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  The carpenter's square is an essential tool in the construction of wood framed buildings. It is more than an L-shaped metal ruler with sides of 16 and 24nches. This handy device, usually made of steel or aluminum, can help you carry out many functions and can provide solutions to a variety of construction calculations. Carpenters and builders have used this tool for hundreds of years with names such as builder's square, rafter square and roofing square.
  
  

Description

• The blade is the longer portion of the square that is two inches wide. The tongue is one and a half inches wide and meets the blade at the elbow point which is called the heel. Ruler dimensions are stamped on the face and back of the square in one inch units divided into eighths of an inch. The square is most often used to lay out work, determine flatness of a surface plane or create a true 90-degree angle in cutting wood stock to size.
  
  

Layout

• As you lay out the base plates for framing walls the square is extremely useful in creating accurate 90- degree intersections where walls meet. Once you establish the primary wall and secure it to the floor the square is used to test each subsequent wall to assure that all are square.
  
  

Calculating rafter angles

• Rafters are the main supports for a roof. The framing square will serve as your guide in calculating the cut off angles where rafters meet the ridge beam and the cut off angle of the rafter where the roof ends.
  
  

Creating stairways

• The framing square is your essential tool for calculating the rise, or height, of each step, and the width of the step as well. It is used to mark the cuts in the stringers which are the support beams for the stairs.
  
  

Calculating octagons

• The face of a framing square is stamped with a useful section of information that will aid you in creating octagons of eight sided shapes.
  
  

Diagonal scale

• Another useful part of the framing square is the diagonal scale. You will use it to calculate the correct angles for the wall bracing that functions to strengthen a wood framed building.
  
  

Learning to use the carpenter square

• If you are seriously considering carpentry as a trade you should investigate the course offerings at your local community colleges or technical schools in your area. As an essential tool of the trade you will receive extensive instruction in the many uses of the carpenter square.