Starrett Combination Set with Square, Center and Non-Reversible Protractor Head and Blade - 12" Blade Length, Cast Iron Heads, Hardened Steel, 4R Graduation Type - C9-12-4R

I primarily use the Starrett C434ME-300 kit for furniture making and wish I had bought it sooner. I had been getting by with a somewhat less expensive combination square made by Empire. I like my Empire stainless and aluminum combination square very much, but this Starrett set includes a protractor head which is indispensable in many situations.One of the other reasons I like this set from Starrett is that they manufacture interchangeable heads and rules. For example, I purchased a compatible 600 mm rule, separately, that can be used with the three heads included in this kit.Another reason I like this Starrett set is that the heads are reversible relative to the orientation of the rule. The clamping pin in the Starrett mechanism has a round perimeter and can be rotated to the opposite side of the head. The other combination square I often use, by Empire, has a reversible square pin design (the pin must be completely removed from the head and reinserted to switch sides). I tend to swap rules more often than I swap sides, so I favor the square pin design on the Empire because it does not rotate out of position unintentionally; but both designs have merit, depending on how you use the tool most. I do wonder if Starret's round pin design can be manufactured more accurately or will wear better over time? I don't know. For quick and dirty tasks, I keep going back to my Empire combination square, but for everything else, especially odd angles, I use this Starrett kit.At the time of my purchase, Starrett offered three different sizes of heads/rules, so if you intend to mix and match, study Starrett's product catalog carefully to make sure you don't end up with incompatible items. Starrett also offers rules in a couple of different metals/finishes. I personally prefer the satin chrome, for legibility and resistance to corrosion, even though the satin finish tends to reveal cosmetic blemishes that accumulate with use.One thing I didn't think about until after I received and started using this kit was the importance of being able to accurately set the compass head to the same angle, over and over again. Ideally, one might leave the compass head set in position for the duration of a project, but due to operator error and having only one kit to work with, I discovered that I've been able to reset the compass head to the same angle fairly accurately. Your mileage may vary, and if this will be an issue in your work, you may want to reflect upon your budget and whether you need to buy several instances of the same tool, so that you can proceed without ever changing the setting of the square/compass. For the accuracy that I require, I've been happily surprised by the repeatability that I can achieve with this Starrett set.To my recollection, I was disappointed that Starrett did not offer a better selection of metric rules. I prefer to work almost exclusively in metric, and sometimes the combination metric/imperial rules that Starrett makes end up being in an obnoxious orientation for the task at hand, such that the metric measure cannot be judged without re-orienting the rule or the tool. Unfortunately, there must not be enough demand for Starrett to manufacture pure-metric rules?When this set was new, I found the fit of the parts a little too snug, which made swapping rules slightly uncomfortable, but the parts have since loosened up very slightly, to a comfortable level. Presumably the microscopic peaks left on the parts during manufacture have been knocked down, so they are no longer interfering.This kit comes in a convenient storage box with form-fitting foam inserts, but if you buy additional rules/heads, you're going to need something more. For example, I still haven't gotten around to building anything that can accommodate my 600 mm rule, and I feel slightly anxious leaving it exposed on the workbench when it is not in use. So while you're at it, you may want to give some thought to how you're going to store these expensive tools.

Before college, I worked in the family business. Wood dimension tolerances of plus-or-minus 0.001". Occasionally to 0.0001" (yes, you can work wood to tolerances of one ten-thousands of an inch.) I have great respect for Starrett. The tools never let us down.

You can spend your money on the cheaper Empire or Stanley combo squares available at Home Depot/Lowes. You'll then spend the rest of your time squinting trying to read the things. The satin chrome finish on the Starrett rules make them worth twice their cost. Glare-free, easy-to-read, and exceptionally accurate, these Starrett tools are lifetime tools. Look on Ebay, and you'll see Starrett squares that are 50+ years old going for top dollar. These are the finest squares available.As a cabinetmaker, I use my Starrett squares for layout work all day, every day. Of all my hand tools, this square has brought me the most unqualified performance and enjoyment of any tool I own. The action is smooth, the gradients on the rule and protractor are precise and clear, and the quality is beyond compare. This is typical of all Starrett products. Starrett is not flashy and not given to gimmicky marketing tricks. They just produce top quality tools. Period. Precise measurements and layouts make all the difference in woodworking and machining, and you will get what you pay for. I would recommend any Starrett product.For maximum versatility, consider purchasing a 24" rule to go with your square (McMaster-Carr, $73). It is interchangeable with the 12" rule supplied with this kit. It allows extra measurement range and I use mine almost exclusively. You might also consider getting a smaller square, like a 6". Experiment with your squares, and you'll be amazed at everything you can do with them. You can measure inside dimensions of cabinet openings, run parallel lines, and a million other things. Easily the most useful tool you'll ever own. What else can I say? Starrett is good old American quality built in Massachusetts. Yankee ingenuity at its best.

Good quality and functional accurately as what you expect from Starrett.. But again the plastic box is so shamefully disappointed.. Looks and feels so cheap like if it was for another tool from a different company..

It was tough for me to break down and spend the money on this Starrett combination square, but I am so glad that I did. I have used a few different combination squares in my 22 years of woodworking; Starrett has always proven to be the most accurate and last the longest.I bought a $40 square several years ago and noticed it was just a little off from being square. When I put the Starrett square against my $40 square, you can really notice the difference of how far off my cheaper square is. I compared the Starrett square with my machinist protractor and they matched up. So I checked all the squares in my shop with the Starrette and all but one were off by around .75 degrees. I know they were not perfectly square before checking them, but it is now very nice to have something that is perfectly square so that I can properly set my machines.This item arrived without an oil protective coating. I like that since I don't like to have to do a lot of cleaning before using a tool. Before I used it, I applied a good coat of Renaissance wax to help the parts slide well and protect it from rusting. This method of protecting my metal tools has proven very good in my high humidity environment.The ruler has a satin finish and the lines/numbers are engraved. It is very easy to read and the lines are very thin so you can get precise measurements (unlike stamped or CNC'd rulers).The adjustment knobs are also very easy to handle compared to my other squares.The square arrived in a quality plastic case with cut foam inserts for each of the pieces.