The Notch - A Speed Square Trick

Twelve Inch Carpenters Speed Square. This square holds multiple notches that cover more measurements than the standard six inch speed square.

Next to the tape measure, the speed square is easily the second most important tool in a carpenter’s bag.

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While everyone knows it for marking 90, 45, and the various other degrees, there are other tricks on this tool that get over looked. And those are the notches.

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Wood is never straight. To mark the measurement on either end and pull a chalk line, would reveal the crown in the board. The better way is to take the speed square and scribe along the board using the notches. This way the square stays with the “straight” edge the manufacture put on the board.

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Tips:

- For me, pulling the scribe is easier. Pushing is harder to keep the lead in the notch.

- Because you need to add a little force to the lead of the pencil, using a carpenters pencil (or thicker lead) is a better choice. If you can’t tell from the video, I broke the lead a few times while doing this.

- If you can raise the board to waist height, the process moves a lot quicker. Being able to quickly pull your mark through the broad in my opinion produces a cleaner line.