Squares and bevels were tools used by artisans to lay out and
check the accuracy of angles. Bevels were used to lay out angles
other than 90 degrees. Wooden squares, gauges, and bevels
typically were made by artisans for their own use. Common forms
of squares and bevels included:
Carpenter's squares made of iron
were durable tools used to mark and test right angles. Their one- and
two-foot arms typically were marked off in inches for measuring.
Try squares, made of wood or wood and metal, were used to draw
lines at right angles to the edge of a workpiece. They also were
used to "try" surfaces--to make sure that they were
square.
Bevels were used to lay out angles other than 90 degrees.
Some were fixed at commonly used angles like the 45 degree
Miter Square (left). Others, like the Angle Bevel (right), were adjustable and
could be set to any desired angle. They were useful for transferring
an already established angle to a workpiece that had to be cut
to the same shape.
In addition, woodworkers made special-purpose squares and bevels,
designed to work in awkward locations or to speed up often-repeated
lay-out operations.
Historic Triangle