I finally ditched my speed squares and started using a rafter square for roof work

Been framing for 22 years, mostly in Ohio. Always used the standard speed square like everyone else. Last month on a job in Columbus, this old guy named Gene walked over and handed me his rafter square. Said I was making things harder than they had to be. He was right. Took me two tries to get the hang of it but now I can lay out common rafters in half the time. Anyone else made the switch or still sticking with the old way?

3 comments

3 Comments

dylan2652mo ago

Took me a few days to get comfortable with it but now I grab that square before anything else on a roof layout, way quicker and less math to mess up.

rivera.keith23d ago

Three days? Man, you're a faster learner than me. I think I spent a whole week cussing that thing out and almost threw it off the roof twice before it clicked. Now I'm the same way though, I'll grab the square before I even think about pulling out my tape and doing the math in my head. That "less math" part is the real kicker, because let's be honest, when you're up there sweating and the sun is beating down, your brain turns to mush. You start adding 17 and 22 and somehow get 48, then you cut it and wonder why your birdsmouth looks like a slinky. The square just keeps you honest, even when you're half dead from a long day.

the_mia2mo ago

That thing about "less math to mess up" really hits home for me. I've been on roofs where the math just goes sideways with a tape and a chalk line, especially when you're tired or the pitch is tricky. Once you get the feel for how the square dances across the rafter, it's like the tool does the thinking for you. You just lock it in, mark your plumb and level cuts, and move on without second-guessing. It took me a good few roofs to stop reaching for my tape first, but now I won't lay out a common rafter without it. Saves me from re-cutting stuff because I added wrong in my head.