Customer Reviews

Starrett C33H-12-4R 12-Inch Combination Square with Square Head Only

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The work you produce can only be as good as the tools you measure it by. Don't even consider the cheap copies, they don't come close to the acuracy and quality of this square. The head is cast and ground with relefs in the channel, and the blade is machined, not stamped. The rule is laser etched and then matt finished to reduce glare. The differences are far more than cosmetic. The slide works smoothly and locks securely. All of the edges are perfectly flat and smooth. I know this seems like a lot to spend for a combination square, but the $10 ones I have tried just don't work. They don't lock square reliably, and the blades are allways rough and warped slightly. If you want something even fancier, get the version with three heads.

A coworker that said that to me once. He was right. This is the original combination square and, as far as I am concerned, the very best. I have a new C33 set and one that belonged to my grandfather (it's about 80 years old). I checked the scales and squareness against each other - perfect match. Starrett quality control is flawless. This one (the C33) is the forged steel head. I would generally recommend it over the slightly cheaper cast head (the C11), since the forged steel is a fair amount tougher - less brittle. The glossy paint is the indicator that you are getting the forged head. The cast head is done in crinkle black. Mr. Zorns' comment (see previous review) tells me that the description is correct - smooth paint = forged head. And, by the way, I would always get the model that starts with "C" - that means satin chrome finish on the blade - very, very important. As a woodworker, a combination square is an essential tool that gets used constantly. Accuracy and durability are very important. At this price, it's a bargain. Don't waste your money on cheap tools - buy Starrett and you'll never regret it.

Most people's first response when they ask how much this set me back is shock. Usually followed by pointiong out that theirs only cost one third that much and had all these extra gadgets. If it's the right day in the shop I point to a work in process and ask them to find one place where it is the least bit out of true. And by 'least bit' I mean not at all. This usually settles the argument right away. When legs are square and cut right tables don't wobble. When cases are square drawers fit perfectly, etc, etc.

If all you do is cut moulding and flooring than you don't need this kind of square. But if tiny little gaps and adjustments frustrate your sense of perfection, then take a look at products like this square or its brothers and sisters. Starret makes heirloom quality tools that will remain every bit as accurate until the solar system goes defunct.

I have two Starrett squares - the six inch, which generally rides in my pocket or is busy marking off boxes, and the 12 inch, which I use in making full size furniture. There is also an 18" rule and I am severely tempted to have that around as well.

I have the extra gadgets (protractor and center) for the 12" and all I can say is that they form the standard for all the tuning in my shop, and they never fail. Yes, they are expensive but at both ends of the supply chain for these tools are people who are very proud of their work.

I only wish I could figure out how to get Starrett to send me free samples.

The mating of a ruler with a sliding head makes the combination square one of the more versatile measuring tools in the shop. Its weakness lies in the fact the head is not rigidly attached to the blade. Overcoming this weakness requires precision machining that's time-consuming and expensive. That's why the Starret costs about seven times as much as the common hardware-store versions while seemingly providing only a small increment of improvement. I've used the cheaper ones made by Stanley and others, and most of the time they do the job adequately. If one doesn't plan on doing precision work, paying more for the Starrett doesn't make any sense. For those who do, however, the Starrett is worth the investment. That increment of improvement buys a tool that provides confidence in the accuracy of one's measurements. And it's a tool for a lifetime. I've know at least one person who's using one that his grandfather left him.

Assessing a tool on a sensual basis may seem daft, but the Starret feels like a fine scientific instrument compared to the slop and imprecision of the cheaper squares. When the locknut is lightly tightened there's no play between the head and the blade. The head slides on the blade without binding, and the graduations are clean, precise, and easily visible.

You can spend your money on the cheaper Empire or Stanley combo squares available at Home Depot/Lowes. You'll then spend the rest of your time squinting trying to read the things. The satin chrome finish on the Starrett rules make them worth twice their cost. Glare-free, easy-to-read, and exceptionally accurate, these Starrett tools are lifetime tools. Look on Ebay, and you'll see Starrett squares that are 50+ years old going for top dollar. These are the finest squares available.

As a cabinetmaker, I use my Starrett squares for layout work all day, every day. Of all my hand tools, this square has brought me the most unqualified performance and enjoyment of any tool I own. The action is smooth, the gradients on the rule are precise and clear, and the quality is beyond compare. This is typical of all Starrett products. Starrett is not flashy and not given to gimmicky marketing tricks. They just produce top quality tools. Period. Precise measurements and layouts make all the difference in woodworking and machining, and you will get what you pay for. I would recommend any Starrett product.

The protractor and centerhead available with the full set are useful when needed, but I rarely use them. The rule and square head are all that is needed 99.9% of the time. Of course, your needs may vary from mine.

For maximum versatility, consider purchasing a 24 inch rule to go with your square (McMaster-Carr, $73). It is interchangeable with the 12 inch rule supplied with this kit. It allows extra measurement range and I use mine almost exclusively. You might also consider getting a smaller square, like a 6 inch. Experiment with your squares, and you'll be amazed at everything you can do with them. You can measure inside dimensions of cabinet openings, run parallel lines, and a million other things. Easily the most useful tool you'll ever own. What else can I say? Starrett is good old American quality built in Massachusetts. Yankee ingenuity at its best.

I just received the Starrett 6" and immediately ordered the 12. First I tried to rejuvenate an old one that belonged to my father. After a half hour of scrubbing, de-rusting, and fine polishing, I thought I had a twelve. I checked the depth accuracy, and it was right on. Then I checked it as a square. Although the end to end was correct, the center of the ruler had been accidentally ground. So if I tried to square up a 4" high table saw blade for example, it would be off. That was all I needed. I went to the computer and ordered the 12 as well. You can't afford to screw around with the device that all other tools are measured by. A cut only off 1 degree creates a 91-degree edge. When gluing and clamping that edge, it bows or skews your project. Then when you try to mate that up to a square project, it doesn't fit. Save yourself a lot of heartache, time, and money, get a starrett combination square.

I have the Bosch digital protractor, and that measures in tenths of a degree. The problem is that it is about 18 inches long, and does not measure depths.

These combination squares are great for taking a measurement in a difficult to get to area. You simply drop it into the area, slide the ruler out until it stops, then lock it into the base with the knob, then bring the square out, and check your measurement. No more having to dive your head under something, while you contort your body to be able to see the measurement.

Pertaining to the 6 or 12, I chose the 6 first because I saw that one being used in higher end woodworking books. Authors even photographed themselves using the starret setting up the table saw blade for example. When I got it my first impression was, boy is that tiny. It probably will be the one that I use the most. I just don't want to be limited when I need to use one on lengths greater than 6 inches.

It is well made, and yes it does spec out properly. I used Incra measuring instruments to check the rule, and the Bosch digital protractor to check to see if it was dead on 90. It wasn't off by even a tenth of a degree.

It's funny how you have to rave about a tool that does what it is supposed to do, and do it well. Their is so much junk out there. Did you ever check your level, but putting it on a surface, then turn it around end to end to see if the bubble shows the same reading on the same surface. You will be shocked; 80 percent of them are off. Even the bubble on this Starrett tool is dead on.

The square ness is right on. The typical check of taping a piece of paper to a flat surface in front of a fence, then use the square to draw a line, flip the tail of the square over to the other side, and see if the line is dead on.

If you have a square that has a handle that was riveted, welded, or glued on, chances are it is off. The single stamped pieces of metal are usually accurate.

These Starrett combination squares are something that you will grow to use more and more often. Soon you will wonder how you ever lived without it. Highly recommended.

After receiving my Starrett combination square, I compared it to my original 'cheapo' combo square. The Starrett has a steel body with the faces polished (almost) mirror smooth, while the bargain version is aluminum. The slot for the rule is precisely machined, with a relief slot on each side to prevent sawdust or other material from packing under the blade and affecting the squareness. The bargain version simply has a plastic sleeve inserted in the slot, which over time will wear, throwing the square out of alignment. The bargain rule is simply stamped, where the Starrett is etched, with the graduations and numbers in black. The Starrett rule slides smoothly, with just a bit of drag (to keep it from slipping out accidentally), whereas the bargain rule binds and grabs a little bit. The Starret has a scribe that friction fits in a split bronze collett in the bottom of the handle. The bargain version has no scribe. The bottom line is you get what you pay for. There are few things in life that the average person can afford the best of, but this is one of them. Treat it with care and it will last generations. ...

While Starrett seems to be producing a lot of new tools that are of questionable quality and accuracy, thankfully, this is not one of them. This is a high quality, extremely accurate tool that is made in the tradition of the machinist's tools that Starrett has manufactured for over 100 years. While you can find a combination square for much less money you won't find one that will feel better in your hands, be more durable or one that you will be more likely to pass on to your children or grand children after many, many years of service.

The etched satin chrome blade is much easier to read than a highly polished or stamped steel blade. The square slides smoothly and locks securely. The square head is forged steel, not cast aluminum or zinc. This is truly a tool that can last multiple lifetimes.

The heft and tightness of this square give you the feeling of quality. I bought this square to ensure that my power tools were properly aligned and to ensure that some of my other less expensive measuring tools were reasonably accurate.

I am disappointed in the cosmetics of the ruler. I bought this particular model because if its satin-finish chrome blade. But when the square arrived, some of the finish was scraped off the blade, apparently by the head of the square. Amazon willingly sent me another, but it also had scratches on the blade. Given that I paid extra for the satin chrome blade, I am disappointed that two of the squares were flawed. I can only conclude that Starrett does not have good quality control since both squares came with an inspector's certificate saying that the squares met Starett's quality standards. Finally, I was disappointed that Starett did not respond to my Email regarding this matter.

But, I am happy that I now have a very accurate square. I won't try to return it for a third one. It's too much hassle. I just hope that the one that I am keeping doesn't start to rust where the finish was scratched from the blade.

I started out with a Stanley Contractor grade square. Although the workmanship is good (seemingly) it wasn't square. That really [stinks], since I aligned all of my machinery with it. I have been having trouble with getting my projects together correctly too. Then I discovered it wasn't square on one side.

If you take a square and draw a line on a board with one perfectly flat side, then flip the ruler over and draw another line right next to it and they're not the exact same distance apart for the whole length of the line, your square isn't square.

The construction on the square just reeks of precision and quality components. The rule slides as smoothly as satin through the head. The satin finish is easy to read and perfect in every dimension. It's graduated in 32nds and 64ths on one side and 8ths and 16ths on the other. It's got a bubble level in the head where the bubble is the perfect size and a scribe in the end which is friction fitted tightly enough that it will never come out. If you only invest in one precision measuring tool for your woodworking, let this be it. You will wonder how you got on without it before.

I would only change one thing about this square: I would give it a nice, industrial crinkle finish paint job. The paint job as it is works fine, but looks a little cheezy compared to the rest of the piece.