Affordable and Effective Alternatives to Woodpeckers Squares
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- čas přidán 15. 05. 2024
- amzn.to/451TaihLooking for cheaper alternatives to Woodpeckers Squares? You've got to see these affordable and effective alternatives below! From Swanson Speed Squares to Woodraphic Squares, Bryan will show you everything you need to get the job done!
Since Woodpeckers Squares are so expensive, it's worth looking into cheaper alternatives. In this video, Bryan show you some of the cheapest and most effective alternatives to Woodpeckers Squares. From combination squares to the Swanson Framing Wizard, Bryan will show everything you need to get the job done accurately!
To check out any of the tools featured in this video, please visit the affiliate links below:
Paolini Pocket Rules - amzn.to/474SieP
Swanson Combination Square - amzn.to/3YcxFcl
Swanson Combination Square/Speed Square Combo - amzn.to/3OvnT20
Paolini Pocket Rule Knockoff 1 - amzn.to/455fc3E
Paolini Pocket Rule Knockoff 2 - amzn.to/3Y7q0fH
Woodpeckers Delve Square (I did not see aluminum ones available) - amzn.to/3OabajR
Empire Speed Square - amzn.to/3Khzuz9
Swanson Speed Square - amzn.to/3Kh15jS
Woodpeckers Woodworking Rule - amzn.to/3Oa9nLx
Stainless Steel Ruler - amzn.to/457YxwJ
Powertec Straight Edge - amzn.to/3OzZbO5
Stainless Steel Center Finding Ruler - amzn.to/450W7Qg
Woodpeckers 641/851 Square Set - amzn.to/43JBqqT
Woodpeckers 1281 Square - amzn.to/3Dx5NGx
Woodpeckers 642/1282 Square Set - amzn.to/451Taih
12'' Framing Square - amzn.to/3O63I9o
Red Mini Square - amzn.to/3QaPkPT
Machinist Square Set - amzn.to/3rR00ZE
Woodraphic 12'' Square - amzn.to/47bacwC
Woodraphic "T" Shaped Square/Scriber - amzn.to/44MwJ18
Woodpeckers TS-32 - amzn.to/44KMnK8
24'' Framing Square - amzn.to/455kAno
Swanson Framing Wizarrd - amzn.to/3KhAMdt
My favorite tools you might see in my shop:
Major Tools:
Jet Bandsaw - amzn.to/3IhIvHP
Nova Voyager Drill Press - amzn.to/446gHhH
SawStop 3HP - amzn.to/3XeN9dL
DeWalt Table Saw - amzn.to/3YuRWsU
Festool Kapex - amzn.to/3JNvYNG
Dewalt Compound Miter Saw - amzn.to/3JLyxj3
Jet 8'' Jointer - amzn.to/3I1NGvf
DeWalt Thickness Planer - amzn.to/3X91dWg
Shelix Cutterhead for DeWalt Planer
DeWalt Router - amzn.to/3Ypl84o
Bosch 2.25HP Router (In Router Table) - amzn.to/40TeIfD
Kreg Router Table - amzn.to/3ljpbkg
Kreg Router Lift - amzn.to/3liJMFK
Festool Cordless Track Saw - amzn.to/3DKiFtk
Festool Router - amzn.to/40LHL4B
Festool Carvex - amzn.to/43h1zyv
Shaper Origin - amzn.to/41fO3cq
Shaper Workstation - amzn.to/418VqlS
Measuring/Marking
Woodpeckers 642 Square - amzn.to/3wY94vl
FatBoy Pencil - amzn.to/3IxstIK
Woodpeckers TS 32 T-Square - amzn.to/3Gvmx2H
Paolini Pocket Rule - amzn.to/4194fw6
1-2-3 Block - amzn.to/3A2CRUY
Finishing/Sanding
Festool 5'' Sander - amzn.to/3RC4a0o
Festool 6'' Sander - amzn.to/3jD7coG
Rigid Oscillating Belt/Spindle Sander - amzn.to/3MCGjNw
Jet 1632 Drum Sander - amzn.to/40RXejN
Joinery
Self Centering Dowling Jig - amzn.to/3Xaapd7
Kreg Pocket Hole Jig - amzn.to/40Ksf9E
Festool Domino Joiner - amzn.to/3YaqG32
Drills/Drivers/Nailers:
Festool Impact Driver and Drill Kit - amzn.to/3RBgga6
Ryobi Brad Nailer - amzn.to/3jyBCsf
Festool Compact Drill - amzn.to/3ZONw0d
Clamps:
Bessey Pipe Clamps - amzn.to/3JGk6gi
Bessey 12'' Quick Clamps - amzn.to/3DL1cAS
Bessey 12'' F-Style Clamps - amzn.to/3DLcMw8
Corner Clamp - amzn.to/3ITqm3B
6'' Jorgensen EZ Hold Quick Clamps - amzn.to/3zMymhs
Sjobergs Smart Vise - amzn.to/3zQLDVX
Safety
Milescraft Grabber Plus - amzn.to/3JKeJMW
Milescraft Grabber Pro - amzn.to/3JMkdai
Jessem Stock Guide - amzn.to/41PPn6I
Push Sticks - amzn.to/40zQpDr
Bow Featherboard - amzn.to/3q1qhn9
BiFocal Safety Glasses - amzn.to/3KljA65
Remote Switch For Dust Collector - amzn.to/3HJgdFF
Apparel:
Brunt Workwear (use code - FLYNNDOGG10 to get $10 off any order over $60) - bruntworkwear.com/flynndogg10
Other:
TopTes Moisture Meter - amzn.to/3LaLfYQ
Thanks for watching! :)
#flynndoggwoodwork
#woodworking
#amazingtools
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#woodworkinghacks
#woodworkingtips
#beginningwoodworking
#toolreview
#diy
#easywoodworking
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#woodpeckers
#square
#swanson
#measuringtools
#precision
I enjoyed this video! Thank you for sharing!
Thank you for watching Timothy! :)
I have 4 Swanson combination squares in various sizes. They have all been extremely accurate. Great value for the money.
Love the swanson speed square and combination square. Totally agree, some of the best value for your money! Thanks for watching jsboening!
I have a cheaper alternative for the T square. I bought a drywall T square from Lowes a few years ago. It's 48" and amazingly accurate. I use it quite a bit to break down my full sheet goods.
I did the same but measurements are far from accurate… I think the end is more than an inch off…
Oh, thanks for sharing Brady, If I needed one of those that would have been another excellent tool to feature as an alternative. Thank you so much for sharing and watching!
Ugh, that sucks! Can you return it. That's rediculous!
It's OK for rough cutting. But I tested three and all were off by more than an 1/8" But for Drywall work, that's perfectly acceptable. Considering you need space for the mud to do its thing. And it's fine for rough breakdown so you can fine tune it on a tablesaw.
Thanks for all the information
Thank you for watching Thomas! :)
Great video Bryan! Thanks for showing us some very useful tools for a decent price!
My pleasure Mike! Thanks as always for watching!
Another fun Saturday video again, and as usual, you are feeding my inner need to buy stuff.
Haha! Sorry Pat! :) Thank you so much for watching!
Another great video Bryan!! I'm not sure what I like most...the video content or the great job you do on editing!! Keep up the great work!
Thanks so much John! I really appreciate that and I appreciate you watching. My last few videos will not have as much editing becuase of a vacation I went on but it will be coming back when I return! :)
Another great video Bryan great tips for us people that can’t afford WOODPECKER TOOLS THEY LOOK AMAZING but can’t afford them so I will definitely look into your other suggestions thanks for sharing
Awesome, thank you so much for watching Jim! I truly appreciate it!
For sheet goods, I've used the humble drywall tee square.
They are light, have measurement marks on the tee and the cross, and can be used as a straight edge in layout.
No pencil holes, and maybe not as accurate as the WPs. But for under $30, it is a multifunctional tool
Love it, you can't beat it for the price! Keep it up and thanks for watching Shadowulf!
Same here brother! Can't be beat imo
I only have the delve squares, but since I do not have set up blocks, I do use the stepped base feature for height adjustments.
Good to know William! I suppose if you didn't have the setup blocks this would be an excellent solution! Love hearing everyone's experience on this!
Good video.
I like the Igaging Square, mostly because of the base having a 3/8 inch, and I think a 1/4 inch overlap, so marking the center of a board is much easier. For Eg, when doing layouts for mortises. They do cost a bit more than a speed square, but they also have the holes for measuring.
Thanks so much for sharing douglas! A lot of people mentioning iguaging from this video. Sounds like another excellent option. Sounds like I need to look into this brand! Thanks for sharing! :)
I drilled and tapped a hole in end of the short beam my framing square and screwed a small, rectangular aluminum tab perpendicular to the beam, which supports the end of the square on the workpiece. This is a reasonable mod for me because I rarely use my framing square for anything other than layout work on sheet goods. That said, I do use it for roofing and stairs, but only once every year or two. When I am using it for framing, it's really easy to remove the tab, or as I more often do, loosen the screw and rotate it parallel to the beam where it's out of the way. Keeping it attached to the square assures I don't lose it. This is a dirt cheap mod that most of us can do with scrap, and with a tiny amount of planning you can make sure the tab rotates out of the way without obscuring any important markings.
Love this idea! Thank you so much for sharing Charles. It’s comments like this that I really enjoy reading, thank you so much for sharing and watching!
the one woodpeckers tool I use for everything is the saddle square 4 inch in my apron. Used to use the Paolini Pocket 6 inch but since getting the saddle square I have not used. I like the saddle for being able to scribe a line on on both faces so when I do dados or groves I can setup easier. I bought a bunch of those Banggood veiko squares and others from veiko great tools.
Awesome Danko! Love hearing what tools others use on a daily basis. Sounds like you have an excellent setup that works well for you, which is all that counts. Thanks again for sharing!
Great video and valuable information...need to get one of those Swanson Framing Wizards
Thanks so much Kalania! I appreciate that and thanks for watching! The framing wizard is great. One of my favorite framing squares I have!
I have several Woodpecker tools, and what you say about them is absolutely correct. I started my career as a drafter and was taught to no use a ruler or scale to draw straight lines, haha. I only use the WP rules for measuring. The center is great. I got a slide stop to make repetitive marks and is great for that. A word of caution to drywall T-squares. Check their accuracy. I have had a couple from a box store that were out of 90°. They get banged around easily in the store. I wish I saw your video on the aluminum square. Quality is great, and great for making 90° marks, but it's kind of limited vs. the SS one with marking holes.
My favorite WP tool is definitely the Delve Square. The little 4" one. Although the holes are a 0.5mm lead buster, I use that gently. I replaced most of the trim in my old house and the Delve is great for that 1/4" reveal when nailing it up. It's trim, not fine furniture. Thanks for an entertaining and educational video Flynndogg! My first one of yours - subscribed!
-Dave
This is awesome stuff Seamdye! Thank you so much for sharing. Great point on buying the drywall T-squares. I came really close to getting one a few months ago, and noticed it was bent before I bought it thank goodness! Love the delve square as well, 4'' is probably the only one I use out of the two I have. Thank you so much for subbing! :)
Very helpful to those of us on a budget.
THanks so much! I appreciate you watching!
Great video thanks for saying what’s needed to be said for a long time Woodpecker is great just to pricey
Thanks
I appreciate that KE4YAL! Thank you so much for watching!
Love the shirt!
Thanks so much cletusrobinson! :)
I use the delve sq all the time so for me it was worth the price. I like the weight of it and its features. However I also see the value of the cheap sq to keep with the miter saw because it tends to fall on the floor sometimes.
I think I've seen a mini delve square which would be nice to have. I think it is one of those tools they release every once in a while, I'll probably pick one up next time I see one! :) Thanks for watching eyecandy-gaming!
I bought my first woodpecker tool very recently. I just bought more and they are on the way. I also have a few Starrett tools that are over 100 years old. I think the woodpecker tools will still be used 100 years from now too.
That is awesome on the Starrett tools. I love seeing old tools like that still being the workhorses of the shop! Thanks for sharing and I suspect those starretts will be around for another 100 years! :)
Now I want to name my little woodshop, whiskey butterfly 😅 ! Great alternatives to choose from besides woodpeckers products. Loved the video
Thanks so much Paul! Not a bad name huh? :)
I use my woodpeckers squares to check to see if other squares are actually square 😂 the tolerances over length also seem to give them an edge over others I’ve used. That said, that level of accuracy is usually more than your average Joe is looking for, and most usually go for machinist tools at that point.
My fav woodpeckers tool is their 4” saddle square. It sees almost daily use. There are alternatives for this tool as well.
I'm glad I'm not the only one that does that! :) I agree, the tolerances over length is one of the best features with woodpeckers. That is why my TS32 is one of my favorite one of theirs. It's funny you say that, I've been wanting a saddle square, and I've looked at the 4'' one a couple of times. Seems like that would be just about the perfect length and small enough to not be in the way. Thanks so much for sharing your experience and thanks for watching Justin!
I've just brought the Preciva folding tringle ruler ( carpenters sqaure ) and l like it, one of your reccomended items l believe, thanks
That's awesome Phil! I hope it works well for you! Thanks so much for sharing and watching! :)
I have a woodraphic and love it 😊 and a paolini😮
Me as well! If you haven't checked out there 4" square it's worth a look probably my favorite one so far, Thank you so much for watching Jody!
I am not a Woodworker fan, but when it comes to a tri-square I only use a Starrett Combination Square. The Swanson, Empire or the Wood rafic dosen't even come close to the quality and accuracy of the Starrett.
Starrett make good tools but they are very expensive. More people who don't have your budget should know any combination square can be tuned with a file or even sandpaper to be dead on accurate. I'd suggest this is an important skill to learn as one day you will drop your Starrett and it will need some love.
Awesome, and thanks for sharing dickie! I wish I had some starret tools as well. Don't really need them at this point, but If I every want to replace my combination square that is the brand i will be looking at first. Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching!
Good to hear zamboni! I'm sure the quality of starrett is the best (probably even better than woodpeckers). I will be looking at their combination square if I decide to ever upgrade mine! Thanks so much for watching!
Great video. The combination square is probably the single most important tool for me. I agree with comments on the Drywall square being used for breaking down sheet goods. I think woodpeckers is really a luxury enthusiast brand like Festool is. But unlike Festool, I it's best to pick one or two tools from them that have the "package" of functionalities you use most often instead of seeing Woodpeckers as an ecosystem.
Oh man, you are so correct! The combination square was probably my second square ever, right after my framing square (that was a bad choice for my first square). I still use that combination square on almost every project at is is one of the most versatile. It's a swanson and I haven't seen a need to upgrade it at all since I got it. It works perfectly! Thank you so much for sharing and watching ScholteimReinbach!!!
If you want something closer to Delve square, DFM makes a great alternative. A good alternative to the T-Square would be to pick up a carpenter square fence from someone like TayTools or Lee Valley. The fence then would turn your carpenter square into the perfect alternative to the larger aluminum squares with the the lip and the T-square. A different alternative to the T-square would be a drafting but you run into the issue that it does not have the lip like the Woodpecker version.
Excellent Points AxGryndr! I've been wanting to pick up one of those from Taytools for a bit now. The last couple of times I've looked they have been sold out. I need to check them out again to see if they are in stock again. Excellent point with the DFM as well. I have yet to buy any DFM tools other than a card scraper, but I've heard great things about that brand and I need to check them out. Thanks so much for sharing and watching!
Thanks for introducing me to Woodpeckers. What about the empire t square?
Great question JVBL1! I don't have any experience with the Empire T square but would love to check them out. I'm guessing its a reasonable solution as well! Thank you so much for watching!
somehow, I had never seen that challenger commercial before. I had to figure out what it was and it was great.
I know right? I hadn't either. Pretty funny! Especially old George cruising around!
The pocket rule is my favorite out all of them because it fits in your pocket or your holdsters, the knock offs have a thick ruler and i regret getting them
That's great to hear heruvey. For some reason I just can't get over the stability issue with it. But for smaller measurements and laying out things like dovetails, or mortise and tenons I'm sure it is just fine. Thanks for sharing your experience and thanks for watching!
I attach a lip to my framing square with a spring clamp - no droop and costs zero.
I do not scribe lines with a square of any kind. I just mark the distance twice and use a straight edge to scribe the line. The advantage of doing it this way is I do not need a perfectly straight and smooth edge to obtain a straight scribe line.
Love that idea! Thank you so much for sharing the spring clamp idea! Love hearing ideas like this!
I really appreciate this type of video. I would like to own Woodpecker tools and have almost started the investment journey. But the cost! I just cannot justify spending that kind of money no matter if I can afford to pay or not. Having alternatives from you I fully believe are honest opinions. On a side note, this video had the best collection of inserted clips that introduce, support, ridicule or make fun of a word or phrase. Keep up the excellent content along with the entertainment.
Trust me I made my living as a cabinet maker and if i started my 50 year journey again today............... I wouldn't take a single Woodpeckers tool along for the ride.
Thanks so much happy monkey! I appreciate that and I agree with you. I have felt buyers regret every time I’ve I’ve purchased a woodpeckers tool. And that is not normal. Luckily they have all worked as advertised, but buyers regret should come from buying cars not squares!
One thing that I'd like u to comment on is the precision and consistency of the measurements. That is one of the big selling points for Woodpeckers. Are the measurements accurate in the cheaper alternatives (when compared to Woodpeckers)? Thank so much.
Excellent idea! Might be with a follow up video on this. I will need a little more time to work with the brands like woodraphic to give an opinion but what I’ve seen so far has been impressive. Thanks for the comment it’s a good one!
Awesome job!!! I keep thinking that my first woodpecker might be a Pocket T-square( most affordable for me) Thoughts? Any cheaper alternatives?
I think that is a great choice. especially if you are going to be using it for layout lines. Incra also makes some very affordable versions as well, so might be worth checking those out too. The T-square won't be able to check for square if you are building things like cabinets, but I think that would be an excellent choice. (I got the 642 which would also be an excellent choice in my opinion!)
If you don't mind buying knockoffs 731 woodworks did a nice comparison to woodpeckers tools showing which ones were good to buy
@@DjLooN Oh yeah! I think I saw that one. With the Paolini Pocket rules on the thumbnails. I think his video actually inspired me a bit to do this one!
I use Incra, and still prefer it over most anything else. Plywood I just use a tracksaw and get it a bit proud, and then finish on the table saw. My first “track saw” was a 1/2-inch HDPE plate, with the saw mounted on it, and a groove to follow the slot in some t-track. Relatively inexpensive, as I bought the plastic as an off cut at a commercial plastics supplier.
You don't know how upset I am that I didn't mention incra in this video. You are 100% correct. An excellent product for the money. I have a couple of measing tools from them and they work excellently. Not sure why I didn't include them, Most likely it's because I have stored them somewhere that I can't get to right now. Thank you so much for the valuable reminder!
Right off the bat: 40 years ago, I used a crabide drill, to put a pencil hole Exactly ONE INCH FROM THE END tHE 1" END AS IT MAY BE!
I made it to fit the Pentel P209 A .9MM LEADD\.
As a custom wood worker, I used the P209 exclusivle. Cut to left, or right, leave the line take the line.
Great combination square trick.
philip
In the Great Pacific NorthWET, Oregon Division
What a great idea madighntist! Thank you so much for sharing that. Excellent idea. Tell Mr Squatch I say hi! :)
Here is what i used in my whole career as a cabinet maker. First up one good quality you say machinist we say engineers square, this only got used to check my working tools their accuracy makes woodworking tools look rubbish by comparison. Two combination squares, one 300mm, one 150mm. A sliding bevel and a setting guage. Several tee squares all made in the shop. Steel rulers in lengths from 150mm to a metre. If I needed anything else i made it myself. I still have the first tee square i made as an apprentice nearly 50 years ago.
I dont agree with everything you say but you made a great point about the 'red tools'. Every woodworking channel has them and they sure as hell didnt pay for them and hey it worked because you watched all these people and thought i need all this stuff and now you realise you dont. You should pack up all the stuff you dont need and send it back to them with a note saying refund please no longer required to get the job done! They are over priced junk in most cases and certainly not essential to any woodworker.
I love this comment! So awesome to hear someone who does this for a living comment on what they actually use. Thanks for that. I’m actually getting ready to redo my shop and I’m taking a serious look at what I actually use and just have because I thought I would use it. I will be doing some “fall” cleaning! Love this and thanks again!
Thank you for confirming what I already knew, these are grossly over-priced. They're like a male version of a Louis Vuitton handbag. You want people to think you got it like that. This isn't coming from a place of bitterness either, I could afford them if I want. I just see zero value in them. DFM makes great squares as well, in the USA. Half the price. I mean no offense but I can't believe you spent $55 or so on 2 metal rulers. Boggles my mind. To each their own, and on a positive note. Great video. Informative, I enjoyed it. Liked and subscribed.
DFM is a one that I’ve been wanting to check out! I know 731 woodworks talks about those quite a bit and they look nice. Love the analogy to LV handbag! Made me laugh but that hits the nail on the head!
@@path4061 Awesome! Thank you so much for sharing. I'm thinking I need to check out DFM next time I'm in the market for a square. Sounds like high quality tools for the price!
I have a Swanson combination square. Unfortunately it was not perfectly square when I received it, but it's easy to adjust with a file. I see no reason to spend over $100 on a combination square when it's going to come out of square with general use, and you're going to have to learn how to square it on your own anyway. I also got a Swanson speed square with the combination square, the same as in your video, and it's actually square, so no complaints there. Both are a great value and there isn't a lot of worry with damaging them due to their cost.
Excellent to hear ibtamine! Love the swanson brand and there is a reason they have been around for so long. Some of the best value you can get for your money. That is all I used when I first started woodworking and I continue to use them today. Thank you so much for sharing and thanks for watching!
Hi Bryan. Im from UK. A popular site many use is Bangood. It is in the states has ive seen the odd video or two. Although Chinese knock offs you wouldnt believe quality. Companys such as Veiko, Hongdui, Wnew and a few more will soon be made aware of. My mitre gauge from Hongdui (£107)is exceptional. For measuring i use Veiko. I have a 12" (£26) square that surprisingly is. There is a guy from states who made vid about mitre gauge and Bangood items. Just have a look you will be pleasently surprised. Enjoying your vids.
hookedonwood put me on the china tools, some of them are insane value
Awesome! I've heard of bangood, but I haven't actually purchased anything from there yet. I think this would be an excellent idea to check out some of the tools available on that site as well. Thank you so much for sharing your experiences with it. I think that would make an excellent video in the future. Thanks so much for sharing Steven!
Yes, Dennis is doing too bad. Like his new work shop
Bryan, the only problem is shipping time. Usually 3 weeks. Good luck mate.
@@stevengreen4316 awesome!
Спасибо за отличный видео обзор.
Спасибо за просмотр!
A plain Drafting T-Square works well. They come in all sorts of styles, and they are reasonably priced.
If you want to find a center or divide up something into equal parts all you need is an accurate rule and a straight edge.
To find the center lay the rule on an angle across your piece of wood. Adjust the rule so that it sits with whole numbers easily divided by two rest on each edge. Say you have a piece of wood that is 3-11/16" wide and you want to find the center. Place the 1" mark on one side and then the 5" mark on the other, so you have 4" of rule lying across the wood. 4"/2=2", 2"+1"=3" now place a mark at 3" and you have the center. Do this again further down your piece of wood. Draw a line between your two points and you have a centerline. If you want to divide a piece of wood into thirds set the scale at 1" and 7: along the edges. 7"-1"=6", 6"/3"=2". Place marks at 3" (1"+2") and 5" (1"+4"). You now have divided the piece of wood into thirds.
You find the center by drawing a line across your piece of wood square to the edge. Measure in a 1/4" from each side. Take a compass and open it so it is wider than your piece of wood. Strike two arcs, one from each 1/4" mark. Where the two arcs cross is the center.
I love this Robert! Thank you so much for sharing. I use a couple of your tips on a regular basis so it was good to get a refresher! I love comments like this that share experience and ideas. Thank you so much for sharing and watching!
Good tip, and you can also buy a rule that has measurements from the center 0. Very fast for centering.
@@disqusrubbish5467 Yes! Thank you again for sharing and watching! :)
You are absolutely right with the alternatives. Woodpeckers is not trying to reinvent the wheel. The extra features are nice but you buy woodpeckers tools for their accuracy. That’s why they’re expensive, everybody knows this. You are not getting 0.001” squareness over 12” with Swanson or empire. I don’t own any woodpeckers tools but I would 100% like to get the 1281. Having a square that I know is square and Carrie’s a life time warranty is well worth its price. I’ve already in my short life have spent way more on cheap squares that I coulda bought some woodpecker tools and I’m a fool for doing so.
I don't know anyone doing, or any application in woodworking that needs 0.001" accuracy in woodworking.
That's pretty precise, that's for darn sure! :)
You are correct John, that is what you get with woodpeckers and I think that is why they can justify the high price tag. You will never have to worry about how precise those tools are, but you are going to pay for it. At lease with woodpeckers you can't blame the tools for measurment errors :)
As a professional woodworker since I was about 18 now about 30 years in , I’ve owned every brand of everything over the years. But in my shop when it comes to measuring and layout we only use Woodpeckers and Starett . I don’t watch many ww videos but there seems to be more and more videos on bashing quality expensive tools. There’s a big difference between a professional and a weekend warrior. As a guy who produces a quality product I for one have no problem spending money on another guy producing a quality product especially in the US
I don't see him bashing woodpeckers but his video does point out that if you're trying to save some money when starting out there are cheaper alternatives.
@@Lifelesslion21 no you’re right, the thumbnail bugged me a bit, I probably should’ve said nothing
@@yellowdog2181 I mean it's youtube, you're welcome to say whatever you want, but as a weekend warrior I'm always looking to save where I can as I'm barely starting out.
THanks for watching Yellowdog. Just to be clear, I wasn't bashing by any means. I love the woodpeckers brand and the quality of the product. I just wanted to show economy alternatives in this video. I've never had starret, but I've heard nothing but good things about that brand as well. I do think that you can get the same quality from cheaper brands. But with brands like woodpeckers and starett you know what you are getting. Thanks so much for commenting and thanks for watching!
Yes! That's exactly what I was trying to do thank you lifelesslion. I wouldn't own the ones I did if I didn't think they were good tools. Thanks for watching!
I don't use the paolini square for scribing. IT's too wobbly. But I love the size form factor. And use it almost exclusively to transfer measurements.
I would agree with you hansangb! Thanks so much for sharing and watching I really appreciate it!
Thanks for this video. I'm looking for a less expensive alternative to Woodpecker. I would have appreciated a discussion on how accurate the alternative brands are compared to Woodpecker.
There are a lot of great brands out there. Check out woodraphic, igaging, goingmake, dfm all great brands I've dove into.
For finding the center of a board just angle the ruler to a point divisible by 2 or however many segments you need. For instance if you have a 7 inch board and want to find the center place your ruler so that zero is at one edge and 10 inches is at the other edge and mark at 5 inches, that’s your center
That's an excellent way to do it! Thanks so much for sharing with everyone and watching unclepewter!
I have the combination square It only has 1 nut to hold it 1 nut is not better than 2 nuts. That square is off by a degree given the length.
I agree it would be nice to have a second nut in the combination square. that seems to be one problem with the design of a combination square is the potential for the engagement between the screw and the ruler not being fully secured. Thanks for watching Steve!
😂Morning Wood. Gotta get that t/shirt.
Haha! One of my favorites too! Thanks for watching Rollingstone!
I think you could totally use the drywall square in place that T square just fine and they’re generally 48 inches long
You know that is a great point. I'd love to have one of those. I've seen them at the big box stores many times and almost pulled the trigger. A couple of other people have commented though that they can sometimes be a little off. Great idea and thanks for sharing and watching Corey!
Good video, but I could not find the link you mentioned to the 15 uses of the speed square...
Oh man, I bet I forgot to add it Bobicard. Here is the link: czcams.com/video/kVuHLtNng_s/video.html
Thanks so much for watching!
@@FlynndoggWoodwork Got it now, thanks!
I sub because he has a weird scene of humor 😂
Thanks so much CoquiAudio! I appreciate it!
@Flynndogg Woodwork
It really boils down to what level of precision and accuracy you need. If you are doing fine woodworking and want to ensure you really are square you can't beat woodpecker precision of 0.001" per foot of holding square. The cheap cast speed squares can't hold that level of precision. You'd be lucky to hold .020" per foot of squareness. That adds up quickly as you increase your distance away from your edge.
A great alternative to Woodpeckers with similar precision and accuracy would be igaging brand of precision tools. They hold approximately +/- .005" of squareness per foot for their equivalent Develve squares for a fraction of the price of woodpeckers.
Great great point creamysbrianna! I agree with you, when I'm doing something with very high precision I almost always reach for my woodpeckers or woodraphic. I think the point of this video for me was to show some cheaper alternatives to those who maybe can't afford the higher end tools or are just starting out and are looking for some alternatives. Igauging is a brand i've been very interested in checking out over the last few months. I've heard some really good things about them. thanks for sharing i really appreciate it!
What is all the beeping out?
Are you referring to the intro? He says the price is wrong b#$ch!
An inch, is not an inch, is not an inch. Straightness and square are not the only measures. Continuity between measuring devices is what led me to buy a FEW nicer measuring tools. It is crazy how much variance one can have between measuring devices. Nicer measuring devices are much more consistent.
Oh I agree with you. And sometimes it doesn't always have to do with the edge of the measuring devises. If you get a tool with a lip that has a bump in it or something like that I can also throw all your measurments off as well. Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching deadbungeejumper! Love the username!
It's all relative. Yes I'm a WP guy. You can always find less expensive tools that work. I live in a nice house and drive nice cars...
Again it's all relative.😊
I agree with you Glen, I'm a woodpeckers guy too, but I like to show what can used as alternatives if you can't afford the tools. Thanks so much for watching! :)
There's always a cheaper alternative to precision tools, lol. It's the precision that costs so much though. US made also ads a lot too. If I were still doing machinist work, I would definitely buy the Woodpecker brands. Using a scale as a straight edge? Yeah, that's definitely the wrong tool for the task, regardless of the price. They look very well made and if you don't want them, I can put them to a more effective and appropriate use. I really like the red anodized finish too.
Yep! They are excellent tools! My 642 is my right hand man in the shop. Thanks so much for the comment and thanks for watching!
just use the power of the mind to check squareness and draw straight lines
Haha! Is that like the force? 😂. Thanks for watching moldy!
Thank you for showing alternatives to..."Jesus, reaaaaally, Woodpecker?!?", but really thank for showing the Dodge commercial!!! Perhaps, just perhaps, EVERYTHING "American" should be shown with that song as a background. Maybe it's just me, but...that was just the perfect soundtrack for your video...
Haha! Thanks so much mak4374! I can’t believe I hadn’t seen that commercial before, truly funny! 😂
The Woodraphic square has a thin aluminum rule which can be damaged extremely easily when compared to the steel Woodpeckers
Yes that is very true, but woodpeckers also has an aluminum version which also has the same problem. Don't ask me how I know! :( Still much much cheaper than the woodpeckers aluminum version as well, but very valid point! Thank you so much for sharing!
Do I see a garage sale on your woodpeckers tools in the near future?
Haha! No sir! Still love them, but man are they pricey! :)
All good points, but cheaper tools often gives more errors due to bad tolerances.
I'm 100% with you. I do think its a roll of the dice with some of these tools with complete precision and accuracy, but brands like woodraphic have really impressed me so far. You definately get what you pay for. I think the key is you need to test your measuring devices as soon as you get them. Are they square, do they line up with your tape measure etc. Great point bamsebrumbamsebrumen!
I get it. It is those guys job to sell tools. But really, 90 % is superfluous. I think the true tradesmark of a good woodworker is doing more with less, not doing more with more and more gadgets. I have a Starret that is expensive and accurate and that is really all I need.
Love it and I agree. Tools are only tools and only a bridge to get you where you need to go. Great choice with the starrett! THank you so much for your comment and thanks for watching Robv!
I really don’t understand the crazy prices on a bunch of rulers. However, that goes for a lot of wood working tools. There are a bunch that aren’t really necessary.
I agree with you! I'm sure that many of the tools are expensive to make, especially ones with precision like rulers, but they still seem unfairly priced.
Please don't hate me, but the only "precision" you need with wood work is "square / angle". Length accuracy is pretty much immatreial (within reason). The dimensions of our work changes by variations in temperature / humidity / time so as to make the famed accuracy of the W'Pecker imaterial.
I like your thought process and I think it has some real validity. Even all the miters, etc. are going to move with the changing of humidity and temperature. Thanks so much for sharing, you got me thinking (which is rare!) :)
Hey, if you’re curious about Woodpeckers or any other expensive brand, but hate to waste good money, then save up, buy a small square or ruler or whatever and try it out. For myself, they’re not worth it, but then I don’t have money falling out of my pockets. If you don’t either, I would probably go to one of the big box stores or your local hardware store and check out their stuff. Squares are easy to check. Just grab one, set in on the shelf, mark a line, flip it over and check it. If it matches the line and isn’t flimsy, buy it. As far as tapes and rules, don’t switch between them during a job. Use the same one to mark for a cut as you did to measure for the piece. Doesn’t matter if it’s off a bit because everything will be off the same amount. I would rather spend more on my power tools. I don’t think it matters if your line is perfectly placed and square if you have a crap saw that you can’t keep on that line, or a drill press that wobbles.
Great suggestions BobBob! Thank you so much for sharing. I did exactly what you suggested. Saved up for the 642. I ended up really liking it, but nothing quite stood out to me more than the original square. Other than maybe the t square. Great suggestions and thanks for watching!
@@FlynndoggWoodwork Thanks for that. I’m sure Woodpeckers and the other top of the line products are pretty good, at least they better be. For someone running a woodworking business and especially with employees, they would want consistency throughout the shop. But for the hobbyist or a one man band woodworker trying to make a living or extra money, you got to watch the overhead. The tools have to pay for themselves. There are good quality squares and rules out there that don’t cost an arm and a leg. I think a triangle square is the way to go. With those if you find one that’s square and made with good thick metal, it will stay square. The T squares that are riveted together can get sprung or bent or the rivets get lose. And you don’t want to drop it on the floor and step on it or drop a 2x10 on it when it cost a couple hundred bucks. Again, save the money for a good table saw and get a good fence and miter gauge for it. The fences are usually decent with the higher dollar ones but the miter gauges tend to leave a lot to be desired. And give it a good tune up. Even the good ones may not be set up correctly right out of the box. Square the blade to the miter slots, align the fence to the blade, turn in the miter gauge. Might find out that it was the saw screwing up the cuts, not the measuring tools.
@@BobBob-eh5sb great thoughts! I agree. I've been wanting to get one of those table saw gauges to check my blade for square etc. I think my fence is a little off too. All things I need to check and calibrate, hopefully sooner rather than later. Thanks again for your insite!
I agree with everything you said in your video. If you can afford a WP tool, then go for it. But in the end, I think that the only reason WP is still around is their CZcams influencers. Are they rediculously accurate, yes they are. Do you need accuracy to .001? That is for you to decide. Just remember, it doesn't matter how accurate your measuring tools are if your cutting tools are not accurate. For me, I would spend my money on quality power/hand tools before I invested $300 in a square.
100% agree with you! I find most of the time when I'm building something I can't even cut to the accuracy of woodpeckers. Then once you have a few pieces cut, you aren't using measuring tools a lot of the time anyway. You are using the piece you cut out already as the reference for measurments! Thanks for commenting and thanks for watching CalCity1000!
Must add the price-£25.99 UK-
Thanks so much for sharing Phil! Very helpful for our UK friends!
Seems to me that most of these CZcamsrs just collect expensive tooling to "flex", as you say.
They seem to create very little with them - the Snap-on con is just the same.
Just checking out my latest Festool addition..........
Haha! I agree with you. It seems those fancy names seem to get more views. My channel is slowing migrating from tool reviews to more builds in the very near future. But I agree with you! :)
Gotta remember that speedsquares are made for rough construction and may not be true (i.e. 88 degrees instead of 90).
You can verify how square it is by using a scrap piece of wood with parallel sides. Hold the lip edge against one known parallel side and draw a full line. flip to the opposite side and draw another full line. if your lines cross youre not square.
Excellent point brady! Thanks for sharing with everyone! :)
Great point Steelsumpi! Thank you for sharing!
I've been using igaging alot. I have a few woodpeckers but you are correct WAY OVER PRICED! Good to here of some other brands. Also don't like the aluminum factor. Drop it, it's dinged!
You are so correct, about the aluminum getting dinged. One of my woodpeckers squares fell off my table and has a small ding in it and doesn't sit completely flush anymore. I've heard good things about igauging, good to hear from someone who has some real experience with that brand. Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching Mordechalev!
I have a small Swanson tri square,and it is not square 😢
Ugh! That sucks. Can you return it? That is the first time I've heard someone getting an uncalibrated tool from them. I'm sure you could exchange it out for a new one!
Nothing bets a Machinist square.
I know right, most people bet with money, :) but yes I agree those things are dead accurate and cheap! Thanks so much for watching and commenting Pete!
Can I live without this or that Woodpecker, that's not the question. The question is does this do something that makes it worth the crazy price? Everyone develops a didifferent workflow so the answer is never the same for two people. For me the only one that I can't live without is the 3-1/2" DeLVe. Doing layup on small stock it just has no substitute.
Great point Mark! I 100% agree. The 642 is one that i have relied upon for years, Just recently got replaced with a woodraphic M4 which is only 4 inches long. Like it because of its size. Thanks so much for sharing and watching, excellent points!
I have many of both Woodpeckers & Woodraphic tools and yes there both good tools but since Woodraphic tools cost almost as much as woodpeckers I'll just continue to buy American
Valid point! Both are great. Thanks so much for watching!
I have been wood working for a long long time and never felt the need to use 1/8" hole feature. I could give you 10 reason why that feature isn't necessarly that impor tant. The video was good , but for me a woodworker tool would never darken the door of my shop. They ain't wort h the money. measure twice cut once, it works every time.
Love it. And advice that has stood the test of time. Thanks for watching MrRackinRoll! :)
Woodpeckers tools are just a status symbol...
Well, they are certainly expansive. They are completely accurate, but that the entire reason why I wanted to make this video. They aren’t the only tool that is accurate. Thanks for sharing and thanks for watching Peter!
Give me Starrett over these cheap woodpeckers any day.
Haha! I don't disagree! Garrett for the Starrett! :) Thanks for watching!
Dogg, man...ads? WTF? You big time now!! What you talking 'bout ....not "Woodpeckers?" You're dissing "Paolini? I'm aghast! Dogg, man, we counted 26 times you said, "Woodpeckers." That was a lot of push-ups. So many, in fact, that we had to drop the number of repetitions to 50 per and then you hit us with four mentions of the "Paolini," name dropped Swanson, Empire, DelVe square, Power tech, Wood graphic...holy cow. Plus, you got us with your "lips" and "lead." Good thing we have another month, or so of beach weather. BTW, was that you dad? Love ya, big guy. Keep up the good work.
Haha! Yes! That was my dad :). This was a big name dropper of a video! But all for the good health and well being of the meat! I’m running out of lips jokes may need some help for the next video! 😂
@@FlynndoggWoodwork I think it's primo that you include your dad. I lost mine when I was too young and I missed having him around to keep me straight. I admire that you show him respect.
Drive on, my brother.
@@themeat5053 Thanks so much Meat - Yeah, I lost my mom and dad and sister when I was about 29. Luckily my wife's family absorbed me into theirs. But its tough, missed out on a lot of years with them, and not a day goes by where they aren't thought of. Sorry to hear about your dad, I'm sure he would be proud!
obviously, the Woodpeckers scheme needs some bashing
Haha! I feel like everyone is up woodpecker's you know what, they are great tools, but I do think they are charging too much for them! Thanks so much for watching an-droid8095!
If I got a dollar for every time a manufacturer said "this will revolutionalize your woodworking "I would be rich. It is just bs.
Haha! You should check out the woodpeckers videos on their site. It's hard to revolutionize a craft that is so old. I think three of the tools that I have seen that have really "revolutionized" my shop are the sawstop, the nova voyager, and the shaper origin. But I totally get it! :)
Woodpeckers is "jewelry for woodworkers." Absolutely unnecessary! But beautiful.
I love that saying! Jewelry for woodworkers, that’s excellent! Thanks for watching Terry!
No you don’t need fancy, expensive tools. Sure they look cool, but how much precision do you really need? If you don’t have accuracy in you cuts, drilled holes and assembly, then it doesn’t matter how accurate the line or measurement was. These are like the 5 step procedure to square up your miter gauge or crosscut sled. Sure it’s nice to get it as perfect as possible, but to strive for .001 of an inch. Look at ruler with 1/64” increments. Pretty small. If you can get the saw to that in say 12 inches, then that’s 1/8” in 8 feet, which you can’t even cut with a miter gauge or crosscut sled. As far as squares, hold it on a straight edged board or workbench, strike a line, flip it 180 degrees and see if it is still on the line. I do that at the store. Use the shelf or a counter top or whatever you can find that’s straight.
Excellent way to look at it Bob. Clear and easy to understand! Thank you so much for posting this and thanks for sharing with everyone!
@@FlynndoggWoodwork Thank you for the comment.
It’s hip to be square
Love it! Thanks as always for watching Paul!
Good job debunking the need to spend a fortune on woodpecker tools I order to build beautiful projects.
Thanks so much Raymond and thanks for watching! :)
Whiskey Butterfly 😅😅😅😅
Haha! I wasn't sure too many people would catch that! :) Thanks for watching surfdogvacationrentals!
I'm not going to argue that Woodpecker isn't the best in accuracy. For sake of argument, I'll consider that nothing is as accurate, much less more accurate.
But, when I see YT woodworkers using them when they are NOT being promoted by them, it shows me that they are full of themselves. Why?
Every one of them makes mistakes and will be first to admit that the best woodworkers are best because they can "cover their mistakes". Even with these precise tools, they fail! Just like the rest of us and like every beginner, but maybe not to the scale a beginner's mistake.
I don't think there are any NASA or Space-X engineers teaching us how to make the perfect table, cabinet, cutting board, etc on these wood-working channels.
What I do see being taught are great woodworking skills on how to make repeatable cuts, get square angles and parallel sides. I've never seen someone tell me how to shave off or add 1/8 of an inch so my table top is perfectly square. Instead, they say things, and I'll quote ":Ted Baldwin" from Gwinnett Woodworker's Guild, "If it looks square, it is square."
Wood shrinks, swells and bows more than the precision of these tools on a daily basis in most shops!
The first rule my hobby woodworking friends taught me about woodworking is "use the same tape measure for all measurements." The next rule I learned is from You Tubers, "to fit the piece, creep up on the cut." The third thing is make sure your square is square.
As long as your square is square, even with the most inaccurate tape measure, you can build a square box and fit it into a precision hole just as well as you can using the Woodpecker. Convince me that I am wrong!
The most accurate I can build anything is determined, not by the accuracy of my tape, but how accurately I can cut, shape or connect pieces.
If you want to see how to build projects without any ruler at all, check out Ted Baldwin at Gwinnett Woodworkers on CZcams. His videos are 5-10 years old, and he doesn't know I exist, but every beginner needs to at least watch his two safety videos.
As you learned, Woodpecker tools may have their place, but that isn't in the hands of beginners. If anything, that much precision will be detrimental to the confidence of beginners. They need practice, not precision!
Thank you so much for your insight! The tools are only as accurate as the user, that is for sure! :) Thanks so much for sharing and watching!
Shirt
Haha! Thanks for watching Vamp_valentine!
When i see woodpecker tools in a shop. and this includes youtube video inside a shop. If anyone thinks that a 150$ square is worth it. over a 20$ accurate square. i dont need to follow any kind of recommendations from that person or shop. they have no understanding of value for money.
Well I think different people have different budgets for things that are important to them and they wish to spend their money of different things, but your point is received! Thanks for watching!
@@FlynndoggWoodwork If you can afford to make that mistake i guess go for it? personally i think getting a CNC and making your own tool is a much better way to go. granted i do have little over 3,000 invested but i make much more then squares....
@@st0mper121 I hear you. $3000 is enough to make an awesome shop that is for sure! I love the idea of making your own tools. I'd love to do some videos on that. I actually recently bought a book about that same topic!
@@FlynndoggWoodwork I started off with a OnefinityCNC If your thinking of this route. Might want to check them out. the new ones have some really nice controller upgrades.
@@st0mper121 It's funny you mention that. That was one of the brands on the top of my list. I'm temporarily holding off on buying a cnc for a bit though as I'm getting my workshop insulated/heated and cooled so my budget for woodworking is spent for a bit! :( Great suggestion though!
look at veiko..........................look at reviews
Oh thanks for sharing that! I haven't heard of them, but I will be checking them out tonight! :). Thanks for watching anthony!
I will never buy a woodpecker product. The turn off for me was when they give all kinds of these expensive tools to certain woodworkers you highlighted just so they can display them on their wall. They really aren't that great. I have a big 18" TSO carpenter square and a couple smaller very accurate squares for tight measuring I got off of Amazon and I can do everything I need to. they are over priced always out of stock, a very poorly managed company. and it's not because I'm cheap I have tons of festool products.
Spot on my friend well done for not swallowing the 'red' pill. Sadly it won't happen but all the guys that display this crap on their tool walls should be honest enough to say they got it all for nothing.
Thanks for sharing debandmike! I asked woodcraft once why they don't sell their products and it is because they said woodpeckers can't produce enough products to fill their shelves at woodcraft. Seems like they are missing out an opportunity to sell more product at a cheaper price if they could take advantage of their demand and fill their supply. I wish I had gotten mine for free. I suspect a lot of youtubers do get them for free.
I paid for mine! :) I was too easily influenced in the beginning of my woodworking career seeing other youtubers have them on their wall. They work but are definitely not the only solution! Thanks for sharing guys!
@@FlynndoggWoodwork You don't need to suspect, all tool companies, Woodpeckers, Festool et al all offer free tools and sometimes cash as well. Don't ask, but Iknow it's true I've seen the emails. All I can say is I don't know how I survived in the business for my whole life without all this extrainious crap that is marketed as must have tools. I'm so sorry for beginners these days hoodwinked out of money by the bucket load.
@@Dickie2702 I hear you. I have small chinese tools approaching me with a lot of junk right now. I reject almost all of them. I actually had a company approach me this week wanting me to feature hearing aids on this channel. I was like what?!??! How about some ear protection! I think i've only had 3 products on this channel featured that were given to me for free, I always disclaim if I got it for free though. But the bigger channels I'm sure get a LOT of high end free stuff, and play it off as something they purchased. Unfortunately, I'm on the same end as most woodworkers, I bought a lot of my stuff by watching other woodworkers on youtube, not realizing their opinions were probably biased.
😅
You cannot put a price on pointing to all of your Woodpecker tools on the wall and saying with pride "and there is my Woodpecker tools". Just not the same pointing to the wall where you have yellow, red, white, blue and black tools that do the same thing for a quarter of the price. What are you going to do start naming twenty different brands. Not the same.
Not sure I fully understand but thank you for watching Andrew!
@@FlynndoggWoodwork As I get older, my attempts of humor fall like a rock.
@@andrewpinson1268 I think we need a grandpa joke category for the old timers, even worse than the dad joke category! :)
Those Woodraphic squares are still way overpriced
They definitely aren't cheap, but cheaper! Thanks for watching Paul!
I wanted to like this but couldn't take all the comedic interludes.
Noted, thanks for watching.
if you dont want to spend for woodpecker, get incra T squares and such. At least keep buying from American made companies or we will have none left.
Great suggestion! I have a few of those and I'm not quite sure I didn't include them. Excellent option, thanks for sharing Chuck!
Pretty much no one needs to pay that money for a square. Really. Just say no.
Haha! Just like old Nancy Regan used to say! Thanks for watching disqusrubbish!
They are ok but no where near as accurate as Woodpeckers buy what you want but im sticking with Woodpeckers.
That's very true, but they are budget friendly alternatives. I'm with you though. If you can afford the woodpeckers, you can't beat their solid accuracy. Thanks for the comment and watching MrCubFlyer!
Are Woodpecker tools nice ? Sure ! Does the average Joe need them to build something for around the house ? Nope. I'll never own any, I have better things to waste my money on, like my fishing boat !
Love it Pointblank! That is definitely a better option for your money! Have fun fishing! :)
Woodpeckers sounds like the Apple of the ww world. Good products but some the worst value in the entire industry.
They are expensive! Thanks for watching cpthornman!