I try to keep my tool kit as small as possible. So if I don’t use a tool for a few years, I try to get it into someone else’s hands so they can use it. Sometimes that means selling it or giving it away.
Back in 2010 I sold off a bunch of tools to both cull the herd and pad our savings account – I was preparing to quit my day job. One of the tools I sold was a Bridge City SS-2 Saddle Square because it wasn’t getting much use. Plus I had the Veritas Saddle Square, which was less expensive and did the job.
During the last couple years I realized that the Bridge City version would come in handy for my work, especially for marking around bevels and chamfers on my chairs. For a while I made do with a brass butt hinge. And I briefly considered making a wooden-hinged saddle square. But then I broke down and bought a Bridge City SS-2 from eBay.
The SS-2 was new in the box. Unused and in its original wrapper. Obviously it was owned by a collector and was intended for someone else’s tool collection. I recycled all the nice packaging and tossed the square into my waist apron (apologies to the tool collectors, but I think I just made your mint SS-2 a little more valuable).
There have been a few other tools that I have “rebought” over the years. Most recently, I bought back a Wayne Anderson miter plane from the estate of Fred West. Fred had bought the tool off me many years ago and kept it in his collection. It still has my edge on the iron (that was back when I was experimenting with tertiary bevels, so it was easy to recognize).
I must be getting old and soft. I got sentimental and simply missed that beautiful plane. Let’s hope my memory starts to fail so I simply forget about all the other tools I sold. This could get expensive.
— Christopher Schwarz
P.S. I’m sure that some of you are thinking that Crucible should produce a saddle square. Honestly, not many people need this tool for their work, so I think it would be as profitable as a woodworking poster.
Chris, I reckon you’re saddle square sits in the same sphere as my coach maker’s bevel squares. Except you’ve found a use for yours.
For giggles, I just checked eBay to see if any saddle squares for sale. Not one (that’ll change I bet), but someone was selling the original (empty) box for one for $32.50. I wonder if they found yours in the recycling bin?? And yes, I can see how the square would come in handy for exactly the reason in your picture.
Bridge City made one for Rockler years ago in steel. Those sometimes show up without the crazy Bridge City Collectors’ Premium.
Live and learn, we all do it.
Perhaps you could make a poster of the square.
With origami instructions so it can be folded into use!
Saw one of those on-line today as a favorite tool to one of the College of Redwoods students.
what about using a quality butt hinge from Horton brasses or similar to make one? i bet a little light tapping with a large enough persuader ought to tighten up any slop.
Sure. But mine was an emotional choice.
and way nicer than my option.
Years ago, my wife bought me a Veritas saddle square for Christmas. At the time, I thought to myself “why did you buy me this?” I use that thing all the time.
I also picked up a tool from Fred West’s collection. What are the chances I’ve got your old Lie-Nielsen #49 Tongue and Groove plane?
I yearned for a saddle square for a while.
Then I remembered that my 4” starrett combo square came with a center finding head.
Or, center finder/ saddle square.
It’s only good for square stock, but that’s mostly what I use.
Then again, it’s also good for finding concentric distances in from
A convex radius, so it’s also good for spacing sticks in from a back edge.