Customer Reviews

Starrett 505A-12 ProSite 12-Inch Dial Protractor

5 star:		(58)
4 star:		(14)
3 star:		(6)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(11)

 

 

Trim carpenters are forever measuring angles and making cuts with a miter saw. The advantage of the Starrett 505A is that it makes the job easier. You simply place the protractor into the corner, and it does all of the calculations for you. It reads the angle and the miter saw setting at the same time, with two different sets of arrows.
The thing I like about it, is that it holds a setting, and that is adjustable. There is a setting screw in the back that enables you to adjust the amount of play. The way it comes out of the box, it is almost too tight. If you are laying it up against something, then it is fine, but when you want to pre-set it to an angle, then, use it to align something, it is a little tricky to pre-set. It is so snug that a gentle push will not change it, then with a little more effort, it will change a lot. I used a little WD 40 and loosened the screw just a hair, and now it adjusts perfectly, and still holds a setting. If you are a trim carpenter, and are taking measurements off of walls, the way it is right out of the box is great.
Another thing I like about it, is how ruggedly it is built. Thick aluminum and with this new model, large easy to read numbers.
I checked the accuracy with an expensive Bosch digital protractor, which is accurate to 1/10th of one degree. (Like having 3600 dots in a circle instead of 360) Every setting was either dead on accurate or was accurate to within a few tenths of a degree. That's accurate, although with a paste on measurement face, it is entirely possible for them to make them with less accuracy than the results I am getting on this one as has been mentioned in some of the other reviews.
I like it better than the Bosch digital protractor, because it is beefy, and easy to use and store. The Bosch with its glass LED readout, and bulky frame is great for setting up tools and the like, but not as practical for the job site. That is why I have both. I also use the Starrett combination square for setting up saw blades and other tools that require a perfect ninety. Starrett makes great stuff.
I spoke to Starrett in an email about this protractor, and they said this 505A was specifically designed for the job site, every day use in the shop, and to come in at a price that everybody could afford. It's a great unit for the money. Highly recommended. A great addition to your arsenal.

I received this tool as a gift. It is well made and very useful, especially with trim molding and almost anything that requires an angle on the sliding miter saw. However, the scale was misaligned by one full degree. I called Starrett and was told that their tolerance for this tool is +/- one degree. That is unacceptable from a company like Starrett renowned for their precision. I exchanged the tool for another, hand selected from inventory, and found one just .1 degree misaligned after looking at a dozen or so. This is workable accuracy but IMO the tool should be engraved, and the scale should be accurate or the scale should be eliminated. The decal itself may be accurate but the application process seems to produce a fair number of these tools with misaligned scales. With a sliding miter saw this is not really a problem as you can just transfer the angle. But, if the scale is there it should be accurate or at least installed properly. With the scale accuracy problems it rates three stars. If the scale were properly installed and accurate, I would give it 5 stars. Then I would not have to use my engraved Starrett protractor to read the actual angle when needed.

I agree with the other reviewers. I purchased this tool because of the Starett name and was deeply disappointed. The scale was definitely off. When you completely fold up the tool it is blatantly obvious. I e-mailed Starett and they said to return it to them for a replacement. I was not too confident that the new one would be any better. Starrett also stated they were changing the name of the tool to remove the word "protractor" because they had received so many complaints. In my case, I simply printed a "red" arrow on some sticky label paper and then cut it out and overlayed the decal on the tool. It's not pretty but the scale now reads accurately. I would not recommend buying this until this defect is corrected.

The protractor I recieved was out at least 1/2 a degree, closer to a full degree. I went as far as to send it back to Starrett for repair. I got it back unchanged with no explanation, needless to say I was shocked! In reading other reviews I'm glad to see that some folks have recieved protractors with the decal placed correctly on the tool. It would appear Starrett feels that a degree here or there is acceptable for woodworkers. Maybe it is just the price, I don't intend to spend $300.00 + for their 24" builder's square to find out.

This tool is very sturdy. It is constructed of high quality 1/4" x 2.5" aluminum stock. It is simple to use and once set to an angle, it generally stays put. It even has an Allen screw at the pivot point to control the hold-force.

Starrett could improve the accuracy of this tool by concurrently laser etching the inner and outer dial faces, instead of using decals. Click on "see customer images" under the above tool photos, and select the dial-face photo. ALL of the black numbers and lines of the outer ring should align perfectly with the inner ring's red numbers and black lines. As you can see, on my tool, some lines mismatch by just a tad - maybe 1/10 of a degree. While that's certainly good enough for most projects, a tool designed to precisely measure angles should not be off at all. Other reviewers noted more serious alignment errors with their 505A's, apparently because the factory didn't properly affix the decals on their protractor. So, if you buy one of these, you might want to check the dial accuracy on YOUR tool before deciding to keep it.

However, many times during house construction, I don't even look at the dial. Instead, the tool is set to match an existing angle, such as in a stairway. The tool is then carefully placed on the wood about to be cut and a penciled line is drawn against the tool face.

If the scale on this protractor were perfectly etched, it would be a 5 star tool.

Note: For projects needing more accuracy than offered by this tool, the Bosch DWM40L Miter Finder Protractor is an excellent choice.

As a professional carpenter I thought ProSite Protractor would help me quickly determine exact single and miter cut angles. While the concept of this tool is right on I found the one I received unusable as the scale was off. A straight cut reading from the protractor of 90 degrees for example, would also show a reading of 46 or 47 degrees for the miter cuts. What? A miter for 90 degrees is 45. So this is unusable as duh...a miter cut even ½ a degree off is unacceptable even in the worst of times.

Needless to say, I returned this item and at least for now will return to my bevel gauge and trial and error but I hold out hope, that somewhere out there, in some distant enchanted land, a tool of this sort will shine in perfection and allow me the opportunity to make my job easier.

Just got my new 505A Protractor. With a name like Starrett, and the $50 advertised price, I figured I could not go wrong. Well I did. This is a great tool but not too well built. Oh it is heavy enough, but for the money 90 degrees should be just that, not 89.5 or 90.5 and yes, all the other angles are off by a half degree too. I have cheap plastic protractors that are dead on. There is no excuse for shipping these things if they are not dead on correct. I paid for a quality protractor and got an expensive T-bevel. Shame on you Starrett!

No problems with the unit. Mine appears accurate. Seems that they got the label on right. Unit is well built, I am sure it will get some good use.

Amazon packaging sucked as usual. Box was OPEN with the unit just laying on the top. No damage. USE MORE TAPE PLEASE!

I'm a finish carpenter that works in the pebble beach, ca area. I've purchased this protractor for working on base, casing, and just general finish work where accuracy is critical. I found mine to be off about 3/16 of an inch in 12 inches @ 45 degrees.

Not a real big deal, however when you need an angle to be right this is a good tool to get you into the general vicinity. I contacted Starrett about this and they're standing is that they make their protractor within a 1/2 degree tolerance. Chop saw manufacturers make their gauges within 1/4 a degree...

The main reason I bought this is due to the Starrett name and its reputation for being exacting. Since I've purchased this protractor, I've also purchased one by True Angle (about 30 dollar cheaper) and have had its accuracy within a 1/16th of an inch.

So in general the Pros are:

Starrett name brand
Very Durable Metal Construction
Smooth Movement And Tight Holding

Cons:

Expensive for inaccurate Protractor
None Adjustable for precision

All in all, if I could find another protractor that was metal and as accurate as the true angle I bought I would have returned the Starrett.

Dont order it on the internet....go to the tool store with your speed square. 1st 1 I checked was out a 1/2 degree, 2nd 1 was on the money.