Essential Guide to the Steel Square: Facts, Short-Cuts, and Problem-Solving Secrets for Carpenters, Woodworkers & Builders (Woodworker's Essentials & More) [Paperback]

Ken Horner (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1, 2007 | Series: Woodworker's Essentials & More

Ideal for solving virtually every geometric and layout problem, this guide to the steel square blends practical advice with skill-building exercises designed to help readers get the most out of this amazing tool. Unlocking the secrets of this versatile device, professional advice covers a wide range of topics—including making measurements as fine as one-hundredth of an inch, finding the center of a circle, and building stairs—making this guide a must-have reference for woodworkers, carpenters, tool collectors, and anyone interested in the history of tools.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A valuable reference for woodworkers, carpenters, and builders who want to learn how to use the steel square, and offers hundreds of charts, illustrations and exercises."  —Woodshop News

About the Author

Ken Horner is a lifelong woodworker and the author of Woodworkers’ Essential Facts, Formulas & Short-Cuts and MORE Woodworkers’ Essential Facts, Formulas & Short-Cuts. He lives in Sunnyvale, California.

Product Details

• Paperback: 181 pages
• Publisher: Fox Chapel Publishing (October 1, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1565233425
• ISBN-13: 978-1565233423
• Product Dimensions: 9.9 x 8 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (9 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #327,174 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #29 in Books > Crafts, Hobbies & Home > How-to & Home Improvements > Hand Tools

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great resource . . . an ever better read, July 22, 2008

By 

John Dorough - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

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This review is from: Essential Guide to the Steel Square: Facts, Short-Cuts, and Problem-Solving Secrets for Carpenters, Woodworkers & Builders (Woodworker's Essentials & More) (Paperback)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars want to have some fun?, December 7, 2009

By 

Butch Miller "butchf18a" (woodland, wa) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Essential Guide to the Steel Square: Facts, Short-Cuts, and Problem-Solving Secrets for Carpenters, Woodworkers & Builders (Woodworker's Essentials & More) (Paperback)

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.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Square, November 29, 2008

By 

SL "SL" (Brisbane Australia) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Essential Guide to the Steel Square: Facts, Short-Cuts, and Problem-Solving Secrets for Carpenters, Woodworkers & Builders (Woodworker's Essentials & More) (Paperback)

This is a good book. In my opinion I think it is more like a text book when compare with the other two books written by the same author. It gives me a lot of mathematical knowledge which I almost forgot what I learnt in high school. I think this book is more useful for student doing courses in building.