It’s not the first and foremost layout tool, but for specific measuring and marking tasks, it’s a lovely thing to have around. At $125, it’s not the first square I’d consider buying.Ībove is a 12″ Stanley combo square, and below a 7″ Empire - both inexpensive and adequate Combination SquareĪ combination square is an extremely handy little tool to have close at hand. I cannot personally vouch for it being “the best”, so you’ll have to find out for yourself. The Chappell Universal Square (or as they say, “the best square in the universe”) is a pretty fancy square with clear gradations and nifty calculation tables. It comes at a cost, though: $125, to be exact. Laying out mortises and tenons accurately and quickly is a breeze with this thing. Think of it as a speed square designed specifically for timber framing. The Borneman layout tool, sold through the Timber Framers Guild shop, is an extremely handy tool. Once you’ve done a frame or two or three, you may want to “graduate” to something more than a standard framing square. Expensive option: Timber Frame HQ Layout Tool, Chappell Universal Square, Borneman Layout Tool.Don’t spend more than a few bucks on an old square, and remember - light rust can always be easily removed. How do you check? Use the 3-4-5 rule and with a tape measure, measure between the 12″ and 16″ gradations on either leg. Be sure the square is actually square, though. Thankfully, you can find vintage squares at flea markets fairly readily, and many of them aren’t in awful shape, either. Cheap option: Vintage flea market square.For square rule timber framing, there’s no question that you need a square. It’s essential for layout, and if you really know your stuff, you can use it to calculate roof angles and all sorts of other fun stuff. I also don’t include stuff like rigging equipment and the like - this is strictly a list of necessary items for layout and cutting wood.Īntique framing squares - remember, rust can always be removed! Framing SquareĪ framing square is the tool that paves the way for everything else to follow. This list includes tools you likely don’t own if you’re not already timber framing. I’m not going to bother with stuff that should hopefully be obvious here, like a tape measure, pencils, etc. I’ve narrowed down a list of essential timber framing tools, highlighting both inexpensive options for folks starting out, and more expensive choices for someone who may continue with this line of work. But for a solid starter kit, you can get by with a relatively small handful. Of course, once you get deeper into this kind of stuff, you’ll always find something else you think you probably need. Thankfully, it doesn’t have to cost a small fortune to equip yourself with the basics. And if you’re new to this type of work, it’s important to have the right timber framing tools in your kit. Like any craft, the world of timber framing comes with its own unique set of tools. This list should help you get started down the path of timber framing with hand tools
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