Rulers & Squares

A try square has a fixed blade set permanently at 90 degrees to the handle and is used exclusively for checking and marking right angles. A combination square has an adjustable head that slides along the blade, allowing it to function as a try square, miter square (45 degrees), depth gauge, and scribe. Combination squares are more versatile; try squares are often more rigid and accurate for benchwork.

The most reliable method is the flip test: draw a line against the square, flip the square to the opposite orientation, and draw a second line from the same reference. If the two lines diverge, the square is out of tolerance by half the visible gap. Quality squares like the JessEm Stainless Steel Precision Squares are machined to tight tolerances and resist this type of error.

A 6-inch combination or try square handles most bench and hand tool work. A 12-inch square is better suited for checking face frames, cabinet sides, and panel assemblies. Many woodworkers use both. The Ultimate Square Pack includes multiple sizes in a single bundle.

Yes. A reliable straight edge is essential for checking that a jointer table is co-planar, that a table saw top is flat, and that a fence is parallel to the blade. The iGaging Premium Straight Edge is machined to a tolerance that makes it suitable for these critical machine setup tasks.

A saddle square has two perpendicular blades that wrap around the corner of a workpiece, registering on two adjacent faces simultaneously. This makes it fast to transfer a layout line from one face to another—useful for marking dovetail baselines, mortise positions, and tenon shoulders. The Infinity Tools Pocket Saddle T-Square is compact enough to carry in an apron pocket.

A 4R rule is a machinist-style steel rule with four rows of graduations: typically 8ths, 16ths, 32nds, and 64ths of an inch. The tight graduations make it well suited for precise layout work and setting combination squares to specific depths. The iGaging 4R Rule in this collection is machined from stainless steel for durability and rust resistance.

A bevel center-finding gauge like the iGaging 12" x 3" Bevel Center Finding Gauge locates the center of a workpiece regardless of its width. The V-shaped reference always positions the scribe at the center, which is useful for dowel placement, mortise centering, and symmetrical layout on turned or milled stock.

Yes. A reliable square placed against the router table fence and referenced to the table surface confirms whether the fence is perpendicular to the table. For finer router table setup, calipers and setup tools provide the measurement precision needed for accurate bit height and fence position.

Yes. Infinity Tools offers price matching on most products. Submit a request with a qualifying competing price at the price matching page.

Hand-cut dovetails require a marking gauge or mortise gauge to scribe the baseline, a sliding bevel or dovetail marker to lay out the tail angles, and a reliable square for checking the reference faces. The scribes and bevel gauges collection carries marking gauges and sliding bevels suited to this workflow.