16 in. Pro Adjustable Sliding Combination Square with Stainless Steel Blade

This combination square is a solid performer. I have an old hand me down combo square that I have had about 20 years. I never realized how much I struggled with it until I got this new one. The slide is smooth and the whole unit is well made. The ruler is easy to read and measures up to 16 inches. The combination base is milled and like a rock. This is not the kind of tool you replace often. Once you buy this one, you will be glad you did. I would buy another or recommend it to a friend without hesitation.

It's not square. It's not really in the neighborhood of square. I wasn't expecting perfection at this price, but I was expecting something much better than what I got. The easiest way to check a square is to extend the blade all the way out, put the fence against a known straight surface (the factory edge of sheet goods works great generally) and draw a pencil line, Then flip the square 180 degrees and draw a line over that one. If they match - you are golden. This square started to deviate after just 6". And it's a BIG deviation. If you use this to layout long cuts, you are going to be making pyramids. Now this can be corrected with some careful file work - but on this particular square the rule is bent in several spots and is quite wavy. It's not worth saving. The silver lining here is I lost all the scribes for my other combo squares and this came with one. That can be used. The rest goes in the trash.

I have a 6 inch and a 12 inch combination square but they don't help when marking boards or table tops wider than 12 inches. This 16 inch Swanson combination square should handle all of the wide stuff. This is straight, square and marked with metirc and 1/32 nds on one side and 1/8th and 1/16 on the other. A woodworkers dream. This will definitely come in handle when doing jointed lumber. Give one a try.

This was the perfect replacement and size for a combination square. The stainless steel blade feels very durable. You have the choice in measurements of 1/8 in., 1/16 in., 1/32 in. and mm scale gradations. The impact-resistant acrylic level vial is always a great asset for those accurate fits. Swanson Tool Co., Inc. warrants its products to be free from defects in material and workmanship for 1 year from the date of the original purchase.

I bought this product new about 16 months ago. I use it moderately as I'm renovating my house - not sliding it 40xs a day, likely 5-20xs a week depending on the project. I'm very careful with my tools. There is a little raised nut on the end of the brass slide bar and literally wore down flat from simple use that it will no longer lock and hold its place. Poor craftsman ship and materials. I know folks who have had their combo squares for 30+ years with no issue. But 16 months?? Ridiculous!

The Swanson sliding combo squares are very accurate and the finish is nice. I did do a bit of tuning of the edges with a stone to remove the very sharp machined edges. A bit of grease on the threads of the tightening bolt made it easier to operate and takes less effort to hold firm. For a bit of making them mine I am very pleased with the quality and price!

I've been using a 12" combo square for years and keep running into situations where the longer one would be helpful. This one appears to be well made. The slide is secure and aligned accurately, and the ends are precisely aligned with the scales so you can accurately measure depth. I am happy with it and can easily recommend it.

I'm getting a little obsessive with setup tools, but this one seems to be right on the money. Definitely the best combo square I've seen HD carry so far. It makes very square marks when marking on the inside. The length is really useful for marking larger (12"+) boards. The handle is nicely machined aluminum, and the blade is stainless. The blade seems well-calibrated compared to my other measuring tools. It includes a marking point in the handle, which is a nice touch, though the point got a bit bent the first time I used it on some oak. Overall, this is a nice addition to your setup stable--not quite a Starrett, but in the ballpark.

Very nice, sturdy combination square. Good heft and feel. Got this to supplement my 8 in combo square (which is 50 years old!) but just wasn’t big enough for a lot of the things I am now doing. The stainless steel blade has markings etched in so I expect to be able to easily read it for a long time. There are three standard measure scales (one in 1/32, one in 1/16, and one in 1/8 in increments) plus one in metric. The 3 different standard scales make it great for use as a depth gauge for my router table and my jointer. The blade locks into place very securely (you do have to cinch it down good) and has no wiggle when you use it. I did have to use some silicon lubricant so the blade moves smoothly when unlocked (I do this on my other square as well). I checked ’square’ on it and it passed (it was only about 1 mm out of square at about 16 in and that can be fixed). The only question mark I have has to do with the locking channel on the blade and the brass pin used. There is a some slop in it if you don’t cinch it down hard and I am not sure how much it will wear with a lot of use. The locking channel has sharp edges and may lead to quicker wear but only time will tell. However, for the price the small amount it is out of square and the wear issues are ones I am willing to live with for the DIY work I got it for.