Indestructible and inexpensive, my aluminum square has earned its keep by doing basic layout work and guiding the edge of my circular saw when making square cuts in framing lumber. But I recently discovered a new use that has been keeping this tool a lot busier. Thanks to the open interior and the flange along one edge, it’s easy to use the square as a clamp when I need a right-angled assembly. Plastic versions of this square don’t have the same open configuration, so look for an aluminum model if you want this added functionality.
—Tim Snyder, senior editor
