Replies

1. 
   robkelly | Dec 24, 2004 03:08am | #1

   You are hitting in in the wrong place. Also not hard enough. And using the wrong size and shape of punch.

2. 
   HowardAcheson | Dec 24, 2004 03:33am | #2

   It doesn't always work on old squares.  I had one that no amount of pounding would budge.  Ended up throwing it out.

   Howie.........
3. 
   gweisenburge | Dec 24, 2004 04:48am | #3

   Actually, it does work, but I've never tried it on newer, uniform thickness squares - either aluminum or steel.

   I've trued two Eagle Squares (brand name), which were my grandfather's. These taper from the thicker hub to the tip of both the tongue and the blade. I use a small ball peen hammer and lightly strike the inside to open the angle and near the outside corner to close the angle. I tap it once and test it, and tap again until it's perfectly true. I hit too close to the edge on one and had to file it straight. I'm not sure, but I think the metal was softer in these older tools than it is on newer, steel squares.

   Gary

   http://gwwoodworking.com/

   
   

   ---

   Edited 12/23/2004 8:50 pm ET by Gary

4. 
   Dave45 | Dec 24, 2004 05:52pm | #4

   It works - I watched my grandfather do it a few times.  I never mastered the skill myself (it's more art than science) so I have a couple of "good" squares that I handle with reverence and use my "junkers" for rough work.

5. 
   Manchild | Dec 24, 2004 06:42pm | #5

   Hey Burt, Here's a pic of a stainless steel square I trued. As you can see it took a series of punches to spread the area. There are matching spots on the other side as well. After I spread it enough I smoothed out the area. I have a precision straight edge that I bolted to the table. Layed the square on it, scribed a line, flipped it, and found out if it was true. The out of squareness is doubled.

   
1. 
   BBob | Dec 24, 2004 07:52pm | #6

   David,
   Looks like there is still hope for me. I will mimic your punch pattern and see if that helps. I'm not married to this square but it is kind of frustrating when everyone raves about some technique and it doesn't do squat when you try it.BTW, this is an old Stanley. There is a tiny etching with 5 major lines and 5 sublines within the majors all contained in 1/4". That's 25 lines scribed in the space of 1/4". Any ideas what this is used for? They are so small I can't see them with unaided eyes.

   Edited 12/24/2004 11:59 am ET by Burt Alcantara

1. 
   Manchild | Dec 24, 2004 08:37pm | #7

   Burt. Yes, there is still hope for all of us. You alread know what those lines ar for. 25 in a quarter inch? 100 in an inch?

   When I worked in a place assembling machinery the drawing were in decimal inches.

   1 1/4" was 1.25" You can even buy tape measures with decimal devisions of the inch. It's like going half way to the metric system.

1. 
   KeithNewton | Dec 25, 2004 03:45am | #8

   Burt, I have done this also, and it does work. I don't know what kind of hammer or punch your are using and how you are backing up the bottom side, but here are some things to think about.
   A ball-peen hamer will put a dent which expands the metal in all directions out from the middle of the dent. A cross-peen hammer expands the metal perpendicular to the long axis. you may want to try a dull cold chisel with the blade running along the line of the punches in the photo. that puts all of the expanding force in the direction that you need it.

2. 
   joinerswork | Dec 26, 2004 05:38pm | #9

   Burt,

   Those fine lines are hundredths (of an inch).  Years ago, when I first noticed them on his framing square,an old timer told me they are there so you can smooth a torn fingernail, by rubbing across them.  Makes sense to me.

   Regards,

   Ray

3. 
   Sphere | Dec 27, 2004 01:29am | #11

   Actually you find on some of the other tables on the square, dimensions that are 100ths of an inch typically for rafters, what the sq excels at. You would set your dividers to say 8 and 53/100ths and "walk off" your work.The scale is pretty much useless (exception is the fingernail file mentioned) wih out the aide of dividers. 

   Spheramid Enterprises Architectural Woodworks

   Repairs, Remodeling, Restorations. 

    

    

6. 
   vern | Dec 26, 2004 08:42pm | #10

   Burt maybe as a last resort and I have never done this but how about filing a little off the hi end if you are thinkung about junking it what have you got to loose

   making sawdust