Finally stopped using my speed square for everything after a buddy showed me a trick

I used to grab my speed square for every little layout job, you know, like marking rafters or checking 90s on framing. But last month I was working on a deck out in Austin and my buddy Tim pulled out this old-school rafter square and showed me how to use it for hip jacks. Turns out I was making extra cuts and wasting time because my speed square just couldn't handle those compound angles the same way. Now I keep both in my belt and reach for the rafter square for anything over a 6/12 pitch. It's cut my layout time by about 20 minutes on a complex roof. Anyone else stick with one tool way too long before swapping it up? I'm curious what other squares people swear by for tricky roofs.

2 comments

2 Comments

anthony42627d ago

Huh, you really notice that big of a difference on steep pitches?

felixw6827d agoMost Upvoted

Disagree, I barely feel a difference once you get past a 7/12 pitch.