starrett squares and bevels properly to maintain their precision – hanging storage or protective cases prevent the edge damage that occurs when tools are thrown loose in toolboxes. Clean tools after use, particularly when working with materials that promote corrosion, and apply a light film of protective oil to uncoated surfaces in humid environments.

In professional workshop settings, consider designating certain Starrett squares as inspection standards that remain in controlled storage and are used solely for verification work. This ensures you always have a reliable reference tool for checking the accuracy of working squares subjected to daily workshop rigours.

When using squares for machinery setup or checking components that will bear loads or experience stress in service, remember that measurement accuracy directly affects safety outcomes. The precision of Starrett tools supports compliance with engineering tolerances specified in British Standards and industry codes of practice.

Frequently Asked Questions

What's the difference between Starrett combination squares and engineer's squares?

Combination squares feature adjustable heads that slide along a graduated blade, allowing measurement of various distances, depths, and angles. They're versatile general-purpose tools. Engineer's squares are fixed L-shaped tools precision-ground to extremely tight tolerances, serving as reference standards for checking right angles in metalworking. Starrett engineer's squares typically offer higher accuracy specifications than combination squares and are preferred for precision engineering applications.

How should I care for my Starrett squares and bevels?

Keep blades and reference surfaces clean and free from burrs or damage. Wipe tools after use and apply a thin coat of protective oil to prevent corrosion. Store squares hanging or in protective cases rather than loose in toolboxes where edges can be damaged. Never use squares as levers or striking tools. Periodically check accuracy against known reference standards, particularly if tools have been dropped or subjected to impact.

Are Starrett squares suitable for both woodworking and metalworking?

Yes, though specific models are optimised for each application. Starrett combination squares and engineer's squares work equally well in both trades, whilst traditional try squares with wooden stocks are preferred by joiners and carpenters. The Tooled-Up Starrett range includes options suitable for all trades requiring precision angle measurement and marking.

What accuracy can I expect from Starrett squares?

Starrett engineer's squares are manufactured to extremely tight tolerances, typically within 0.002" to 0.005" per inch of blade length depending on the grade and size. Combination squares meet specifications appropriate for their intended general-purpose use. All Starrett squares significantly exceed the accuracy of budget alternatives, with precision-ground surfaces and proper heat treatment ensuring they maintain their accuracy over years of professional use.

Can Starrett combination square blades be replaced if damaged?

Yes, replacement blades are available from Tooled-Up for most Starrett combination square models, allowing you to restore tools rather than replacing entire assemblies. This modularity represents excellent value over the tool's lifetime, as heads rarely wear out whilst blades may eventually require replacement after years of heavy use. Always match replacement blades to the specific head model to ensure proper fit and accuracy.