Milwaukee has come out with a new 7″ rafter square (MLSQM070), which is hardly surprising, given that Milwaukee Tool owns Empire Level.
Rafter squares have been around for nearly a century now. So what’s new with Milwaukee’s?
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To start, they say that it was designed from the ground up to address common user frustrations, and also built to provide superior durability and versatility.
You can of course use the Milwaukee 7″ rafter square as you would any other, for common construction layout applications.
Milwaukee says that this is among their first line of layout tools aimed at MEP (mechanical, electrical, plumbing) trades.
The heel of the square features a trio of rare earth magnets, which provide a secure hold to ferrous surfaces.
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The wide 1-1/8″ heel is also said to be also provide more grip when working with rounded stock, such as larger iron pipes.
Product images suggest that the magnetic hold is strong enough to be able to use the square as a right angle reference in welding applications.
Another unique new-to-world feature is a 1″ pipe cutting jack built into the square, elevating materials such as conduit, copper pipes, or rigid pipes for cutting.
Additional features include “the most precision scribe notches” in its class, ranging from 1″ to 6″, and more aluminum for extra durability.
Milwaukee says that this is the only rafter square truly designed for steel stud framers and MEP contractors.
Lastly, the new Milwaukee MLSQM070 rafter square is made in the USA, with the exception of the rare earth magnets.
To sum things up, Milwaukee’s new USA-made 7″ aluminum rafter square builds upon traditional designs and features, but adds a magnetic heel, more marking notches (an extra half inch compared to Johnson Level’s magnetic rafter square), and a hole that can be used as a jack for cutting pipes, conduit, and like-sized materials.
Price: $25
ETA: April 2019
Buy Now via Acme Tools
Compare: Johnson via Amazon
First Thoughts
It looks like Johnson Level beat Milwaukee Tool to the punch, with their own magnetic 7″ rafter square. Still, the new Milwaukee square has some potentially appealing features, especially for users who work with construction materials other than wood or sheet goods.
While $25 is not inexpensive, it could be justified by the extra aluminum that Milwaukee talks about in press materials. The added work to create the punch-outs is also going to add to the price. We’ve seen pricier squares, such as Woodpeckers’.
I’d have some concerns in using this as a material brace for cutting, being that it’s made from aluminum. I’m not worried about the hole being marred up or worn, but what will happen to the 45° edge over time? Still, that material jack hole seems like a convenient feature. I use my Tri-Vise plate vise regularly, and it’s still in great condition. But it’s also made from steel, and it doesn’t serve double duty as a layout tool.
What do you think – “I’ll take one!,” or “I’ll keep what I have!” ?
As of the time of this posting, you can get a 2-pack of basic Empire Level rafter squares for $10 via Home Depot. If you ask me, it’s good to have options.
Adam
I love my Milwaukee tools, but probably won’t own one anytime soon . It does seem better than most out there, but my current made in USA squares are doing fine. I do like the red/white for visibility. Maybe when I misplace all my other squares I’ll consider this, hopefully when on sale/promo
Whiskey and Wood
I’d take one! The magnets and the extra beef would make it worth it to me. The bright color helps, I’m always struggling to keep track of tools with my ADD, so anything helps!
Todd
A level bubble would have been nice.
David Zeller
Next year. $30. Gotta have product planning. 🙂
fred
Maybe they’ll make a variant of the pricey (gimmicky?) Hanson 3-lecel pivot square:
https://www.homedepot.com/p/C-H-Hanson-8-in-Pivot-Square-03060/204787498
KL
I love that sq for transferring angles!
David Zeller
Interesting. I have a question about one line in the write-up, though.
“The wide 1-1/8″ heel is also said to be also provide more grip when working with rounded stock, such as larger iron pipes.”
How does the width of the heel affect grip when you’re talking about a flat surface touching a rounded surface? The heel could be a 1/4″ or a mile wide; the contact area would still be a thin line where they touch, no?
Am I misunderstanding this? Thanks for the help.
David
Nathan
I thought the same thing too. Only benefit I see is that it lets them put a wider/bigger magnet on there – which would help hold it to a metal pipe.
Non ferrous pipe – no effect. What would be more useful would be a light V notch doe that base.
OR you know – a dedicated square for pipe workers. Call me crazy.
Tim D.
Exactly what I was wondering
Stuart
I’m not sure what they mean, but I can see a wider base potentially being easier to adjust. Could be related to the max size of the magnets.
Robin
I know exactly what they mean. I’m a structural ironworker. On large structural shapes, the corner radius will often be so large that a tape measure or speed square won’t hook the corner. I have to buy tapes with large feet, and only the premium rafter squares are beefy enough to catch corners.
Raymond
Also, I’ve just bought one. The base edge is not magnetized. It is made of aluminum. How to get it adhere to metal. Could anyone get me an idea?
Stuart
There are two versions, with and without magnets. Version MLSQM070 is the magnetic square.
If yours doesn’t seem to be magnetized, and you can’t physically see the magnets in the heel as shown in the image above, you probably have the non-magnetic square that was released sometime after this one. It’s a good square (I bought one too), but it’s not magnetic.
MichaelHammer
Draw aright angle on a piece of paper. Draw a circle inside the right angle…see?
Skye
Makes perfect sense to me. When you pivot on the foot to mark an angle, if marking say a glulam which has a lerge round over on the bottom side(it’s maybe half inch round over) just the very corner of the foot of the square will be touching the surface making it a bit difficult.
Jared
I would buy this. It looks great to me. However, I have a pair of Dewalt rafter squares (7″ and 12″) already that, besides the big hole in the middle and the magnets, serve the same purpose.
If they were around the same price at the time I bought the Dewalts, I would have chosen the Milwaukee instead – just for the magnets. The Dewalt squares are nice – adding magnets isn’t enough of an improvement to justify repurchasing something that already works great.
Nice looking product though Milwaukee.
Nathan
I like the magnets but I wouldn’t go buy one tomorrow. I would not use the pipe jack feature idea – in fact I was about to ask why the square hole.
I have a swanson that I’ve used for years – and I thought about replacing it with an empire one because of the blue. but now I sort of like the dewalt yellow on black version. If I bought one I would consider others purely on the visibility angle.
I would like to see other notches rather than the pipe jack. And maybe a slot at the 3.5 mark so you can mark both ends of a standard X4 stock and one at the 1.5 mark for the x2 side of standard stock. (IE – while lined up once you could make 2 marks at the same placement for your either side of your 2×4 or on the other direction make 2 marks at the same time for your 2 inch side of your 2×4,6,7 etc.
Probably more work that needed but I think it would be a nice use of punching another hole in the metal.
OH and thicker I don’t know is necessary. I mean even for metal framing. A wider edge maybe but not a thicker web/diagonal.
Jon
Pricey, nah. And woodpecker is overpriced for the primitive features they offer. This is a way better offer than woodpecker. If I was going to buy a pricey square I would buy a martine. Stuart, you should do a review on a Martinez!
John S
Call me skeptical, but I dunno about that pipe cutting jack built into the square idea. Its aluminum, I cant imagine doing that a lot would be good for keeping its accuracy when you want to square up stuff later. I also have a hard time believing that the magnets can hold up that bar in the other photo by itself either just with 3 small magnets.
Bolt
Yeah it seems like a handy way to make your square not square anymore
Jim Felt
I just learned something new to me and very useful from this post! The steel “Tri-Vise”. Both sizes.
Once again Toolguyd has cost me money while minding my own business having breakfast in my favorite bakery. Damnitall.
Stuart
=)
It’s good for cutting down long materials at the home center parking lot.
MichaelHammer
Steel toe boots. Always with you.
Franklin Franklin
At a 1-1/8″ on the heel, that may be too obnoxious to keep in the tool belt. I’ll give it a try though. Magnets are great when you need them, and annoying when you don’t, simply because they attract swarf. I avoid magnetic tape measures for this reason, but keep one in the truck for when I need it.
You didn’t mention it, but hopefully there’s a built in bottle opener on this square. I found that to be the best feature of the Martinez Square.
Nathan
I went looking for this Martinez square – I can’t find details about it – got any info?
Franklin Franklin
I found out about them on instagram. Martinez tools. Apparently the squares aren’t available on the website yet. You can also find them on Youtube. Be warned, they are $200. I actually signed up to be notified when I could purchase one, as they are producing them in small batches for now.
John S
Magnets seal the deal for me. Great for welding right angles!
Tim D.
I’m no welder, so this may be me showing my ignorance.
Everyone I’ve ever seen welding already has about 20 right angle magnetic holders with magnets on both sides.
How would a magnetic square help all that much if you already had those?
PETE
Those magnetic right angle holders are really just to hold both pieces of material together. Not really to find square. Those magnets are almost always covered in metal flakes from grinding, cutting, drilling etc. which doesn’t allow you to find square with just the magnet alone.
Joe framer
It’s a speed square..rafter squares are the 12″ model . You can’t even draw a line across a 2×10 with 7″ square…
. Second only amateurs uses rafter squares (12″)to layout rafters or stairs as the are very in accurate. Framing squares are used to lay out rafters /hips/valleys and stairs.
. Craftsman has a red aluminium “7” square out for years($11)… Dewalt has a black square with high visible yellow markings ($11), Erwing has a blue square with high visible yellow ($12)..all extra thick…$25 for hole in the middle is ridiculous and it how long before it’s bent , cutting stock through that hole?…
…I’m sure Red fans will buy them
Stuart
Can’t call it a Speed Square due to Swanson having that phrase trademarked.
They never contacted me about it, but they have sent notices to tool industry media.
MichaelHammer
Right, right, and right.
MichaelHammer
And thanks, Stuart, didn’t know that about the rafter square.
Jared
I’m seeing 7″ and 12″ squares both listed as “rafter squares” by the manufacturers. Also, I’m not sure you’re comparing apples to apples. MSRP for the 7″ Dewalt is about $20 – but then the actual retail prices I’m finding are $9-13. Maybe when the Milwaukee is actually out there will be a similar drop in actual retail price – making this more appealing.
Todd
Interesting considering Milwaukee’s parent company TTI owns Empire. Is this the beginning of folding Empire into Milwaukee? Or will there be red versions of other Empire products?
Stuart
Milwaukee Tool owns Empire, with TTI being the parent to both. The distinction is important because it is a parent-child brand relationship and not quite child-child.
I don’t believe that Empire will be absorbed into Milwaukee; they have given every indication that Empire will continue to operate and be marketed as its own brand.
When I asked about this in the past, I was told there would be Milwaukee products of Empire product categories when they can bring innovation and improvements to market. Meaning, we won’t all of a sudden see red versions of Empire tools just because they can.
Nathan
So this is the red version of the current blue 7 inch square. Am I reading that idea correctly. Makes some sense. Empires is cheaper and well liked – tack on magnets and a squared hole few will use, make it red and sell it for more
I like it some – but if anyone else say I don’t know swanson made a speed square with magnets on it – and it was 8 dollars cheaper I’d be buying that one.
Stuart
No! More aluminum, magnets, material jack, more scribe notches.
William
To your comment about the pipe holder messing up the 45 edge, shouldn’t it be resting on the point and one corner of the shoe? It wouldn’t really rest on the 45 side.
Stuart
What will happen if you place it down on a rocky driveway, realize you need an extra couple of inches, and slide the material while still holding it with downward pressure, causing the square to drag a little? In my mind, that edge is going to get scraped and maybe even gouged.
MichaelHammer
It’s an abuse af a layout tool. If you expect precision, you do not treat it that way.
Skye A Cohen
Yeah but it depends on the trade. Most framers I have worked with have beat to heck old Swanson speed squares with blade nicks and rounded edges etc. But they work perfectly for their intended use. A speed square in general isn’t being used for layout of dovetails or something. It’s a quick angle tool for most users and bumps and bruses won’t get in the way of that utility
Kevin
As long as it doesn’t have the sharp stamped edges of the empire version. I think you could use that as a cabinet scraper…
NCD
A bit pricy………. looks good though.
Michael Veach
at this point in life , I probably won’t be replacing my trusty speed square that I’ve used for the last 40 years . 20 years ago , I probably would have.
Corey
Milwaukee needs to reinvent their ridiculous claims of reinventing stuff. I’ve used my plain old square for just about everything referenced, but maybe pipe jack. Which seems stupid to me because there’s half a dozen better ways to offhand secure a pipe to cut before you get to 3″ above the surface speed square. It’s probably a fine tool, but I get sicker of Milwaukee’s BS every time they REINVENT something, to be the end all be all best tool you need to own today. Their m18 hand threader recently, for example. That’s an awesome tool. But to say it’s revolutionized pipe threading, and is the new benchmark is insane. Hand threaders suck. There’s a reason Ridgid sells hundreds of thousands of threading machines: they’re the benchmark. Hand threaders or pony threaders are that one tool you hate but when you need it once every year or so, it’s absolutely the only tool for that task. You made a magnetic speed square, Milwaukee. Good for you, now shutup about how meaningful it is, and inventing assanine applications for it like holding a pipe.
Chris
Only Milwaukee could send out a press release and say they revolutionized the speed square lol Milwaukee is good at one thing, marketing…
The What?
Well said, Corey. I couldn’t agree more about this reinvention crap that Milwaukee seems to claim as if they have revolutionized tools that someone else has already made. And milling out a hole or adding magnets to a speed square isn’t anything new. My grandfather used to put flush heel magnets in some of his machinist and combination squares more than 50 years ago by carefully flat drilling a hole to the correct depth and gluing the magnets in the holes. I still have a couple of them. But unlike Milwaukee, he never claimed to have reinvented or revolutionized anything. And I’m pretty sure he wasn’t the first person to think of it. So yeah, they really need to dazzlingladdybug about how they’ve built a new state of the art square. Here’s what I don’t understand, if you own a brand that is renowned for their layout tools like empire, why would you not release a new layout tool through that brand? Empire has been making layout tools a lot longer than Milwaukee and they’ve done it pretty well. Well before tti bought them and well before Milwaukee started making tape measures or levels. Empire is a name that most people trust for their squares along with Swanson, so why would you go with Milwaukee? There’s plenty of squares that have large triangles milled in the design that would do the same thing as this and they cost less than half of what Milwaukee is pricing this at. What sort of welding application are they referring to for this to be able to hold up a piece of steel while making a corner joint or fillet weld? Welding magnets aren’t made of neodymium because when neodymium gets hot, it’s useless and won’t stick to anything. Newsflash! Steel gets hotter than coldstonesprinkles when you weld. And the thinner the steel, the hotter it gets and the wider the heat spreads. 3 small thin magnets ain’t gonna hold up much weight. So why would Milwaukee even think to suggest to use this square for any welding application? As far as a pipe jack goes, I bet if you stuck this to galvanized pipe and put a 4′ piece of galvanized pipe in the square, it would fall off. 1″ in diameter.
Derrick Snell
The scribe notching going to 6 1/2 inches vs 5 1/2 on most sqrs is worth the 25$ in my book.
Stephen
I went to the store intending to buy an Empire framing square and perhaps also their speed square. I came back with Milwaukee product in both cases. Why? Mainly because the heavier metal of the red brand just felt better and more solid in my hands. The sense of satisfaction in handling the more solidly built tool seemed worth the extra $6 Canadian per square. Given that I was replacing a sixty plus year old square from my late father, some emotion was involved. That may not be a fully rational reason for purchase, of course, but so it was. I also did like the extra scribe notching but the magnets meant nothing to me. In fact, I opted for the non magnetic model since I know I won’t be doing any metal work. Less gunk that way.