Always use this edge to mark angles use the hypotenuse for marking only 45-degree cuts. Find your desired angle along the hypotenuse-for instance, if you want to mark a 30-degree angle, perfectly align the 30-degree tick mark with the edge of your board-then hold the square firmly in place, and draw your 30-degree line along the edge of the speed square that is opposite the angle readings and also perpendicular to the tool’s lip. Holding the pivot point in place, swing the speed square lip away from the board. Look at the degree marks along the hypotenuse, and you’ll see that this arm marks a 90-degree angle. The other arm of the right angle will point away from you. First, brace the speed square lip against the side of the board you’re working with. Whether you want to make a nice pitched roof on your kids’ treehouse or you need a utility ramp for your shed entrance, getting the right angle on every side is tricky work that can be simplified with your speed square. For lines further into the center of the board, brace the square’s lip against the board so that the tool can act as a firm perpendicular edge to butt a ruler or yardstick up against. The square can be flipped over to be butted on any side of the board, allowing for perpendicular scribing so long as that line is within the width of your square. In seconds, you’ll have marked a straight line completely parallel to the edge and as long as you need, potentially as long as the board itself. Fit your pencil’s tip into the desired notch (if, for example, you’re looking to cut two inches from a plywood board, you’d choose the notch at the two-inch mark), then drag both your square and pencil along the edge of the board. Look for one or two rows of notches, each a quarter inch apart, in the open middle of the speed square. Not every speed square has the markings and notches needed for scribing. When I was a kid, my dad made cut lines on plywood so fast with his speed square that I’d be boggle-eyed impressed. When you’re constructing cabinetry, building sheds, or working on other projects that necessitate lots of long, straight cuts, line scribing makes your job easier by letting you quickly mark exactly where to saw. Photo: Line Scribing with a Speed Square
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