The L shaped thingy is what is called a carpenter's square. It will tell you if the corners are at 90 degrees but it won't help much in squaring wood. I don't know what kind of stock you are starting with but a jointer is typically what is used.
If you are wanting to square up a piece that is crooked, since you said you have a table saw here is something you can try as long as the wood isn't too narrow. To make a "factory edge" take a strip of plywood and make sure you have an original edge on it. Lay it on edge on the bed of the table saw and see if it touches all along the edge. Now as long as that edge is flat, you can attach it somehow. There are several ways from screws to double sided tape. But I am a bit shy with the tape since you get 1 chance to attach the wood and the tape will stick. And you still have to adjust it before you want it tight. Make sure the ends of the board you are squaring has nice 90 degree ends. Cut them first and check with the square. Now lay the good piece of plywood on top of the board you want to square up. Using the short side of the square across the end of the board, run the long side of the square along the piece of plywood. When the plywood is exactly parallel to the side of the square make your attachments. Finally use the edge of the plywood to run along the fence of the table saw trimming the board. Depending on how much you take off there may be times when the blade sounds like it isn't cutting completely. Move the fence in very small amounts until you have cut a complete new edge. Check it on the bed of the saw and see if it isn't flat now. This little trick is often used to square up scraps of plywood so you have a nice edge and can count on it being square after making all of the cuts. Good luck. ----- Original Message ----- From: Matt To: [email protected] Sent: Tuesday, December 18, 2007 10:03 PM Subject: [BlindHandyMan] Getting a strait edge all around I am beginning to experience the frustration of crooked wood. I intend to experiement with what I have been told is a square tomorrow. this is a flat metal ruler looking piece of l shaped thing. Is this what you guys suggest? I intend to clamp it down and check the wood against it. In the past I had just worked with wood until I got it almost strait and made it work from there, but I am just in the mood to get it right once and for all. I want to make a quality product and am trying to build a sort of jig for building my trucks and cars. I want to be able to spin out more of them, more quickly and have them be uniform. I have a bunch of messages I have been saving back to read, so my answer may lie in those. Will try to get the chance to look. Matt [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
