Top 5 Favorite Small Squares for Woodworking
Okay, I’ll admit it. I have an addiction to small squares. I love them and find them extremely useful! Here are my top 5 in no particular order. Well maybe a little favoritism to the #1 spot.
Amazon and other affiliate links used in this post to help support the website.
#1. Woodpeckers Delve Square https://amzn.to/3s5p4sS
Woodpeckers Delve Square
This is the one that started my small square addiction. Made in the USA quality! There are so many features packed into such a tiny package. One side of the base is 1/4" from the blade and the other is 3/8". Marking from the 1/4" side on both edges of 3/4" boards and you can out a perfectly centered mortise or tenon. You can use the 3/8" side to find center of 3/4" stock.
You can also use the Delve square as a set up block. The blade is 1/8" thick and 1/2" wide. The base is 1/4" thick and 3/4" wide.
Scales on the blade are engraved to an accuracy of ±0.004" total accumulated error.
There’s a hole milled 3/8" from the inside edge of the base and perfectly sized to work with self-centering drill bits so you can drill directly in the center of 3/4” stock.
DFM Small Carpenter Square
#2. DFM Small Carpenters Square https://amzn.to/3DahPGn
The DFM Small square is similar to the Delve square, at about half the cost. The DFM square is a perfect 3.5" x 3.75" size for your pocket or apron. There are 1/16" Scribe Holes in 1/16" increments up to 3". It has 5, 1/4" Pin Holes for Marking Polygon Miters using the included pin. Even though this square is small it is large enough to cross mark common 2 x 4 boards. DFM tools are made in the USA.
#3. Benchmark Tools Double Square https://amzn.to/3D9hSlJ
Benchmark Double Square
Affordable and extremely accurate, these handy double squares are awesome for setting up tools and small layout tasks. This tiny square is guaranteed to be square to within 0.002 (two thousandths of an inch) over the length of each blade.
The square is hardened and tempered no-glare satin chrome stainless steel blades. Blade marking are precision photo etched and then black filled for easy readability.
The square head is cast and then precision machined.
DFM Small Square
#4. DFM Small Square https://amzn.to/3D9f5sJ
This is the perfect square for checked the ends of chisels to ensure they are square. The dimensions are 2.625" x 1.625" x 0.625". You can also use this as a saddle square to transfer lines. All components of this square, including pins made in USA. Use this square to quickly find the center of stock using the included pins. The square also features a center marking hole 11/32" (0.34") to allow larger pencils.
#5. TrigJig Micro Trim Square MTS4 https://trigjig.us/products/micro-trim-square-mts-4
These squares are not available in the USA because they are made in Great Britain. However they do ship to the USA and mine was shipped very fast! I received it in just over a week. These unique squares are CNC machined from T6 European aluminum plate.
The face of the square has a 15 micron+ thick anodized surface. It has a two-part machined aluminum fence using stainless steel fixings so you can rest assured it won’t rust.
TrigJig Trim Square MTS4
The fence has a 45 degree chamfer removed from the corner near the pivot point so welders can use this in corners where welds may be built up. The MTS 4 has notches every 16th" allowing for ultra precise and simple scribing. The 1/8ths scale is on one side and the 16th's on the reverse. The fence is stepped, meaning one side is lower than the other. So if you use the square on one side you can mark 1/8” increment lines, flip it over to mark 1/16” increment lines. A very smart design!
One unique feature of this square is the 4 inch ruler is laser marked in a slightly recessed pocket. This limits contact between the scale marks and surfaces to prevent the marks rubbing off over time.