Customer Reviews

Starrett 505A-7 ProSite Protractor

5 star:		(34)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(5)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Sturdy, nicely made tool, very easy to use: Match the arms to the corner, read the scale, set the saw, cut the trim. However, on the first one I received the scales did not match. For example, on a (maybe) square corner the single cut scale would read 0 and the miter scale would read 46. Same thing on inside or outside corners whatever the angle. So which scale is correct? Only way to find out is to cut and then recut the board. The purpose of this tool is to find and measure SMALL inaccuracies. If you can't trust the scales then it is simply an expensive angle take off tool and actualy less useful than a regular T bevel. I returned it to Amazon and very quickly received a replacement - which was no different. Not ready to give up I called Starrett and spoke with a very helpful and knowledgeable guy named John in tech support. He indicatd that the company is aware of the problem and is working to fix it. He suggested I return the tool to them and they would hand pick an accurate replacement. I sent it to them yesterday. Starrett has a well deserved reputation for making very high quality products and that is the main reason I bought this one. My current low rating is provisional depending on how things turn out with the replacement. I'll have an update (hopefully good) soon.

Update: I received the hand picked replacement from Starrett - and the scales line up fine. This 505 is a sturdy, easy to use and very helpfull tool. 5 stars.

This is the smaller version of the 12-inch protractor, and is a tool more suited to my apron pocket, where it resides with their 6-inch T-square. It is as precise a tool as you could ask for, easy to use one handed, and invaluable for checking the alignment of tools before you make a mistake. It's the perfect protractor for in the shop, smaller work, where the 12-inch model's size makes it a bit unwieldy. It won't cut wood for you, but it will help you make sure that what you want is what you get.

Look, let's be blunt. No matter how good your hotshot framing and drywall crews are, even new construction is never square. And in old houses, it just gets worse. And this doesn't even take into account irregular angled walls that are anyone's guess.

Now I know the rest of you all payed attention in 8th grade geometry, but for those of us who don't like mulling over math problems on the job site, the Sarrette is as good as it gets. Read the single cut angle off one side. Read the miter cut off the other.

And the tool can (and should) be used to set your miter saw to the exact angle you need. Read it off the wall, set the blade using the tool, cut. Perfect.

Oh, the pain I could have saved myself if only I'd bought one of these earlier. Cutting scrap test pieces and banging my head against the wall wondering how I'd gotten it wrong again.

Basically, if you do a lot of finish carpentry, having one of these will save you a lot of time and money. Even for the homeowner that's doing a few rooms, it's probably worth it if you want really good joints, especially in an old house where most of your "90 degree" corners will be off by several degrees from 90.

I only have two minor beefs.

OK, for me it's worth it as I'll easily save it back over and over again. In fact I bought two. But c'mon guys, $42.99? I'm surprised someone hasn't ripped off the idea and isn't making one at $14.99, but keep charging this price and someone soon will.

Also, I'd like an easy way to adjust the tension of the legs so it would hold the exact angle more firmly. One of my miter saws has a habit of swinging slightly when you reach to tighten the adjustment knob. Then the blade hits the protractor and messes up the reading.

The ease of use does make up for the shortcomings. If you have a miter saw and do finish work, you need one of these.

I read all the reviews and was a little concerned about errors in the decal scale. My 505A-7 is perfect, dead on. This is a must have tool for any woodworker. I don't know why something this easy was not around years ago.

I bought the Starret-ProSite Protractor model 505A-7 after using
the larger model 505A-12. It's nice simply because of it's smaller size, yet it does the same functions as it's bigger brother. When I'm working with a helper, having both tools really adds to the
accuracy of cuts on the job. The best features are,you can read these tools instantly, they are durable, non digital, and they don't need batteries. In short,these tools save a ton of time and guarantee accuracy.

This tool (and its larger cousin) is a godsend for figuring funky angles and setting the miter saw to make accurate cuts. I've used it wood working, doing trim work, and remodeling. I even used it to figure the angles on the cross brace of a custom fence gate--the tool works everywhere there are angles.

This tool saved me a lot of time on a recent deck job. I love the original 12" ProSite Protractor, but this trapezoidal deck had some tight spots that only this shorter model would fit in. Both tools have two very useful scales which instantly provide the miter saw settings for angle cuts, whether you are fitting a single piece to an angle or mitering a corner. In one step I measured framing angles with the Single Cut scale. The second scale is the Miter Cut scale, which provided the miter saw setting for perfect miter cuts of the 2x6 perimeter deck boards. The tool does the calculations automatically. I am really looking forward to installing crown and other trim with these two tools. Using them makes every joint clean and sharp, and this short one gets into tight places that the 12" won't. Highly recommended. Essential for anybody working with a miter saw.

Having worked in and around machine shops all my life, the name Starrett became synonymous with quality. Recently, however, I purchased a Starrett Miter Saw Protractor model 505A-7 and was shocked to find that Starrett is no long is concerned about accuracy. The instrument I purchased was clearly off my at least one half degree while the package label screams "laser engraved accuracy". My research indicates Starrett knows of this issue and has chosen to ignore it; seems wood workers do not "require accuracy" according to Starrett.
This could have been a really great new product. It is novel and well made but I would advise Starrett to track down the person in their organization that developed it and "fire" him. Everything a company produces reflects that company's image and this one says Starrett has developed a new business strategy, "caveat emptor ".

I bought this to use in tandem with the larger Starrett 505A-12 ProSite Protractor. My miters have to be perfect everytime. The 505A-12 is a very good buy, but the decal on the 505A-7 is about 2 degrees off. I waited too long to send it back, so it will only serve me as a marking tool. If you aren't concerned with accuracy, you have no need for a tool like this. So be prepared to return it in a timely manner if the decal is off.

This item is a super idea....to bad it's not a super product. I returned the first one I bought because it was obvious that the decal was not accurate. I was nearly 2 deg. off. This may be ok when building a highway, but not quality trim installations. The replacement was worse than the original. Now I may have to wait as much as two weeks to get my money back, after I return the second one for a refund. Thats about a month since I originally paid for the first one, with no product worth paying for. What a shame.