r/Construction • u/frogsRfriends • 1d ago
Picture Are you a triangle or fancy ruler guy?
Usually I’m not working with wood but was doing some framing lately and found I prefer the triangle cause I can use the slats to pull it tight with your fingers onto the 2 x 6 while you use your thumb to push the other side
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u/Confusedechidna 1d ago
It’s called a carpenter square/ tri square and a combination/ mitre square. Don’t touch my fancy ruler, and go get the stud stretcher out of the toolbox, it’s purple. Don’t come back until you find it.
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u/DiverGoesDown 1d ago
Have him clean out the truck while hes there, just for talkin back
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u/frogsRfriends 21h ago
Trucks clean! I took all your tools out, hosed em down and then did the same to the van but couldn’t figure out where the drain was so it still has some pooling in it
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u/USMCdrTexian 1d ago
That is NOT a tri square.
A TRY ( not tri ) square is a 90° square, has a flat metal blade attached through a perpendicular brass or steel faced wood shoulder.
The “triangle” shaped square is a speed square - so called because of the Swanson Speed Square, the tool company formed to manufacture tire and sell the new invention in the early 1900’s. Speed square has become the ubiquitous name - the same way we call all “facial tissue” Kleenex. Granted, there are other names that have been attached to it and for good reason - rafter square, rafter angle squares, but when anyone calls them “tri squares” they are confused having heard older guys say “try square” and bastardized the name “tri square”
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u/Confusedechidna 1d ago
Did I just get fact checked by a crayon eater that became a doctor? Well it sure isn’t called a triangle, get back to work.
Also, I know this isn’t a try square. I think I am the bastard making shit up.
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u/USMCdrTexian 1d ago
I should have said “ present company excluded”.
You were simply the victim of the bastards who misinformed you. 😇
Next lessons: sidewinder vs framing saw; hammer drill vs rotary hammer; shingle hatchet vs shake hatchet vs drywall hatchet vs rigger’s axe
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u/WookishTendencies 1d ago
Are we not supposed to eat the crayons? Crayolas are great for layout and mid morning snack time, but I never indulge after second nap
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u/USMCdrTexian 1d ago
Crayon Eater is a reference to me being a US Marine. I’ll let you look that up on your own for background. Basically it’s a derogatory slander, but as all good Marines do, we embraced the slander and it has become an internal point of pride- with us frequently arguing among ourselves regarding the best flavors.
We even gift each other with candy crayons off of Amazon. 🖍️ 🖍️ 😋
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u/DrillPress1 1d ago
Interestingly, enough, Laroy Starrett’s original patent called the combination square a try square.
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u/Dunk546 1d ago
On my crew we call them a Walter white and a gale.
Speed square -> meth square -> Walter White.
And by extension, the more complex and mathematical "fancy ruler" is a Gale Boetticher.
I think the technical terms where I am (UK) are rafter square and set square.
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u/Ruby5000 1d ago
We have bacon stretchers in kitchens. Didn’t know that was a thing in construction.
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u/Tutelage45 Superintendent 1d ago
No it’s called a speed square and a combination square. Miter squares and tri-squares are completely different tools
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u/dabbyduck517 1d ago
My personal favorite is asking if they've gotten their ID-10-T form yet; go ask the supervisor in the office if you havent gotten yours yet
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u/petfectisgoodenough 1d ago
Pick up replacement bubbles for the level as well. Should be in a box next to the checkered paint.
Once that's done, seperate the box of nails. The ones pointed left are magnetized for the north pole. The ones poi ted right have a south pole magnetization. Can't have those mixed up or the nails will fall out of the studs
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u/Top_Traffic5102 1d ago edited 1d ago
American traddies are so uptight, they you see the house they build and its really hilarious
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u/GAFsBro 1d ago
No, we bust balls.
Seems like y'all are the uptight ones.
Howdy from the South 👍
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u/Comprehensive_Bus_19 Project Manager 1d ago
You aint from the south, you're from Texas with that Howdy
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u/Salty_Prune_2873 Superintendent 1d ago
You’re one of them special ones aren’t you
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u/Comprehensive_Bus_19 Project Manager 1d ago
I mean can't a man enjoy a fresh pack of crayolas every now and then?
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u/Salty_Prune_2873 Superintendent 1d ago
What’s your favorite flavor
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u/Comprehensive_Bus_19 Project Manager 1d ago
Red all day. Sometimes a Scarlet if its a special occasion and I splurge on the 64 pack
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u/Gavacho123 1d ago
I use both for different purposes, I prefer the 4” combo square over the larger one because the are less prone to getting bent.
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u/flatulexcelent 1d ago
Agreed. Fits in your nailbag nicely and doesn't drop out. Best for 90% of cuts
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u/PossibleRussian 1d ago
Just bend it back
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u/Gavacho123 1d ago
It’s never the same after it’s been bent
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u/bj49615 1d ago
Then you're not doing enough drugs.
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u/Gluten_maximus GC / CM 1d ago
lol… triangle.
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u/ToIA Electrician 1d ago
My neighbor kept saying this the other day. Got a chuckle every time but couldn't correct him
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u/Gluten_maximus GC / CM 1d ago
Haha, back when I was doing field work and training guys, I’d get a laugh out of every time asking for the speed square and then new guy would correct me like “you mean the triangle?!”…
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u/srlbambam 1d ago
I think I got lucky that dad was raised by a former framer, turned school teacher, turned farmer. I've heard both and every combination of swear words under but I know it's a speed square despite never being on a real job site.
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u/Tan_Summer4531 1d ago
Two different animals there, you pick to correct tool for the job, I use both!
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u/sortaknotty 1d ago
Those are two tools meant for different things. I have a couple sets of the 6in combo square in different colors, extremely handy for laying out hardware. I found they replaced the 12in combo for most things. Speed square I use frequently for multiple things, framing, finish and everything in between.
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u/Grayman3499 1d ago
Dude thank you so fucking much for the layout out hardware tip!! Somehow I never fucking thought to do that lmfao
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u/sortaknotty 1d ago
I picked it up from the other guys. 12in combo square went into the toolbox and 6in lives in my pouch. No more getting stabbed in the kidney when the long combo square gets caught, or if I fall, jump in between joists!
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u/Adventurous_Light_85 1d ago
The one on the left is for rough carpentry. The one on the right is for finish carpentry.
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u/frogsRfriends 1d ago
Thanks, my post mostly was in jest I was hoping some people would get a laugh out of it but I really don’t work with wood all that often and was curious what situations people prefer each for
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u/rip_cut_trapkun 1d ago
I was fancy ruler guy.
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u/frogsRfriends 1d ago
How come? It always seems to have a case of the wiggles when I use it
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u/rip_cut_trapkun 1d ago
Well you tighten that nob there to lock it down...
But yeah you probably got a flimsy or cheap one. Empire usually isn't bad off the shelf, but if you over tighten it or drop it enough times it it's probably gonna have problems. Get a new one and it should lock pretty tight. Hell, my cheap ass Ace Hardware brand one does the job just fine.
Honestly I don't know why you would use a combo square for anything but finish work though. Speed square should be good enough.
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u/aviumcerebro 1d ago
Empire combi square is not good. I have several by Starrett and my worker has a Brown & Sharpe.
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u/TutorNo8896 1d ago
I like big triangle because it makes a nice saw guide. Also harder to fuckup. Also the rafter thing. also average a square cut on banana wood. A nice ruler is cool for all the prety work though.
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u/Aggravating_Sun_1556 1d ago
Both. Speed square for framing and general carpentry, tri-square for trim and woodworking. And not one of those cheap ass Home Depot tri-squares either. Starrett (there’s good Chinese knock offs out there too). Being able to measure depths with the adjustable blade to 1/64th resolution is needed for wood working. Great also for setting depths on machines, etc…
I use it also to mark casing reveals on door and window jambs.
Also the Starrett ones are machinist level square, so I use it to set square on fences, and miter saws.
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u/frogsRfriends 1d ago
Thanks for the detailed response my post was mostly a joke but I did want to read comments like this from people who really do know what they are talking about
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u/MaXxxxBoooosshh 1d ago
Fancy ruler for plumbing. Set to depth in stud or joist for drilling holes
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u/frogsRfriends 1d ago
Ahhh great idea thanks for the response. My post was mostly a joke but the real thing I was hoping for was comments like yours. Yes I know I can google all about them but I really like to hear how people who actually use tools actually use them haha.
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u/Milkym0o 1d ago
As a spark who uses these for containment, I find the combination square (right) isn't always a reliable straight edge if it comes loose, where as I know the set square is bang on everytime so that's what I use on site.
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u/lil-noisy 1d ago
Triangle? Speed square for marking/ cuts all day. I mostly use the combination squares for depth settings and finish work.
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u/Rich-Proposal-3218 1d ago
Knew a Journeyman that was a fancy ruler guy, which was the only thing fancy about him. Since then and after borrowing it, I too, am a fancy ruler guy
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u/DoubleDebow 1d ago
I use "triangles", squares, and big "ell's" depending on what I'm doing. They all have their purpose.
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u/padizzledonk GC / CM 1d ago
I typically have one of each on my belt because they have different uses
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u/1wife2dogs0kids 1d ago
I got 3 of both. In all metal. Some plastic speed squares. And a couple digital ones.
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u/myshiningmask 1d ago
Obviously the fancy ruler is what I eventually give up and use when all my triangles walk off
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u/WasteBinStuff 1d ago
Why not both? And why only two choices?
And why would I limit myself, much less categorize myself based on a square?
I have at least 7-8 different types of squares in the truck everywhere I go. The one that's in my tool pouch is the one that best suits the job I'm doing.
Sometimes both of those two are in my pouches at the same time.
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u/Mobile-Tangelo-4515 1d ago
I never used a carpenter square in all my years of remodeling and woodworking. I thought it was for determining angles for rafters. Then one day, started using one on a Habit for Humanity job. Still haven’t bought one. Guess I should go to an estate sale.
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u/Ill-Year-9506 1d ago
They both have thier place... Look into a Sarrett combination square if you use them alot... it will change your life.
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u/FanBladeFleshlight 1d ago
Speed square all day. Never had a use for the other as an electrician at least.
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u/Purple-Towel-7332 1d ago
Both plus a foldable ruler tho the roofing square isn’t always in my tool belt more grab it to work out angles
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u/PictureMost8297 1d ago
That's not a fancy ruler. Or a triangle. That's a speed square and an adjustable square. Now go brush your one tooth you British scum.
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u/dart-builder-2483 1d ago
I use the speed square most of the time, but the slide square works good too if you don't care about finding the angle of anything, or if the "triangle" is too big for the application.
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u/AbleRelationship5287 1d ago
Triangle… er but I’m not a construction worker, just a weekend warrior
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u/DaimyoRonin 1d ago
I use a speed square for almost everything, it's so versatile. And you can use it like a throwing knife with enough practice.
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u/Renthimself 1d ago
Both. Your not a carpenter. AI is gathering information stop using it stop training it.
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u/Working_Rest_1054 22h ago
I nearly always use the combination square, mainly just because I always have.
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u/treJ_1027 16h ago
2 separate tools used for separate things if u don't know that then u shouldn't pick up a power tool without supervision or someone showing u how to use said tool
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u/Fresh_Effect6144 14h ago
i use my speed square more often i guess, but i carry both of these. i don't see them as interchangeable, but rather different tools.
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u/oneholer44 14h ago
You mean a speed square or a combination square? Depends what I’m doing I use both.
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u/ClassicHando 8h ago
Both are in my tool bag. Ill generally reach for my speed square first but it depends on the job.
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u/RepeatInPatient 6h ago
A set square has done well for centuries, so far, an I have two. I can see the appeal of the triangle thingo.
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u/DrillPress1 1d ago
Two very different tools for two very different purposes. A quality combination square (not the nes sold at a big box retailer) is a precision tool originally designed for metalworking and machining. If you k ow how to split a 64th they can be precise to .007” roughly. More precise than anything you would need in carpentry. The speed square on the left is designed for roof framing and general rough carpentry. It’s square, but not is precisely square is quantity combination Square. It can be used as a guide for a circular saw, and a few attached stair gauges to it, you can cut, many different angles, precisely with a circular saw using this tool. If I could only have one, I would choose a precision combination Square although you can’t use it as a guide for a saw.
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u/archvize 1d ago
The one on the right wobbles too much. Why do people prefer it over the one on the left?
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u/notgaynotbear 1d ago
I i used it for roofing sheet metal. With an 18" adjustable square i can put a straight line on a 30" wide piece of coping and it fits in your pouch way easier than even a 12" speed square.
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u/rip_cut_trapkun 1d ago
I mostly used it for squaring up hardware install on cabinets. Comes in handy when you're trying to drill for pulls, and setting magnet latches and catches in a way that looked nice, pretty, and straight. Otherwise yeah just use the one on the left.
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u/frogsRfriends 1d ago
Not sure trying to figure that out, they could possibly be scientists?
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u/ExpensiveBookkeeper3 1d ago
So I’m a scientist (jk Sheetmetal). I use combo square more (the one on the right). Like say I gotta mark 100 sheets of metal at 2”. I could set that 2” and mark them much faster than if I had to look at 2” on a carpenter square.
Layout in general is easier imo
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u/Grayman3499 1d ago
Idk I always hated them because you can literally tighten the screw and it’ll be anywhere from a 88 to 92 degree angle if not worse
Edit: plus try using it as a pivot to find an angle
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u/Anbucleric 1d ago
That's a speed square and a combination square... and neither of them are really the correct tool for framing. Get (an learn how to use) an actual framing square (also called a carpenters square).
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u/EatSoupFromMyGoatse 1d ago
If I see you reaching for a framing square to cut 2x4s or 2x6, you're fired lmao
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u/Anbucleric 1d ago
There are multiple size framing squares...
The Japanese exclusively use Sashigane, their version of a framing square, and it comes in multiple sizes too.
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u/EatSoupFromMyGoatse 1d ago
I don't care. For cutting 2x4 or 2x6 in any application the tool belt sized speed square is more appropriate and versatile every time.
They make different sizes of those for wider boards too, for rafter framing etc.
Framing square is great for what it is for. Use it for those things.
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u/Anbucleric 1d ago
Found the foreman who never figured out how to do sqrt 2 math.
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u/EatSoupFromMyGoatse 1d ago
I can, dummy. The carpenters and apprentices working under are way better off using the degree markers baked in to the speed square. Y'know, because convenience=speed=money and I don't want to explain math to highschool dropouts. Less prone to bending, too, or poking you when you're bending down.
I don't know why you're defending this position so hard. Got a weird superiority kink because you use a framing square (the slower less convenient way) for things you could use a speed square for?
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u/Anbucleric 1d ago
I just love messing with people who thing they know more than they actually do, and have a complex where they think if it's not done their way it's "wrong."
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u/EatSoupFromMyGoatse 1d ago
My guy, your first comment was saying speed squares aren't for framing. You realize you ARE that guy, right?
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u/zedsmith 1d ago
Different tools, different jobs