Lost Art Press

Enter to Win a Set of ‘Euclid’s Door’ Try Squares

Posted on by fitz
A set of try squares made by George Walker, co-author (with Jim Tolpin) of “Euclid’s Door” and other artisan geometry books. Leave a comment on this post, and you’ll be entered to win the set in a random drawing.

George Walker made the lovely set of walnut try squares shown above, following the step-by-step instructions in Chapter 4 of “Euclid’s Door.” (I don’t know if he had to refer back to his own writing or not…I know I sometimes do!) If you’re interested in adding them to your tool kit, leave a comment on this post by noon on Thursday, Sept. 21, 2023. I’ll pick a random winner from among all commenters that afternoon, and send them out as soon as I get the winner’s address. Below are the introductory paragraphs to the try squares chapter.

– Fitz

I spent my early years as a machinist in a bearing factory in Ohio. A string of red brick buildings that employed thousands of workers. Making bearings is all about precision and the heart of that was a department called the “Cold Room,” an island kept at 67°F and constant humidity behind a set of heavy double doors. The workers inside wore white shop coats and stood at benches with chrome-plated vises. They were the high priests who guarded that precision. Most of us regular shop rats avoided the cold room if we could. The factory was Africa hot in the summer and stepping in and out of the cold felt hellish. Reluctantly, I paid a visit one hot August afternoon. I’d just bought a precision engineer’s square and needed to get it certified. An engineer’s square has a steel fixed blade made to a high level of accuracy. A bored looking lab technician with tobacco-stained fingers took my square and placed it in a machine called an optical comparator – sort of an industrial microscope that projected the silhouette of my square onto a screen. He slid my square up against the side of a master square, a perfect steel cylinder with a mirror-like finish, and the comparator shined a light beam from behind to measure its accuracy. Any variation showed up as a sliver of light that the machine could magnify and measure.

That was years ago, but when I think about it now, a couple of things stand out. In a modern precision setting, we used essentially the same method to check for square that builders have used for thousands of years. Hold it up to a light and variation shows up glaringly. Secondly, the comparator exaggerated the error through some fancy optics to precisely measure variation from true. In this chapter we will go through the building of a set of wooden try squares and learn some geometric methods to create then test it. We can produce a tool that has an astounding level of precision.

572 thoughts on “Enter to Win a Set of ‘Euclid’s Door’ Try Squares”

  2. I’ll try and see if I can make this comment thing work. Love you fine folks, and love this book as well!

  3. You are confusing ‘precision’ with ‘accuracy’. Precision is the degree of repeatability of a measurement while accuracy is a measure of how close a measurement is to the true value. I have a square that has exceptional precision, it allows me to always produce a line that is 89.85 degrees (or 90.13 degrees if I use the opposite edge).

  5. I picked up a try square at a garage sale years ago and have surprised myself at how much I use it. It’s been used a lot but is still very accurate. I’d put a set with smaller and larger squares to immediate use!

  13. I remember when we started studying geometry at school the maths master advised us to use a protractor to mark out a right angle rather than the plastic triangle from the tin boxes holding our “geometry set” of drawing instruments since the result would be more accurate. At the end of the lesson he held up a scrap of paper and demonstrated how to produce a right angle by folding the paper once to produce a straight edge and then folding the edge back on itself. Years later a carpenter showed me how to check a set square by drawing a line perpendicular to an edge then flipping the square and drawing a second line. Only years later did it occur to me that my maths master and the carpenter were both using the same simple but highly accurate principle.

  15. I’m curious about whether the precision holds as humidity changes affect (or don’t really affect?) the wood in the try squares.

  16. Those look much better than the set I turned out.
    I’ll try again with better materials.

  18. I adore the way all of the Walker and Tolpin books chart the influence of practical geometry in establishing an ordered and beautiful civilization. I always get the feeling that I am very small when reading and exercising the principals of these books!

  21. I really enjoyed this book. It focuses on accuracy with hand tools, a big problem in my work. Fingers crossed for the drawing. Or maybe I would hope to lose so I have to make them myself!

  27. Just discovered your site and all the practical design tools. I tried purchasing a few machinist squares online only to discover the were not true.

  28. I’ve greatly enjoyed all of books Jim and George have published with LAP. Learning about artisan geometry has been fascinating.
    It’s very generous of George to give away the set of squares!

  29. I have both this and By Hound and Eye. Both are excellent additions to any woodworker’s library.

  30. I would love to win the try square! Bought the book a year ago, haven’t finished it yet.

  32. I have both the hand and eye and this book. I’d be honored to own a set of George’s squares.

  39. Such a fan of Walker & Tolpin’s writings. They force me to think in a different way than I typically do. Always learn something new in each book.

  41. Thanks for inspiring me on my woodworking journey. Am intrigued to explore what will be my landing point on the question of “precise enough” for woodworking.

  44. Well, this is quite timely, since “Euclid’s Door” is on the top of my reading pile…

  46. These are beautiful. I have read through Euclid’s Door, but have not made the tools yet. Fascinating read.

  47. Wow. This book (and its companions) were revelatory for me. Was like hearing Shakespeare for first time and “getting it”.

  49. Have thoroughly enjoyed the Walker and Tolpin series. Would be honored to win the set of squares.

  53. It was fun to learn about how precision can be measured. A beautiful set of squares!

  56. Reading about it is one thing… making it is entirely another. I hope that one day I would have developed enough guts (and time) to make some of the tools in that book. First, I need to work towards making a chair…

  61. I made a few try squares several years ago and gave them as gifts. QS beech blades with walnut stocks. Surprised myself how good they came out.

  66. Please, please, please! They would join the ruler I use that was made by my great grandfather in 1900. He was a wagonwright and later a builder.

  71. Following The Anarchist’s Workbench, I built small bench to mount my 1950’s Craftsman wood lathe. Looks and works great. Will be making my full size bench next.

  73. If e’er one errs from being true,
    And longs to know the why,
    Lift up thine eyes to heaven’s light,
    Hold firm thy guiding instrument,
    Against the straight and narrow,
    If darkness fails to overcome,
    The piercing telltale beams,
    You’ll know then that although you’ve tried,
    You’ve been deceived and led astray,
    By a square that isn’t so.

  74. I enjoy your blog and books. Used Anarchist’s Workbench to build small bench to mount my 1960’s Craftsman lathe. Full size bench is next. Keep it coming.

  75. Euclid’s Door is on my list of books to purchase next. Would love to be the lucky reader who gets the privilege to use those try squares in their shop!

  81. Hand made, yet accurate. It’s a refreshing reminder that we’d be well served to raise our flattening/ cutting/ sawing accuracy to the point where it “measures” up to these types of hand built squares before obsessing over purchasing the latest super accurate machinist’s squares

  82. It’s always a pleasure to read something and know you will learn something from it while enjoying the writing.

  83. I really enjoyed reading Euclid’s Door and, like many of the other LAP books, I’m sure I’ll enjoy reading/referencing it again.

    Thank you for the generous opportunity!

  85. It always amazes me when I see how humans in earlier times had such elegant and simple solutions to complex problems. Without our technology, they were still able to build beautiful and functional thanks to people like Euclid.

  86. Great looking set of functional tools.
    As a great person once told me “ it’s all about the stories “. How true.

  88. Beautiful work. The book is on my stack of books to read. I’ve got the wood for the projects in the shop. I just need to find some free time in the shop.

  91. Yes, please! Made some winding sticks and straight edges from this book, but the try squares seemed beyond my skill level. Maybe should try again. But if they just happened to come my way pre-made, then…

  92. Walnut was a great choice for this set of beautifully made squares. I use my scrap walnut to built tools and fixtures for my personal shop.

  93. Geometry scares me, it was my worst class, my worst experience… my worst letter grades of my high school career. I wish I had George and Jim available as tutors back in the mid-80s to explain their version, it may have helped me get at least a C on my report cards! Their Euclid book is the last one I need to add to my library. Thanks for the give-away opportunity!

  94. The most fun I’ve had in a week of woodworking was attending a chairmaking class at Port Townsend School of Woodworking and using these beautiful tools. I immediately bought the book and have read and re-read it in preparation to make a set for myself.

  98. Although I am far from an expert, and I am not an architect, but I have spent many years studying modern and traditional church architecture as it relates to worship styles. I’ve also been fortunate to be involved with the renovation of a number of 19th and mid-20th century university buildings. In my opinion, Walker’s and Tolpin’s books provide much needed and practical primers for not just woodworkers but also for those interested in classical and modern architecture and construction. Hats off to LAP for their commitment to the most basic tools of the trades.

  99. Yes Please! I really enjoyed my talk with George when he visited my booth at Handworks and these try squares are just GOREGOUS!

  101. What a beautiful set of squares. I have been working through George and Jim’s books and applying their wisdom to my work. I am yet to make the projects in Euclid’s Door and would be honored to have a set made by George.

  102. Those squares are beautiful! It’s amazing that the basic procedure for checking squares hasn’t changed for thousands of years!

  108. I have the book but I didn’t get far because the first requirement was a jointer plane and I didn’t have one when I got the book. But since then I bought one when Lee Valley had their annual sale on manufacturer’s seconds. After I finish a couple shop projects I’m looking forward to diving back in to the book.

  116. I picked up this book at Handworks and can’t wait to read it. These squares are beautiful.

  118. Not so much bothered about winning but these are awesome squares. And the books are great.

  119. The fact that they give you all you need to make your own consolation prize is pretty powerful

  122. I never win anything, however these are worth a try! Thank you for the opportunity.

  123. I just bought By Hand and By Eye & Euclid’s Door yesterday for my birthday. A set of try squares made by one of the authors? That would truly be an amazing gift.

  130. I thought this article was very helpful because I us my squares all the times thank you

  135. I need to get these books for my father in law. He tells stories from his tenure as a machinist that are akin to that snippet.

  137. Count me in for the drawing. It would be great to have something so well made to emulate.

  140. I love this book (Euclid’s Door). I am relatively new to hand tool wood working and have read this book beginning to end twice. I have built almost all of tools and that process of pulling 30, 45, 60, and 90 degree angles from circles and geometric multiple lengths has been amazingly eye opening. Using light and a dead flat and straight MDF long shooting board helped build my planing confidence.
    I am a recovering/retired engineer though.
    BUY THIS BOOK. MAKE THESE TOOLS.

  141. The cold room sounds like most offices in July suffering from thermostats locked in cages controlled by tyrannical office managers.

    I’m interested in this set.

  142. These are beautiful. And I’ve loved George Walker’s writings for many, many years now. This would be a wonderful prize to win. Thanks!

  145. I wish I would have known this knowledge a couple years ago before buying a Starrett engineer’s square.

  146. Reading any of the books in this series is always enlightening. Usually gets bothered of my brain cells activated.

  148. I have enjoyed the book and would enjoy the set as much. Still making my way through Mr. Walkers other work.

  150. I have the entire set of George’s books. Ironically, I have yet to acquire a decent tri-square. Machinists squares, sure. However, no wooden ones.

  153. Excellent book. I was just about to make some of these tools. I’ll wait until the 21th…

  154. I’ve always been interested in the level of precision that can be achieved with simple obtainable processes in the shop. Looking forward to reading this book

  163. This is a great book! So great, I bought one for my nephew who is teaching a high school wood/shop class. Yes… some places still offer them!

  165. The squares are beautiful. I do not have the book yet but it would be an interesting build considering there is only one pin to keep everything in line. Thank you.

  172. I have several books by Tolpin and Walker…they are well written and very informative!! Highly recommended!!

  175. The Port Townsend School of Woodworking was founded by Tolpin and Walker. They both are geniuses. I have taken several classes there and learned a lot.

  179. I’ve never read their writing before, It’s so engaging that I wish they had co-authored my college calculus book.

  180. Great well written books, both stimulating and informative. Squares look awesome.

  184. I’m a retired New York firefighter and after 9/11 I’ve been on a Handtool journey. To me working with hand tools is more satisfying. Thank you and Christopher for all your hard work I would love to add those squares to my collection of hand tools

  185. To own a set of Euclid’s Door squares made my none other than Mr. George Walker himself and with the selection being made on my birthday, I couldn’t think of a better birthday present that I would treasure more than any tool in my chest! As a mathematician and engineer that loves hand tool woodworking, Tolpin and Walker take the prominent place on my bookshelf (with C. Schwarz right next to them).

  186. I have both By Hand & Eye and Euclid’s Door. Enjoy both. Thanks for the chance to win.

  189. I’ve really appreciated how much care goes into the writing and publishing of each book. I’ve had a lot of fun this year getting into woodworking after having been a machinist all my adult life.

  191. I built one of these back in 2020, and I use it almost every day. Thanks for the insight as to how they are checked.

  192. Walker & Tolpin’s books completely changed how I approach the woodworking design process. I don’t like following purchased plans (pride) and I don’t like dealing with precise measurements (lack of intelligence). These authors presented a path that allows me to make satisfying designs that look right and avoid both issues.

  197. If the wood gods deem me worthy of caring for these fantastic tools, I would be honored to use them and pass them on to a future woodworker when I pass on!

  199. Beautiful squares. Excellent book, highly recommend it to both new hand tool and experienced hand tool woodworkers!

  200. I enjoy Walker and Tolpin’s writing. Applied math in an artistic venue is very cool.

  201. My wife says I’m a square for being such a wood nerd. I say I’m square because gaps in any joint makes me crazy. Euclid is the bomb!

  204. I treat every line I draw, every kerf I cut, every swipe of the hand plane as practice for the next one. I’ve always been amazed at how true some skilled crafts people can be. I’ll keep practicing and trying.

  210. Pick me pick me! But if you do, as another retired firefighter (IAFF Local 1833) I will feel compelled to send one to the above Michael Wolyniec. The rest of us freely acknowledge our brothers and sisters of FDNY as the greatest fire fighting force in the world.

    1. I’ve read Euclid’s Door and By Hand & Eye, both interesting and challenging. Building a square is on my list, but need to finish a tool chest and excited to start another stick chair next. So…thanks for the opportunity!

  215. Who would have thought that machine shop practice would be essential to hand tool woodworking

  218. Those are beautiful Try Squares and I will definitely cherish them. Thank you for the opportunity.

  220. I learned woodworking from my father–a millwright and multi generational carpenter. He always preaches about understanding the limitations of your tools and working within in those limits. Walker and Tolpin reinforce that concept and provide plausible insight in how our ancestors accomplished such engineering feats. The try squares look great and will no doubt work great. I purchased Euclid’s Door to satisfy my desire to make quality woodworking tools; however, I have gained so much more.

  221. Just looked at the link to the book, It looks interesting. A big switch from working on projects to working on tools.

  223. Reading Georges recollections made me smile, as it brought back similar fond memories of 57 years ago. Starting my own career as a, Mechanical Engineering Apprentice at, R.O.F. Radway Green in Cheshire, England.

  229. One of my retirement goals is to work through the exercises in George and Jim’s books. I’ve read the first two and wow!

  237. Always good to well made tools and other crafts. Even better to learn how to make them. Thanks again.

  238. Those look like great fun to use! Anything to make geometry tangible and actionable really does transform my eye for design and, fortuitously, there is always more to learn

  239. Walker and Tolpin books are ones which I reread on a regular basis. After purchasing By Hand and Eye I went to a two-day session with George. After the first day I looked at my notes and was a little disappointed that I didn’t learn anything new after reading the book. Then I realized that the book was so well written that I actually understood it. The second day George showed use new ideas and we did some exercises which made concepts easy to put to uses. I have Euclid’s Door; I need to read again..

  240. Worked on a government rocket program in the ’60’s. Remember constantly calibrating electronic instruments but not mechanical ones. Someone probably did but never saw it.

  242. This book is a wonderful inspiration. I’ve only finished the straightedge project, but even that is a confidence builder. The “yes you CAN do this” approach of Euclid’s Door is refreshing.

  243. I remember going with a friend to purchase some machines from an Aerospace machine shop in South San Francisco.
    They gave us a tour and in one room was a guy inspecting parts on a comparator.
    That was in the mid eighties.
    Reading this post is only the second time I have heard such a measuring device mentioned.
    I’m enjoying my copy of Euclid’s Door.
    Thank you

  245. How square is square enough, and is there a way to retrue a stanley #20 that doesn’t meet that level of precision?

  247. I literally just finished building these from the book yesterday but mine look about 1/10th as nice. I need to go back and read some sections again because I really struggled with the fine tuning, even just figuring out which end of the blade needs correction based on the “proof” lines. It doesn’t seem appropriate to call mine squares, maybe these could me get them there.

  248. I think Jim Tolpin’s “Working at Woodworking” was among the first books I purchased back in the 90’s? I also have “By Hand and Eye” and the companion book, Euclid will make a nice addition.

  252. I need to buy this book. I love to make things with my hands and the books that help me do that.

  255. I used an optical comparator at job#2 to measure stents and balloons. Artery uncloggers.

  258. I have the book (it’s wonderful), and I have some walnut that sat in the doorway of the Woodwright School in Pittsboro until Roy Underhill let me have it. So I plan on making the squares, but I’ll still be happy if I win these!

  262. In a small fit of synchronicity, I’m reading Simon Winchester’s “The Perfectionists”, and “Euclid’s Door” is on my side table. These are a lovely complement.

  266. Wow, that is such a tease, to put Mr Walker’s initial paragraphs up there and then no real instructive information.
    Very sly of you guys. But your arrow hit its mark. I pride myself on never responding to comment requests like these. I can count the times on one hand.
    Now look, I have been done in by your offer of wooden walnut squares.
    Please consider my request, you’ll be glad you did. 😉
    René

    PS, now I can go back to my regular Sunday morning coffee.

  267. They are beautiful! Wondering what effect storage temp and humidity would effect wooden squares accuracy?

  268. Another book on the “to be bought” queue after I have more time to work through those already invested in. One can easily go as overboard on good-but-underused books as good-but-underused tools. Maybe more easily.

  277. Probably have to buy the book if I win. Although as a previous geometry teacher they’re books would have been a great resource for concept applications

  279. Jim Tolpin is one of my favourite authors and i have all of Walker and Tolpin’s LAP books! Very kind of you to offer these for a giveaway!

  280. I wish I had had a teacher in high school that presented geometry in as useful a way as Jim Tolpin and George Walker do in their books! I would have paid attention! I hated geometry back then. Now I use it all the time. I have this book and have been trying to find time to work through it and make these tools.

  281. Loved ‘By Hand & Eye’ though I admit ‘By Hound & Eye’ was an easier way for me to get into what they were talking about, but I was definitely the kid who preferred Schoolhouse Rocks’ way of explaining things to what my teachers were doing. Either way, all their writings about getting the human dimension into furniture design as a way of backing into teaching some serious geometry are fantastic and changed the way I approach these things, beyond reawakening a load of stuff I’d thought I would never use from high school geometry class.

  283. What a fabulous idea! If I win perhaps I’ll get Jim Tolpin to sign my copy of the book the next time he speaks at my local woodworkers guild meeting…

  295. I could use these squares, my house burned down and took my shop with it. 20 years of tools gone just like that.

  298. Wonderful book! If nothing else, the photo will inspire me to dip into the supply of black walnut to make my own squares.

  299. I took delivery of “Euclid’s Door” the week it was released and have found it fascinating. The 1920’s era movie “Green Pastures” has a little girl in Sunday School where they are discussing the Bible. The little girl states, “I love the Bible! I don’t understand none of it!” I feel that same way with “Euclid’s Door,” but still hope to live long enough to cipher it out! Great book!

  301. These books are great and help reinforce those geometry classes from long ago – even for an engineer. Like the old time finish carpenter I worked for in high school and college and tool makers I’ve known since. Practical application proves the usefulness of math.

  306. I have the book. Maybe I should read it?
    Pick me?
    Do I look like a nose?
    Don’t answer that.

  307. Thanks to George for offering these up, and thanks to you for doing the giveaway.

  308. These would be very nice to have and use. Thanks for giving me, and us, the chance to win them.

  311. Hello again George! It was nice meeting you last year at IPTW. Thanks for giving everyone this opportunity.

  317. Thanks for posting this! They look like wonderful tools, plus it prompted me to get out my copy of By Hand and Eye which has been a great resource for understanding design.

  319. I think I have made all the mistakes possible until I read, yet again, about another tale of even more stupidity for columns like this… keep up the good work, and congratulations on continuing on YOUR path to success.

  320. This is sooooo tempting to buy! I would definitely fall down the rabbit hole and get lost.
    I’m saving this read for retirement in a few years. Sound like a book that I wouldn’t want to put down!
    Doug

  321. I have all three of George Walker’s Lost Art Press books and they are amazing! That is one handsome set of squares!!!

  323. So nice to view, likely nice to the feel. What would happen when I dropped one? Another good read from LAP. Harlan

  325. This is one of the books I have bought from LAP but haven’t got read yet. I have a bad habit of buying to many books at one time! Although i”m running out of books to buy from LAP. Chris, Meghan and company need to hurry up and bring out more!

  326. Those are lovely! i have the material set aside by my workbench but haven’t taken the time to make those, the winding sticks, the straight edges, etc. yet. I do love the book though.
    Dave Fox

  327. Walker and Tolpin definitely paid attention during high school geometry class! And I remember going though the “proofs” to solidify the various geometric relationships. Their books are fabulous. And the story about the cold room was one I could relate to – my father’s job was to make ham & bacon at a small meatpacking company. On my few, but memorable visits to the “kitchen” where he worked included a stop at the cold, meat cutting room and I always felt for those workers who had to come out to the hot weather.

    Thus, I learned “Nothing Without Labor” at an early age and am glad to be a LAP supporter.

  333. I appreciate any learning that helps me use my mind as a tool. Thanks for your writing George.

  335. I would love to “win” the squares, but in reality I’d love even more to make two from the 8 qtr. Walnut& Cherry stock I just purchased. Any plans that can be recommended?

  336. Thanks LAP for the blog notes and all you do for our WW community. Have learned so much from Chris’ Sharpening video and just purchased Megan’s video to outfit the inside of my ATC when completed. It was a pleasure to see you @ Handworks. Yes, please enter me into the mix to obtain one of George’s squares.

  337. Those squares are lovely. “Euclid’s Door” has been on my buy list for some time. Sadly, I still have a pile of books needing attention (first in, first out), and a number of projects to finish. But it’s time will come. I’m currently reading Tolpin’s ‘Measure Twice Cut Once’ and finding it instructive.

    I have a small collection of vintage squares among my users, and have used the usual methods described elsewhere to verify their truth. Recently I decided to check their edges with my magnetic Tilt Box and am finding it useful to have a second method which is not dependent on my failing vision, to confirm my findings by the traditional methods.

  338. We always assumed George Walker was a square guy, now we have proof. All that remains is finding evidence that Jim Tolpin is on the level.

  341. I bought this book months ago (years?) and I have yet to crack it open. Along with almost every LAP book I have purchased. At least a dozen.

    I am restoring my house and it just takes so much energy alongside my day job. But I have them I will read them.

    Please enter me for this drawing. These look gorgeous. I can read and I can practice but this level of workmanship is probably not for this lifetime. Like a very recent LAP blog post says, we in America tend to hop around specialties, so we never get really good. I am so busy with other priorities, I won’t even get mediocre in most woodwork tasks.

  344. Their books are terrific to read, practical as well as enjoyable. Whomsoever should win those squares is a very fortunate woodworker! As always, thanks to LAP for their joyful embrace of the very human instincts to make a better life.

  346. Wow. I could sure use a set of those beautiful tools, thanks LAP for your great books and tools!

  347. give me a plastic pocket holder, a few pens and a couple of pencils and call me an engineer! the 3 squares would complete the picture……thank you!

  348. Ecluids Door is one of my top 10 favorite woodworking books…My list also includes “By hand and Eye” and all it’s spin offs (another walker book), anarchist tool chestc and several other books by Chris to name two othe rtop 10s. I read Ecluids door in about 2 hours, great stuff. Its all about building precisie squares and startes from step A and goes to step z building numerous projects. I have yet to find th etime to tackle the projects in the book but they are on my “To do” list.

  351. Nice squares. Getting them true on both the inside and outside is the most challenging part for me.

  352. Excellent book. Any plans to touch on Haywards how to make woodworking tools? It has been my secret weapon for years, if I don’t have a tool I need I look it up in the book and make it. Thank you and cheers.

  358. Thanks for the post and the squares look great. I would be honored to have and use them

  363. Those would definitely be useful (and well-used) at my bench! Please add me to the list.

  364. I love squares, I have tried to make 2 of them now. They came out square ….. mostly.

  367. So you’re saying there’s a chance? Nice squares I’d probably be a little scared to ding up!

  369. Thanks for posting an except from the book, LAP! Thank you George Walker for offering up these squares to a lucky LAP reader 🙂

  373. Thanks to George for making these available for a giveaway. His other book was a great read and I intend to get around to this new one sooner than later.

  375. Not sure if this posting thing is working, but thanks to George for making these available for a giveaway! His other book, By Hand and Eye, was a great read and I will be getting to this one sooner than later.

  377. These would be a great addition to anyone’s workshop. I’m sure the winner will be delighted.

  384. Always interesting to read a writer’s history, which helps one understand how and why they arrived at the time they turned into something worth reading.

  385. I was planning on making these tools myself, which is why I bought the book. It would be nice to be able to compare mine to the author’s…

  394. Writing from NZ. Would love a set of homemade precisions squares but such a master craftsman. Kind Regards. Mike

  398. Had lunch with George Walker years back at a SAPFM meeting on a nice sunny day in Chillicothe, OH. Very nice and knowledgeable fellow. His writings/books have meant all the more to me because of that encounter. Thanks

  399. Would love these. Have worked with machinists for years and love the excerpt from the book. Achieving precision in work is a beautiful mix of skill and creativity.

  402. I hope you continue to publish these types of books and they continue to write more of these books. I am blown away by every volume of theirs they have written. And it would be incredible to own these.

  411. Walker & Tolpen provide such an intuitive approach to craft and design in plain terms

  413. Awesome work, Mr. Walker. Light doesn’t lie. I find it funny in modern industry standards they only allow certain levels of magnification for inspection. Because honestly if you look close enough, nothing is perfect.

  419. I love their books. They stretch the mind in ways that are fully practical. I need that!

  421. People have commented that I’m slightly out of square and I would like to prove I am indeed square.

  427. I really enjoyed Euclid’s Door as it has projects perfectly suited for the small-scale shop, and useful ones at that.

  429. My square I built in Chris’ class (back in the day) would be jealous if it knew I was lusting after these fine squares right now.

  434. Hi Fitz. Love the blog. Those Tri-squares are gorgeous. Hope to use them a long long time

  435. Cool giveaway, I’d love to hang those up in my tool cabinet and put them to use. Another good reminder pick up a copy of this book too, I’ve had my eye on it for a while now…

  437. Why do people walk in circles and not in squares?
    Because they are cutting corners.

  444. Lovely tools. Ages ago, I worked for GCA – among other things they made high precision lead screws so that you could measure equal distances. Just a bit more tricky than trying to check a right angle, but same tight control over temp and humidity.

  450. Cats make the best shop pets… except that if I won these try squares, I’m afraid my cat would knock them off my bench. And that’s why we can’t have nice things.

  452. What sets these books apart is that they are not simply how to do books, but how to see books. Walker and Tolpin addresses the fundamental element in wood working and design with wit and charm.

  459. Very Nice Squares! I think I understand the constant temperature to equalize expansion/contraction of metal, but why the constant humidity in the cold room, rust prevention? At what humidity percent?
    Marty Reser

  460. I hope that I win. I’m teaching my son basic woodworking, and these would be a great set of essential tools to help him on his journey.

  469. Euclid’s Door has been on my list for a while. So I guess if I am fortunate enough to win I’ll have to finally purchase the book!

  474. I’ve almost got my shop space cleaned up again to build some of the tools from this book, but it sure would be fun to have some made by one of the authors!

  476. I’ve changed my mind. If I happen to win, please donate the squares to the https://www.thechairmakerstoolbox.com/ project. I can afford the book (Good for George, Jim, and LAP) and if I’m a woodworker I should learn to make my own squares (good for my development). Many thanks to George for donating them, and him and Jim for writing their wonderful books!

  478. Thanks for the opportunity to win the squares. They are beautiful.

    I have been following your work since Popular Woodworking and own many of your books and a few of your tools.

    I feel like I never win these kind of things but my optimism is high:).

    Thanks for all you do.
    Josh

  486. I am currently going through Euclids Door. I’ve completed the straight edges and am working on the winding sticks.

  491. That looks like a great book, on my list to purchase. The squares would be a great addition to any shop.

  492. Black walnut is my favorite and those squares are made from some beautiful stuff. It would be a treat to own them.

  499. I’d love to own these, of course! Thanks for having a giveaway, and for publishing such quality books at such fair prices.

  500. Tolpin’s technique of using body dimensions was an eye opening experience for me as I was designing and building my workbench. It has turned out to be one of the most comfortable benches I have used.

  505. Have the book, check✔️
    Have wood rough cut resting on the shelf in the shop for this very project, check✔️
    Leaving a comment to try and win one of these squares, check✔️

  507. Drawn to perfection, but never achieving it, doesn’t mean I still don’t strive for it. I would love to own a set! Thank you.

  510. Liking these odds, just a bit more likely than getting a spot in a stick chair class.

  512. Like the rest of my LAP library, the only problem I have with the books that George Walker and Jim Tolpin create is that I keep getting to the end-papers. I own a sector because of their writing…. (please, more)

  513. The Taylor/Tolpin books have strongly influenced how I build and more importantly, how I see furniture. It would be an honor to be the random winner of these try squares.

  514. What a privilege to try to be selected to be the recipient of these finely made try squares!

  515. Recently I met a new acquaintance for lunch he was having with a couple of his friends. They started talking about woodworking. I asked a few questions. I am now the leader of 19 guys who want to learn woodworking. I sent them all a list of woodworking resources. LAP was the source for books. Hopefully, I’ll be able to learn and teach them how to make squares like these.

  524. These look beautiful! I loved By Hand & Eye, and now have Euclid’s Door on my wishlist (I should probably add a bookcase or two as well). Thank you, LAP!

  526. Way back when, being square was not the thing. For us woodworkers, being square IS the thing.

  531. 537 comments already but let’s see if I have any luck. Would love to add these to my shop.

  532. I going to “try” to win these. I wanted to write something clever, but I can’t seem to find the right angle.

    I’ll show myself out.

  535. Love the work you all have done. Especially inspired by Walker and Tolpin. Thank you!

  536. Please count me in! And if you get to talk with George Walker please tell him we love his book and use the knowledge in it on a regular basis.

  542. I counted 16 entries before 6am the first morning. For those who “can’t believe” a six person class is sold out in milliseconds, that should be a clue. OTOH a well known quilt designer and teacher who has regular give-aways, usually associated with new pattern releases typically has several thousand entries so I figure my chances are pretty good.

    Esther

  543. I purchased this book and it is exceptionally well written and I have found it to be very informative. I also have purchased two other books by these authors and all the books have gotten me interested in artisan geometry.

  544. Wow, it seems everyone wants free tools. I’ll throw my name in too, even though I should probably grab my copy of the book and make some for myself.

  546. I haven’t gotten around to making my own squares, yet, so I’ll happily use these if they find their way to me.

  548. I’d love this set of squares. But after buying the Crucible Tools sliding bevel, bevel monkey, dividers, brass pinch rod hardware, lump hammer, a pair of the amazing 1” diameter holdfasts and, recently, the Warrington hammer, my wallet would bite my fingers off if I reached inside for my credit card to buy this set. This giveaway is my only hope.

  553. Love LAP! Thank you for this opportunity and for all of the bound and printed knowledge!

  557. I made a square with Jim Tolpin in one of his classes in Pt. Townsend, WA. It could use a bit of work now. I’d love to have a set that’s actually accurate!

  558. Lovely seeing you all at Handworks. I’ll throw my hat in the ring. Thanks for the opportunity.

  559. Would love to have that beautiful set of squares to keep me at the “right” angle. Will ad them to my setup and prep and brag to my friends. It’s great that you are offering a drawing for such tools. Whether I win or not, I have to thank you for the opportunity.

  561. Very nice looking squares. They would be a nice addition to any tool chest. Especially a tool chest from the dovetail death march!

  562. Oops. You probably meant noon Eastern time… it’s still before noon Pacific time where I am. Totally understand if that doesn’t count!

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