Small square- CC replica

[brad jansen]

Attached are a few photos of a replica CC square I built. I have a set of CC’s squares and they are fantastic and I wanted to see if I could make a set myself. This is the first one I completed and did just a few things different: 1) I used brass pins vs screws to hold the brass on the edges 2) I covered the bottom with a solid stick of brass, vs cutting out a slot (this allows both a square of clearance in the corner and also looks cleaner I think.

I used O1 tool steel for the blade, black palm and brass. Turned out better than I ever expected.

Attached are some photos along the way.





Using a cheapo this circular saw blade

[brad jansen]

Time to cut it in half



Tapping the 5/16 brass rod

[brad jansen]

[brad jansen]

[Bruce Volden]

GREAT! project, thanks for posting!!!

Bruce

[Lee Schierer]

Nice looking squares.

I take it that the two screws allow you to adjust the blade so it is square. What do you use for a reference to adjust it?

Also it appears that the TS was used to cut the slot in the brass edging as well as the wood. Did you use a metal cutting blade in the TS?

[brad jansen]

Correct, the two screws allow you to adjust it to square. For a reference I used another square....and to final test it, you simply put the square on a straight piece of wood and mark a line, then flip the square over and mark a second line very close to your first. If the lines are parallel, then it is square. That is the best way to check it.

Yes, I used the table saw to cut the slot. It actually worked very well. I used a cheapo $5 circular saw blade as it was the correct width (and cheap). As you can see I made a jig (similar to a tenon jig) to hold the piece tight.

One other thing to note is I used epoxy to glue and pin the 5/8" wide, 1/8" thick brass front and back on. The epoxy was Smooth On EA 40. All of the other parts (i.e. the 5/16" large brass pins, and the 1/4" small brass pivot pin) were put together dry, sanded flat and I just dabbled a bit of super gluearound the edges...and then sanded flat again.

Heading to the garage to finish up the big brother 5" x 9" square now.

[David Wong]

​Great project. Did you find brass barrel nuts for the adjusting screws, or did you make your own?

Never mind - I just saw where you tapped brass rod.

[brad jansen]

Ok, just finished the big brother. Here is the pair.

[Jack Lemley]

Oustanding!! I am very impressed

Jack

[Peter Keen]

Great work!