Flat, Square Edges Every Time!

In order to evenly align two boards, the edges must be straight, flat and square. This is essential when gluing up a number of boards to create a single, wide panel, such as one would need for a table top. While a table saw is very useful for cutting the boards to a specific width opposite a parallel edge, how do you get the straight edge from which to make the parallel cut?

The answer is with a jointer. No other power tool will correctly straighten an edge (or make one edge square with another) easier or quicker. Learning how to use a jointer is easy and fun. Discover the basics of using a jointer in The Easy Way to Get Square & Flat Surfaces.

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Layout Square

Definition: A layout square (sometimes also referred to as a combination square) is a triangular-shaped measuring tool designed for making square marks or angles on stock. Layout squares are usually available in 6 and 12-inch models, but the six-inch model is far more common.

The layout square has three major functions. First and most often, it is used for making square marks on a piece of stock. They work well when one needs to make a square cut on something like a 1x4 or 2x6.

Second, a layout square has markings making it easy to determine an approximate angle of a mark or cut. Simply place the square corner of the layout square at the point where the angle meets the long axis of the stock and check the angle based on the marks on the layout square. Determining the angle of a cut is useful when trying to determine the angle for a bevel or miter on a compound miter saw or for setting the bevel on a table saw. The instruction booklet that comes with many of these squares shows precisely how use the square to determine an angle.

Finally, a layout square allows the user to mark angles in a similar manner to the method for determining an existing angle. Once again, this is covered completely in the guide which accompanies the square.

One final bit of advice: layout squares are typically available in either aluminum or plastic models. Choose the aluminum, as they're practically indestructible. The plastic ones are a bit cheaper, but they won't last nearly as long.

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Checking for Square

How to Cross-Measure for Square

One of the oldest tricks in the woodworking book, so to speak, is a simple method for determining when any assembly or item is square. This basic trick really isn't a trick at all; it is based on Pythagorean's Theorem, which states "the sum of the squares of two sides of a right triangle is equal to the square of the third side, or hypotenuse."

Now, while you can always use the 3-4-5 Rule to determine square on any scale when you're laying out a project, there is a more precise way to determine whether your nearly-completed assembly is square.

Measure the diagonals with a tape measure and check to see if the two distances match. If they are equal, your assembly is square.

Case in point: take a look at the drawing of a raised-panel exterior door on this page. If we measure from one corner to the opposite corner diagonally (as shown by the red line), and then compare that distance to the opposite diagonal measurement (as depicted by the blue line), the two distances should match exactly. If they are equal, the assembly is square.

Now, what do you do if the two diagonal measurements don't match? Adjust the assembly. In the image above, if the red line's length is longer than the blue line's length, push inward on the two red corners. If the blue line's length is longer, push inward on the two corners of the assembly at the ends the blue line. After adjusting, cross-measure both diagonals to check for square again. Keep adjusting and cross-measuring both diagonals until the distances match, and your assembly will be square.

TIP: It goes without saying (that's why I'm going to say it) that the item you're measuring should be designed to have four right-angle (90-degree) corners. In other words, if the two long sides or the two short sides of the assembly aren't equal in length, this rule cannot be applied properly. However, any parallelogram can be squared by making the aforementioned measurements and adjustments.

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