A couple of weeks ago, a reader spotted a new square in a product photo for Crescent’s new tool bags. Thank you Blocky for the tip!
We reached out to Crescent, but they were unable to provide any information about the new square at that time. We’re told that more details of new Crescent tools are expected to be available in October.
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Update: There’s a new “Crescent Lufkin” listing for the square on Amazon, model EX6.
We’ve kept our eyes open for the new Crescent square at retailer stores, and came across this new Husky 2-in-1 extendable square at Home Depot (model HSSp64).
Basically, it’s an aluminum rafter square with a 6″ hinged aluminum extension.
So, if you’re laying out marks on a wider board, the extension allows you to extend your line up to 12″. You make the long mark in one drag of your pencil or marking knife, instead of having to reverse your square or grab a second layout tool.
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The Husky square has typical rafter square markings, and also has graduate notches for easier layout lines.
Price: $15
Husky Square
Crescent/Lufkin Square
Discussion
The Husky is all but guaranteed to be made by Crescent/Apex Tool Group. Once the Crescent hits the market, the decision to make is whether you want the square in silver and orange, or black and silver.
Update: The Amazon price for the Crescent/Lufkin version is nearly double that of the Husky version. Unless that changes by the time the square is received at Amazon warehouses and ready to ship, go with the much less expensive Husky.
This seems like it could be useful. I tend to use a 7″ Empire square or 12″ Woodpeckers T-square for marking up construction lumber, but I think I could see the potential benefit of this square, with its 6″ size and 6″ fold-out extension.
Nathan
My first concern is how sturdy and square that extension stays. I get the idea that for many a subtle wobble there might not matter much for most work. but I think I’d trust a one piece 12 incher more.
Interesting idea though. I like those pencil notches.
Adam Durham
I can say I have had a crescent model for more than 5 yrs now and it’s just as sturdy as the day I ordered it off Amazon….I haven’t seen the Husky model at my local Home Depot yet but I will try one out…but I can say if you are on the fence about getting one the crescent is only a few dollars more on Amazon and very much with it
fred
Clever.
Like Nathan – I suspect that extension might wobble a bit after long term use.
I might not want to substitute this (or for that matter any rafter square) for a precision machinist’s/engineer’s square – but for marking a cutout line on a board – it should be plenty accurate even with a bit of wear.
Brad
Like it, but not sure how practical it is. Unless you carry it around and at the same time have the need to go that large at times, it seems to me to be a solution looking for a problem.
Would you not just have a 7″ and 12″ by the saw?
But I guess with a lifetime warranty, if the arm gets wobbly, just go get a new one. And to ensure that, one would defiantly want to get the Husky version and have Home Depot as the handler of the return.
Stuart
If or when the arm joint gets wobbly, will Home Depot still carry the Husky-branded version?
Brad
Good point. This is the first square that Husky has put their name on.
But they also splatted right on the packaging lifetime warranty and if I am correct, forever is forever.
https://toolguyd.com/husky-tools-forever-guarantee/
Adam
“forever is forever.” ..unless your Sears.
MichaelHammer
The saw is in your hand. How many squares do you want to carry around with you? 7” and 12” don’t fit in your pouch.
MichaelHammer
Also. Why would you have a square at the chop saw? Extra unnecessary step.
James C
I once owned a cheap rafter square that was made from pretty thin material. It was thin enough that my circular saw’s baseplate could ride up on top of it when using it as a cut guide if I wasn’t careful. I think I’d want to look at this one in person to see if that might be an issue when the arm is extended.
Another Jeff
I purchased my 12″ square primarily to use as a circular saw cutting guide. If this had been around a year ago, I would have been all over this instead. The most impressive part is that they also thought to extend the pencil sliding notches (or whatever they’re called the entire length.
Eric
Just get something like the Kreg square cut. It takes all the guess work or extra math out of the equation. Just mark the length you need, line it up and make your cut.
Mopar
The Kreg Square-Cut looks interesting, especially for the price. But a lot of reviews say it doesn’t work with left-bladed saws. That would be almost all wormdrives, and and more importantly, quite a few cordless.
KevinB
pretty cool, seems like a craftmans tool Bob Vila would have pushed on tv in the wee hours, many years ago.
Sb224
I use rafters square and speed squares not for the usual cut line marks but for laying out junction boxes, panels, troughs, etc. for conduit knock outs…not having to carry a larger square with me but having the extra 6” will definitely be helpful in my case
Corey Moore
Same! I’ve got a bunch of tools from previous trades and experiences, but my speed square is the most used carry over and I tell all of my guys and coworkers that they’re perfect for layout in electrical. I’ve been known to use my big a$$ carpenter square to check 90s in messed up places like underground, too. Just last week I was using my old skilsaw and some scrap 2x’s to box up a bank of 4″ stubs I was running to keep them plum and parallel. There’s so much that can be applicable between trades if you look for the opportunities.
Ray
I love the idea, but the execution leaves a lot to be desired I suppose. Previously pointed out by a comment was the joint would be wobbly in time, and it may tend to flip out at a bad time. Purchased a 12″ plastic Harbor Freight one for 3.99 less 20 percent and it is yellow. Living in the desert, plastic is fine. Metal ones get VERY hot and Husky makes a black one, yikes. 2 years on the HF is doing fine and the smaller metal one rides in the side pocket.
Brian M
Like others, I doubt it will be terribly accurate in the flip out portion…that being said, if you don’t need crazy precision, it will be fine. I doubt it will be more than 1/16″ out unless you beat it up. I wouldn’t buy it but I’m sure there are some that could use it and it would work just fine for their needs.
Skye A Cohen
It seems like it would take more time to flip out the extension than to simply move the square to the other side so no thanks on that particular use of it.
It might be useful for pulling an angle on a larger piece of lumber but I’m not sure it would be worth whatever you’d pay in terms of clunkiness or that that hinging out will remain accurate. I can’t say as I haven’t held it in my hands but at least for now I think it looks pretty uninteresting, like a product innovation in search of a market rather than a problem to solve
Mopar
Maybe I’m missing it, but while the package says it “securely folds shut”, I don’t see any sort of latch, detent or magnet to prevent the swing out part from flopping around when you carry it, or when you’re flipping it over to use it from the other side. Like everyone else, I’m also concerned how well the hinge holds up. What happens when it gets dropped off a ladder, the extension flips open, and it lands on that corner? Because you just know it’s gonna do that the first time you drop it, just like your cell phone always seems to land screen down.
MichaelHammer
You have excellent points, but I’m still tempted to give it a try. The convenience of a 12” speed square in a pouchable 6” size is intriguing. Even flipping a 6” to the other side won’t get you across a 16” lvl. Most of these readers have no idea the amount of engineered lumber we deal with now a days. It’s not at all uncommon to have 20” lumber on site. As far as accuracy, it’s framing, 1/16” doesn’t matter. I doubt it would ever be as inaccurate as that. If so, it’s a fail.
Mopar
I looked at HomeDepot’s website to see if my local HD stocks it (it does) and noticed there are already several reviews posted. According to reviews, it does indeed lock closed. That’s a plus. But someone else who bought one notes several minuses I hadn’t even thought of. I’ll just quote that part of the review:
“When extended, it is not able to be used with the hinge-side down as it is not flat. With the hinge-side up, the extension does not open flat without holding it down, which means it requires 3 hands to place a mark on the board. Another takeaway is the fact that it ends at a hinge which cuts it off from drawing to a six inch point when that edge is needed.
While the scale appears to be accurate, the square I received is off from the edge to the first mark on the scale. I compared the scale with three other measuring devices including a precision ruler, a tape measure, and a different layout square.”
Stuart
There are 3 ball detents that hold it closed.
The hinge was also stiff at the store, with zero wobble.
Adam Durham
It’s held in place my two magnet pins…and it does make more than just a pinky to push it out….you have to let it know you want it out for it to come out….but yet it’s not a pain in the ass either
Joe Hanson
I’ve run into a problem where I have no more room to fit a 12 inch square in my portable Husky Connect tool boxes and I can’t practically stack on any more boxes and that is one of the only other tools I need in my portable tool set and I was needing a 12 inch rafter square to guide my circular saw yesterday but only had my 7 inch. I’m in the market for a 12 but then maybe this will do and solve my issue. Otherwise I’ll have to attach a 12 outside of the tool box and probably a 2 foot level as well.
The What?
What a great way to render a square useless by making a fold out extend for cross cutting only. What’s even worse is that it can only be used on one side of the square. Can’t use it for marking layouts. Can’t use it for marking miter angles. Can’t use it for marking rafter angle of a roof pitch. It doesn’t pivot. What a stupid and useless idea. Who designs a square that can’t be used as a square. There’s obviously a lot of people who are inept and have no idea how to use a square or anything about the several functions that it performs. Are there really people out there who are too dumb to flip the square? I fkn hope not. There’s a lot more to a square than just cross cutting. I’ve been framing for a long time and I have never needed anything other than my 7″ and 12″ squares for every piece of wood I’ve ever cut. That includes the 14″, 18″, and 24″ lvl ‘s I’ve put in. I definitely see the fold out being in the way when trying to get something out of a tool belt pouch. These certainly aren’t made for framing.
Brian M
The fold out piece sits flush to the square when closed so your main gripe is not accurate. I can get on board for hating this product for the idea but you have to have a basis for criticism.
Dennis
Might be okay product, only time will tell. Of course all of us tool junkies will “need” one. But NOT in BLACK!!!! I have a black carpenters square and only used it outside in the sunlight one time, and that was more than enough!
blocky
Thanks for the shout; it made my day!
Went looking for the square while I was in Virginia. 5 were listed in stock but none that I or the associate could locate.
This is exactly the type of tool that I’m looking for. I don’t work out of a truck; I work out of a bag, and I’m typically taking the train from site to site.