1) What 4" T-Square and Rulers to get? 2) Powermatic Spiral head Upgrade in 3 weeks!

[Mark e Kessler]

Starrett, 4”,6”, 12” combination, also have a 24” rule for the 12” combo along with multiple 6” rules of various configurations a few of them hooks which i use a lot. I have had the 6” and the 12” for almost 30 years of ww, the 6” has been used so much that I wore the seat to the point that it is out of square so i need to make an adjustment. The Mitutoyo’s are pretty much equal but I would buy a Starrett unless there was a good deal on a Mitutoyo.

I have tried PEC combo’s, there rules may be fine but the combos are junk, after you have used a Starrett, the machining is unrefined and most annoying is the lock down nut isn’t keyed so if you take the rule out getting it back in is a pain

For whatever reason i don’t really like to use fixed blade squares, I do have a few though. I have a One of the original Bridge City 6” the brass with Rose wood bought around 92’, an inexpensive but fairly precise machinist square for machine setup and a St J tool square from 1874 still pretty square considering it’s age.

[Brian Tymchak]

I have tried PEC combo’s, there rules may be fine but the combos are junk, after you have used a Starrett, the machining is unrefined and most annoying is the lock down nut isn’t keyed so if you take the rule out getting it back in is a pain

I found the same issues with IGaging double squares. Bought 3 a while back for like $10 a piece. Tried for a few hours to get any 1 of them to move smoothly and gave up. One of these days when I purge the shop of unused tools, they'll be in that bin.

[Frederick Skelly]

PEC tools. They are pretty good and moderately priced. They are made in the USA by Products Engineering Corporation (PEC Tools) if that is of import. I get them at Harry Epstein or Taytools. If you do not mind, you can buy blemished as well (I put additional blemishes on mine so I don't mind). I like their rules too.

Of course, if you can afford Starrett, they're pretty much the gold standard IMO. But I usually cannot. So I agree with Marta. I buy PEC double squares from Harry Epstein. And for rules, I REALLY like this set from Lee Valley. LINK

[Patrick Irish]

The PEC double square looks promising. The cost of Starret or Woodpeckers are too high for me to justify.

Lee Valley and Amazon have good reviewed pocket rules. I think they will be handy in spots where a tape measure is not.

[Greg Quenneville]

I really like Starrett, but also look for used Lufkin tools. I think that they were Starrett’s equal back in the day.