Starrett C33H-12-4R 12-Inch Combination Square with Square Head Only
- A multi-purpose tool that can be used for applications that require a 45-degree miter, a depth gage, a level, a plumb, and a precision rule
- Square blades are machine divided, hardened and tempered for long life
- Features easy-to-read, sharp 8ths, 16ths, 32nds, and 64ths graduations
- A reversible lock bold allows the blade to be turned over or end-for-end, without removing the lock bold or nut to ensure true alignment of the blade and heads
- Protractor heads have revolving turrets with direct-reading double graduations, 0-180-degrees in opposite directions, for the direct reading of angles and supplementary angles
Product Description
Combination – Squares Type: Hardened Square Head Number of Pieces: 2 Blade Length: 12 Graduation Style: 4R Fractional Graduation: 1/8, 1/16, 1/32, 1/64 Finish/Coating: Satin Chrome… More >>
Starrett C33H-12-4R 12-Inch Combination Square with Square Head Only
The work you produce can only be as good as the tools you measure it by. Don’t even consider the cheap copies, they don’t come close to the acuracy and quality of this square. The head is cast and ground with relefs in the channel, and the blade is machined, not stamped. The rule is laser etched and then matt finished to reduce glare. The differences are far more than cosmetic. The slide works smoothly and locks securely. All of the edges are perfectly flat and smooth. I know this seems like a lot to spend for a combination square, but the $10 ones I have tried just don’t work. They don’t lock square reliably, and the blades are allways rough and warped slightly. If you want something even fancier, get the version with three heads.
A coworker that said that to me once. He was right. This is the original combination square and, as far as I am concerned, the very best. I have a new C33 set and one that belonged to my grandfather (it’s about 80 years old). I checked the scales and squareness against each other – perfect match. Starrett quality control is flawless. This one (the C33) is the forged steel head. I would generally recommend it over the slightly cheaper cast head (the C11), since the forged steel is a fair amount tougher – less brittle. The glossy paint is the indicator that you are getting the forged head. The cast head is done in crinkle black. Mr. Zorns’ comment (see previous review) tells me that the description is correct – smooth paint = forged head. And, by the way, I would always get the model that starts with “C” – that means satin chrome finish on the blade – very, very important. As a woodworker, a combination square is an essential tool that gets used constantly. Accuracy and durability are very important. At this price, it’s a bargain. Don’t waste your money on cheap tools – buy Starrett and you’ll never regret it.
Most people’s first response when they ask how much this set me back is shock. Usually followed by pointiong out that theirs only cost one third that much and had all these extra gadgets. If it’s the right day in the shop I point to a work in process and ask them to find one place where it is the least bit out of true. And by ‘least bit’ I mean not at all. This usually settles the argument right away. When legs are square and cut right tables don’t wobble. When cases are square drawers fit perfectly, etc, etc.
If all you do is cut moulding and flooring than you don’t need this kind of square. But if tiny little gaps and adjustments frustrate your sense of perfection, then take a look at products like this square or its brothers and sisters. Starret makes heirloom quality tools that will remain every bit as accurate until the solar system goes defunct.
I have two Starrett squares – the six inch, which generally rides in my pocket or is busy marking off boxes, and the 12 inch, which I use in making full size furniture. There is also an 18″ rule and I am severely tempted to have that around as well.
I have the extra gadgets (protractor and center) for the 12″ and all I can say is that they form the standard for all the tuning in my shop, and they never fail. Yes, they are expensive but at both ends of the supply chain for these tools are people who are very proud of their work.
I only wish I could figure out how to get Starrett to send me free samples.
The mating of a ruler with a sliding head makes the combination square one of the more versatile measuring tools in the shop. Its weakness lies in the fact the head is not rigidly attached to the blade. Overcoming this weakness requires precision machining that’s time-consuming and expensive. That’s why the Starret costs about seven times as much as the common hardware-store versions while seemingly providing only a small increment of improvement. I’ve used the cheaper ones made by Stanley and others, and most of the time they do the job adequately. If one doesn’t plan on doing precision work, paying more for the Starrett doesn’t make any sense. For those who do, however, the Starrett is worth the investment. That increment of improvement buys a tool that provides confidence in the accuracy of one’s measurements. And it’s a tool for a lifetime. I’ve know at least one person who’s using one that his grandfather left him.
Assessing a tool on a sensual basis may seem daft, but the Starret feels like a fine scientific instrument compared to the slop and imprecision of the cheaper squares. When the locknut is lightly tightened there’s no play between the head and the blade. The head slides on the blade without binding, and the graduations are clean, precise, and easily visible.
You can spend your money on the cheaper Empire or Stanley combo squares available at Home Depot/Lowes. You’ll then spend the rest of your time squinting trying to read the things. The satin chrome finish on the Starrett rules make them worth twice their cost. Glare-free, easy-to-read, and exceptionally accurate, these Starrett tools are lifetime tools. Look on Ebay, and you’ll see Starrett squares that are 50+ years old going for top dollar. These are the finest squares available.
As a cabinetmaker, I use my Starrett squares for layout work all day, every day. Of all my hand tools, this square has brought me the most unqualified performance and enjoyment of any tool I own. The action is smooth, the gradients on the rule are precise and clear, and the quality is beyond compare. This is typical of all Starrett products. Starrett is not flashy and not given to gimmicky marketing tricks. They just produce top quality tools. Period. Precise measurements and layouts make all the difference in woodworking and machining, and you will get what you pay for. I would recommend any Starrett product.
The protractor and centerhead available with the full set are useful when needed, but I rarely use them. The rule and square head are all that is needed 99.9% of the time. Of course, your needs may vary from mine.
For maximum versatility, consider purchasing a 24 inch rule to go with your square (McMaster-Carr, $73). It is interchangeable with the 12 inch rule supplied with this kit. It allows extra measurement range and I use mine almost exclusively. You might also consider getting a smaller square, like a 6 inch. Experiment with your squares, and you’ll be amazed at everything you can do with them. You can measure inside dimensions of cabinet openings, run parallel lines, and a million other things. Easily the most useful tool you’ll ever own. What else can I say? Starrett is good old American quality built in Massachusetts. Yankee ingenuity at its best.