A painted surface, on the other hand, would easily wear off over time as it rubbed off on other surfaces. In the end, the graduations would progressively fade away until they were no longer apparent.

Even if a speed square is accurate, it isn’t useful if you can’t read the numbers. Because of that, many companies etch the numbers into each square on top of painting them. This makes them easier to read and keeps them readable for a long time.It is available in two distinct forms. Milwaukee’s MLSQ070 7-inch rafter square and Milwaukee’s MLSQ070 7-inch magnetic rafter square. The main difference is the latter’s magnetic feature, which allows it to keep a firm grip on ferrous materials. This tool’s graduation is laser engraved, making it long-lasting and resistant to wear. It’s dual reading, the imperial and metric scales are on the front and side of the angle. This means that there is a 60 mm metric scale and a 2 1/2 inch imperial scale on each triangular face of the instrument.

A Hanson speed square, marking pencil, bag, and technical reference to roof framing are included in a set from the proper provider. The scope of the job mostly determines the size you choose. When dealing with big lumbers, such as 2 by 8 and up, the larger square comes in helpful since its size makes it easier to set up layout frames and transfer measurements from one lumber to the next. Since they normally come with a layout bar, they’re also great for laying out rafters, stairways, angles, and birds mouth joints.The speed square is especially important in roof building for determining roof pitch and cutting an exact seat into the rafter to match the double plate of the wall. It also comes with common and hip value scales that are very beneficial for rafter construction. That’s why a speed square is also called a rafter square. Because it is composed of aluminum, it is designed for long and tough use. The final square has been precisely machined to make it even more sturdy and resistant to wear over time. If you buy a speed square that only lasts a few months before the graduations start to fade, it’s a waste of money. After all, what good is a square if it can’t be used to measure distance or determine angles? If it keeps its squareness, you might get one excellent item out of it, but we can assure you that it won’t result in an efficient way. The material a speed square is made out of will have a direct effect on its durability. These versatile tools get used a lot, so they take a lot of wear and tear. They can wear down and become unreadable after only moderate usage if made of low-quality materials.