Speed square
A Speed Square (rafter square, rafter angle square, triangle square) is a triangular-shaped, carpenters' marking out tool manufactured and sold by Swanson Tool Co., Inc. The Speed Square combines some of the most common functions of the combination square, try square, and framing square into one. It is used to make basic measurements and mark lines on dimensional lumber, and may be used as a saw guide for making short 45 and 90 degree cuts.
History
A Speed Square is a carpenters layout tool invented in 1925 by Albert J. Swanson who later founded Swanson Tool Company, Inc. to produce his invention.[1] Today, Swanson Tool Co. continues to manufacture and distribute the Speed Square and other carpentry tools from its headquarters in Frankfort, Illinois. SPEED and SPEED SQUARE are also registered trademarks of Swanson Tool Co., Inc.[2] [3]
Design
Common lines made using a Speed Square include perpendicular cut marks and angles for roofs, stairways, and decks. Embedded degree gradations on the tool eliminate complex trigonometry, making for speedy lines.
Variants of the tool made of aluminum, steel, and composites such as HDPE, and come in two basic sizes, the original 7 inch and a 12 inch model for larger tasks.
The tool is a right triangle with a ruler on one equal side and a fence on the other. It is marked with the word Pivot at the right angle point and displays Degrees on its hypotenuse, Common and Hip/Val markings on its midsection.
- Degree indicate the angle in degrees from 0° to 90°.
- Common indicate the rise in inches over a 12 inch run for common rafters from 1 inch to 30 inch.
- Hip/Val indicate the rise in inches over a 17 inch run for Hip or Valley rafters from 1 inch to 30 inch.
Some models have divots for fitting a writing utensil to mark lumber with. Genuine Swanson Speed® Squares will also have a diamond shape cutout on the ruler side at 3½ inch.
Usage
Swanson Tool Co., Inc. describes the tool as a "Try Square, Miter Square, Protractor, Line Scriber, & Saw Guide" in one. Swanson Speed Squares come with a pocket sized blue reference book describing the tool's functions and containing charts listing rafter lengths for building widths from 3 to 40 feet.
Among its basic uses are marking common, hip, valley and hip, or valley jack rafters, laying out stair stringers, determining and marking angles, and making square cuts on boards.
This tool uses a 0° reference. This means when a board is squared off the tool reads 0°.The angle derived is actually a complementary angle Complementary angles. For example a 22.5° angle is actually 67.5°. The sum of the angles equals 90 degrees(22.5° +67.5°= 90°). It is obvious from a visual check that where the instruments displays 22.5° is not 22.5°. Many of the new slide miters and miter boxes display both angles. Some of the new calculators have a 0° and a 90° references to do angular calculations. This can create much confusion if the user does not understand this angular calibration.