Saturday 5 April 2014

New Tools.


I am working on a few new tools at the moment and these are the first to become available, a 3" square and a 5" square. They are machined from a single billet of aluminium with no added cheeks, screws, rivets or bolts. They are accurate to 0.001 of an inch along the length of the blade which is square as could you ever need for working wood!


Traditional woodworking squares are not very accurate, certainly not for finer work, so most of us have got used to using engineers squares. Whilst good quality ones are accurate they have a few drawbacks for the cabinetmaker. If you drop them on a hard floor they are no longer accurate and they are prone to rusting or staining. They are also bottom heavy so you need to make sure the leg is laying flat on the work for marking out and the inside corner has no relief so can be easily thrown off by wood fibres on a corner.

I have overcome all these issues with my new squares. The inside corner is notched and they are made from anodised aluminium which won't rust or stain. Also if you drop one on a concrete floor it may scratch but it will remain accurate. They also have a useful lip on the stock which supports the squares and they will happily sit there without even needing to be held down.


The sizes are 3 and 5" (measured on the inside of the blade) which are very useful for cabinetmaking and they have a nice balanced feel in the hand, I wish I'd had a pair of these when I started out!
 Each square is French fitted in a nice box and comes with a certificate of accuracy 


I've restyled my stainless steel name plate and these are the first tools to have the new design.
I will have them at Yandles Show next week and they are priced at £22 and £26.


14 comments:

  1. Very nice looking squares , may have to add them to my shopping list for Friday . see you at the show.
    Dave

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  2. David,
    A well thought out very useful looking design. Will definitively be getting these.
    Great work!
    Rich

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  3. Hello mr Barron. Do you ship them to spain ? I am really interested in them.
    Thanks a lot.

    All my best.

    Julio Alonso

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  4. David, very good thinking. I've always felt the square needed a update, and you've done it!
    You've addressed the balance, but I still have one issue and that it is cold in the hand. If there is some way to make the main handle mainly wooden, while keeping the business end metal, that would be my ideal.
    Cheers.

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    1. Hi Tom, Thank you for your comments. I could inlay some wood in the stock which would be nice, but I would rather keep the price reasonable so more people get a chance to use them. The the best, David.

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  5. Hi David
    When do these squares go on general sale via your website?

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    1. Hi Stuart, They are available now but I won't have them on my site until I get some professional shots done. I have a few new tools coming up so I'll do them all together. All the best, David.

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    2. Thanks for the reply David
      It might be worth me waiting for the other new tool and save on postage to Australia. Will they likely be more tools in this half of the year?

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    3. Hi Stuart, yes the next two tools will be out in the next couple of months and they'll be a few more later in the year. All the best, David.

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  6. I`ll have a pair of the 5", would you please reserve them for me, I will be there sometime on Friday.
    Regards, Mark

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    1. Hi Mark, no problem, I'll have plenty with me. All the best, David.

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  7. Just thought I`d let you know, the two squares I purchased from you at Yandles,(the 3" and 5" as you suggested the 3" is very useful) are absolutely brilliant, no problem using a marking knife along the aluminium edge as I thought there might be.
    Thanks, Mark.

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    1. Hi Mark, I'm glad you are pleased they are very handy tools. All the best, David.

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