Five Ways to Use a Speed Square
Using A Speed Square As A Saw guide. Your speed square is useful as a fence for keeping your circular saw true as you cross-cut lumber. Using Speed Squares To Scribe Lines. Using A Speed Square As A Roof Pitch Tool. Speed Square As A Square checker. Using A Speed Square As A Protractor.

What are all the functions of a speed square?

Usage. Among its basic uses are marking common, hip, valley and hip, or valley jack rafters, laying out stair stringers, determining and marking angles, and making square cuts on boards.

How many things can a speed square do?

Not only can you create 90-and 45-degree lines with a speed square, you can measure other angles as well. Speed squares aren’t just able to draw 90- and 45-degree lines. They can do all of the other angles as well. To draw a different angle, there are two sets of marks that you need to look for.

Do I need a speed square?

When making crosscuts along shorter widths of stock, a speed square makes a great fence with which to guide a hand held circular saw. Just use the square to mark the cut line, and then a guide line the same distance of the blade to the shoe plate’s edge. If making a rip cut, use the scribing technique above.

How do you pitch a roof with a speed square?

Find Roof Pitch
Place the pivot point against the shingles.Then place a torpedo level on the fat base of the speed square.Adjust the square until the level is level.Read the pitch on the side of the speed square. Note: The pitch tells you the amount of vertical rise (in inches) for every 12 inches of run.

How do you find an angle?

For the exact angle, measure the horizontal run of the roof and its vertical rise. Divide the horizontal measurement by the vertical measurement, which gives you the tangent of the angle you want. Use a trigonometry table to find the angle.