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?

2 comments

2 Comments

dylan2653d 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.

the_mia3d 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.