Customer Reviews

Johnson Level & Tool 405 Contractor Brass Stair / Square Gauges, 2-Pack

5 star:		(3)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I've been a builder for 40 years and started using the clamps with my Dad, who was also a builder in New England. With the proliferation of speed squares it seems today's generation of carpenters has forgotten how to use a framing square. These clamps without a doubt are one of the handiest items around for laying out stair stringers and rafters (common, hip and valley). For common rafters one clamp goes on the run side of the framing square (12 inches)and the other clamp goes on the rise side, whatever the rise is 5, 8, 12 inches. Mark off the plumb line for the exterior wall and mark and move the square times the number of feet of run (1/2 the total span). The last plumb line is the center of the ridge. Back off 3/4 of an inch and you have the perfect pattern to cut the rest of your rafters. The three S's short, sweet and simple. They work great for stair layouts also. A great tool and buy for the price.

I've been a builder for 40 years and started using the clamps with my Dad, who was also a builder in New England. With the proliferation of speed squares it seems today's generation of carpenters has forgotten how to use a framing square. These clamps without a doubt are one of the handiest items around for laying out stair stringers and rafters (common, hip and valley). For common rafters one clamp goes on the run side of the framing square (12 inches)and the other clamp goes on the rise side, whatever the rise is 5, 8, 12 inches. Mark off the plumb line for the exterior wall and mark and move the square times the number of feet of run (1/2 the total span). The last plumb line is the center of the ridge. Back off 3/4 of an inch and you have the perfect pattern to cut the rest of your rafters. The three S's short, sweet and simple. They work great for stair layouts also. A great tool and buy for the price.

Not much to review on these - they clamp on easily, they hold, they unclamp easily. I'm glad they still make them out of brass.

In an environment where tools are constantly "updated" and "improved" these have remained unchanged for decades. That's a good sign that they're about as good as they're going to get.

They're the type of thing that you can live without, but for just a couple of bucks, why would you?

Even if you're only going to do one set of stairs in your life, get yourself a top quality framing square, and a set of these.

If you're going to do more, get two sets of these so you always have spares in case you ever lose one.

The picture that is shown for this product is not exactly, alike. What you see in the picture, is the the screw heads have a pitted pattern on them, where as, the ones that actually came to me, have a vertical line indention, that repeats on the screw head. (I photographed and posted a picture)

Its not a big deal per say.

Anyways, they tighten firmly on a square and do there job.