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.
Thank you for the giveaway-contest. Anyone would be honored to own one.
I’ll try and see if I can make this comment thing work. Love you fine folks, and love this book as well!
Thanks LAP!
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).
Love the blog posts, keep them up!
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!
I have learned so much from the dynamic duo of Walker and Tolpin!
Great post, it definitely made me want to know more about the book.
This reminded me of Borges’s “Library of Babel”, which is a metaphor for the cosmos-library when mathematically calculated how big it is…
A great story, thanks for the reminder, I’ll have to read it again.
Amazing book and beautiful try squares!
Hello Mrergan. I bad want… square now. Me sick.
I’m intrigued now. Looks like an interesting book to read, even for non-woodworkers.
Great post and love the look of the squares. I would be honored to have and use them
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.
What a lovely square. Just build a Seaton square. Gonna link you on that.
I’m curious about whether the precision holds as humidity changes affect (or don’t really affect?) the wood in the try squares.
Those look much better than the set I turned out.
I’ll try again with better materials.
George is both a talented woodworker and writer. Waiting patiently for his next video (hopefully in disc format for us Luddites).
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!
Much nicer than any I’ve made.
Beautiful set!
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!
Thanks for the opportunity!
Great Looking set of squares!
Love this book and all of the exercises!
An excellent series by great writers and hey, pretty good publishers too.
Thank you for the excellent excerpt to start my day.
Love that book. Thanks for doing the drawing!
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.
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!
I have both this and By Hound and Eye. Both are excellent additions to any woodworker’s library.
I would love to win the try square! Bought the book a year ago, haven’t finished it yet.
Square is good!
I have both the hand and eye and this book. I’d be honored to own a set of George’s squares.
I would love to have these! This book is on my list to buy next!!!
What an awesome book! Count me in!
Great looking try squares. Thanks for the chance!
Kudos to George for making squares so hip, they could be… circles
Some Guy in Barcelona needs nice new squares!
I need to make a cold room in my shop….
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.
This is very cool! Would love to win these 🙂
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.
Love the books. Used them in my high school math class.
Nice squares!
Well, this is quite timely, since “Euclid’s Door” is on the top of my reading pile…
Be there or be square
These are beautiful. I have read through Euclid’s Door, but have not made the tools yet. Fascinating read.
Wow. This book (and its companions) were revelatory for me. Was like hearing Shakespeare for first time and “getting it”.
I’ve only read Euclid’s Door so far, but I had the same reaction.
A very interesting book and a great set of squares. Would very much love to own both 😉
Have thoroughly enjoyed the Walker and Tolpin series. Would be honored to win the set of squares.
Great looking squares!! Would love to have them!!
Squares!!!
One of my favourite recent books. 👏🏿
It was fun to learn about how precision can be measured. A beautiful set of squares!
I will be curious to connect the ideas with By Hand and Eye.
Those are beautiful squares. I’d be intimidated to try making something so precise
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…
Love that book. Count me in!
Truly beautiful tools. It would be an honor to have and use them.
These are beautiful and inspiring. I have often thought about making my own squares.
Love your books and all that you guys do!
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.
What a wonderful set of Try Squares that I would love to have to use!
Beautiful squares. Would love to put them to use!
The Tolpin/Walker books are my favs at LAP!
What a wonderful set of Try Squres that I love to have opportunity to use!
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.
Beautiful squares. Would love to put them to use! (Sorry if this is a duplicate post!)
Hope all is well, Megan!
Would be a great addition to my set of hand tools.
Love the book and this blog!
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.
It would be nice to have a set of these beautiful squares!
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.
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.
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!
George is a genius!
I would definitely put these tools to use!
I have some of their other books, this one looks awesome as well!!
Absolutely stunning try squares.
“The harder I work, the better my luck gets.” -Mark Twain
Wonderful book with approachable projects. Those squares are really nice!
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
It’s always a pleasure to read something and know you will learn something from it while enjoying the writing.
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!
I knew I should’ve paid more attention during high school geometry!
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.
Great looking set of functional tools.
As a great person once told me “ it’s all about the stories “. How true.
I’d love a set of try squares!
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.
Love that book! Everything from them too.
I would love the try squares!
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…
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.
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!
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.
Those look great, I love the really straight grain of that walnut.
Always excellent pieces on history and precision. Thanks for sharing.
Why try harder when you can try square?
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.
Yes Please! I really enjoyed my talk with George when he visited my booth at Handworks and these try squares are just GOREGOUS!
Great book, thanks George and LAP!
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.
Those squares are beautiful! It’s amazing that the basic procedure for checking squares hasn’t changed for thousands of years!
I hope, hope, hope.
Beautiful!
Beautiful squares!
“hip, hip, so hip to be square” 🙂
I’d certainly be proud to own this set of squares. I’m entering!
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.
It’s hip to be a square!
Sometimes simple isn’t so simple. This book has been on my list. Thanks for the chance.
Half way through “By Hand & Eye” now, these books are marvelous!
Awesome looking squares!
I’ll try for the squares.
Looks great – thanks for the chance!
Square, plum or level. Something is off. Maybe I need a square.
I picked up this book at Handworks and can’t wait to read it. These squares are beautiful.
Love the books, would love the squares!
Not so much bothered about winning but these are awesome squares. And the books are great.
The fact that they give you all you need to make your own consolation prize is pretty powerful
Great book and thanks for being a great team!
Wow those are some beautiful squares!
I never win anything, however these are worth a try! Thank you for the opportunity.
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.
Walnut is my absolute favorite! What a joy these would be to use every day!
Awesome squares, great book
Those are some delightful squares!
Beautiful squares!!
Awesome offer, I would love to have the squares in my shop
I enjoyed the book and found out that George doesn’t live that far from me!
Beautiful squares, they would be a wonderful addition to anyone’s collection.
I thought this article was very helpful because I us my squares all the times thank you
Thanks for this opportunity Lost Art Press! I’d love to have them!
I wonder what the optical comparator would see when and if a finish is added?
What do you call a square that is not square? A doorstop.
I’d love this set! Would fit nicely in my shop.
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.
Nice to have the squares.
Count me in for the drawing. It would be great to have something so well made to emulate.
Tobacco stained
A beautiful set of Squares!
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.
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.
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!
Great job by Mr. Walker on the walnut squares.
Lovely, AND functional. The book is fabulous! Highly recommend it…
I wish I would have known this knowledge a couple years ago before buying a Starrett engineer’s square.
Reading any of the books in this series is always enlightening. Usually gets bothered of my brain cells activated.
i have this book. it’s excellent!
I have enjoyed the book and would enjoy the set as much. Still making my way through Mr. Walkers other work.
I’d love a nice light set of bench squares!
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.
Those are beautiful!! Art in their own right. Well done!
Cool, I gotta get the book-
Excellent book. I was just about to make some of these tools. I’ll wait until the 21th…
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
There work is inspiring.
I would like to be entered, those look great!
Beautiful ! Need to read the book.
Fancy squares. Please enter me in the drawing! Thanks
Walnut is wonderful wood, George’s squares are beautiful!
Great book, I learned a ton from it.
Yes, please.
As far as I am concerned anything that Walker and Tolpin write is must read.
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!
Those are some hip squares.
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.
I like winning.
What a great looking set of squares!
Those are beautiful squares!
Please sign me up!
Bunch of squares
Love their other books; haven’t read this one yet, but would love the squares.
I have several books by Tolpin and Walker…they are well written and very informative!! Highly recommended!!
I’d be honored to own that set of squares!
I would love to compare them to the ones that I made from Maple.
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.
Thank you for this kind offer.
Very nice!
Hi Fitz,
I really like wood squares that are square. 🙂
I’ve never read their writing before, It’s so engaging that I wish they had co-authored my college calculus book.
Great well written books, both stimulating and informative. Squares look awesome.
Hi Fitz,
I’d love to have wood squares that are square. 🙂
I need to re-read all their books…
This book looks interesting to a former Math teacher and current woodworker.
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
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).
I have both By Hand & Eye and Euclid’s Door. Enjoy both. Thanks for the chance to win.
Great book!
Great squares, thank you
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.
Hats off, as the saying goes, to the ancients who figured this stuff out without an LAP book to refer to.
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.
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.
I’ll twirl them on my workbench so I can finally learn to square dance
I’ll try.
Nice prize.
Beautiful squares
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!
Random winner. Thanks in advance. lol
Beautiful squares. Excellent book, highly recommend it to both new hand tool and experienced hand tool woodworkers!
I enjoy Walker and Tolpin’s writing. Applied math in an artistic venue is very cool.
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!
I would like those in my toolbox.
My husband is a huge fan!
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.
sign me up.
I’m a huge fan of LAP. Love what you write, the tools, and what you stand for.
Those are beautiful squares
Lovely, count me in!
Sounds like an interesting book. Just added it to my list.
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.
Wow, what a beautiful set of squares! Nothing beats shop made tools!
A comment is now being written. Thanks for the opportunity.
Love these books and those squares!
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!
Beautiful Squares.
Who would have thought that machine shop practice would be essential to hand tool woodworking
Yes please!
This is me commenting to win
Those are beautiful Try Squares and I will definitely cherish them. Thank you for the opportunity.
Beautiful set of squares!
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.
Just looked at the link to the book, It looks interesting. A big switch from working on projects to working on tools.
Great Book and Great Squares
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.
Strikingly beautiful. I’m imagining their feel in my hand while using them.
When close is never desired!
They’re beautiful. Please add me to the list.
They are beauties!
A generous offer by George and LAP. Fingers crossed.
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!
I like squares!
In for a win!
1/200 chance? More than good for those squares
Enter me please.
Elbruns@campbellsville.edu
Of course, I’d love to get a set.Thanks
Pick me!
Those squares look beautiful, so is the writing. Throwing my hat in…
Always good to well made tools and other crafts. Even better to learn how to make them. Thanks again.
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
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..
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.
Yes please!
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.
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
What a lovely rabbit hole to dive down on a Sunday morning. Thank you!
How square is square enough, and is there a way to retrue a stanley #20 that doesn’t meet that level of precision?
Such a great idea! They’re lovely.
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.
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.
Thanks
Beautiful set! Thanks for the opportunity
That grain looks great! Very useful in the workshop.
I need to buy this book. I love to make things with my hands and the books that help me do that.
Beautiful squares that would be a blessing to any woodworker!
I thoroughly enjoyed ‘By Hand and Eye’ and would love to have and use the squares.
I used an optical comparator at job#2 to measure stents and balloons. Artery uncloggers.
If it is as good as By Hand and Eye this book is going to be a joy to read.
Amazing. Beautiful work. Thank you for all you do.
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!
Wow, those are beautiful.
Very nice. Much better than the ones I don’t have.
Both squares and book look good
Thanks for putting this on!
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.
Well hell, throw my name in the pot too.
Great books and even better people behind them.
Would love to have these – count me in please!
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.
They are beautiful! Wondering what effect storage temp and humidity would effect wooden squares accuracy?
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.
Those are beautiful squares and anyone would be grateful to have them!
Y’all get up too early. ‘Course, I stay up too late.
You can never be too square!
I enjoy their books and would be honored to work with something they made
Thanks for the opportunity to win!
Thanks for offering this giveaway!
It would be an honor to own a set of Try Squares made by Mr. Walker. So, I’m in!
My kids think I’m as square as they come.
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
Euclid’s Door is one of my favorite books. Practical geometry at its finest!
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!
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.
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.
I’d love to have the squares to compare my own efforts against.
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…
It’s hip to have three squares, handmade by George Walker!
Inspiration for the walnut trees crowding our fields!
thanks!
Very generous of you to offer these…thank you!
What a nice set!
Thanks for all you do and what you share with us!!!
Random!
Thank you LAP. I have learned so much from your books and blog posts.
Thanks!
Really cool.
Me! Me! Pick me!
Nice idea either way.
Have a good one!
I could use these squares, my house burned down and took my shop with it. 20 years of tools gone just like that.
I have to get this book
Optics is indeed the way to go for this task.
Wonderful book! If nothing else, the photo will inspire me to dip into the supply of black walnut to make my own squares.
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!
Count me in1
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.
i am random, and square. Yes please and thank you.
Fingers crossed.
Would love to be more square!
good looking straight grain walnut!
I have the book. Maybe I should read it?
Pick me?
Do I look like a nose?
Don’t answer that.
Thanks to George for offering these up, and thanks to you for doing the giveaway.
These would be very nice to have and use. Thanks for giving me, and us, the chance to win them.
I’m in, thank you!
Those are beautiful tools, I really should try and make some.
Hello again George! It was nice meeting you last year at IPTW. Thanks for giving everyone this opportunity.
Beautiful set of squares. Sign me up.
What a great addition to any shop those would be!
It’s a wonderful and fascinating book!
I love the Walker Tolpin books, I think I have them all. sign me up
Those are lovely try squares. The engineer in me definitely wants to read that book.
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.
I have an affinity for making tools and Euclid’s Door seems like a good buy.
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.
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
I have all three of George Walker’s Lost Art Press books and they are amazing! That is one handsome set of squares!!!
Thank you so much! They look beautiful.
So nice to view, likely nice to the feel. What would happen when I dropped one? Another good read from LAP. Harlan
Very cool
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!
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
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.
please add me to the list. I would love to own a set made by George Walker!
Sure, I could honor the manufacturer by using the tool
I appreciate any learning that helps use the mind as a tool.
Thanks
I’m rubbing my lucky “rebate” foot in hopes of winning those beautiful squares!
Beautiful!
I appreciate any learning that helps me use my mind as a tool. Thanks for your writing George.
I’m in! Now I want to know how to make my squares more precise..
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?
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.
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.
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.
Now, that was interesting. I’ll have to buy that book!
Thanks
Great looking squares. The little one would really come in handy in my apron.
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.
I’m in for the drawing. Thanks!
Thanks George!
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.
I would be humbled to add these to my tool kit. Thank you!
Wow. I could sure use a set of those beautiful tools, thanks LAP for your great books and tools!
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!
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.
Thanks to George and LAP!
Well, here’s an entry! Thanks!
Nice squares. Getting them true on both the inside and outside is the most challenging part for me.
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.
I would try making a square, but I need an accurate square. Great article.
Throwing my name in the hat. Appreciating everybody LAP.
Those squares are beautiful. I’ve got my fingers crossed!
Those squares would look great on my bench!
Yes please!!
Thanks for the post and the squares look great. I would be honored to have and use them
It’d be an honor to put these into use at the bench.
Oh wow! I’d love to win these squares!
Had planned to make a set, but I’d love to own these.
Love these books!
Those would definitely be useful (and well-used) at my bench! Please add me to the list.
I love squares, I have tried to make 2 of them now. They came out square ….. mostly.
Thank you LAP. Great idea as usual!
Thank you, George and Jim, for another thoughtful treatise!
So you’re saying there’s a chance? Nice squares I’d probably be a little scared to ding up!
Really enjoyed reading Jim Tolpin’s book “The Toolbox Book.”
Thanks for posting an except from the book, LAP! Thank you George Walker for offering up these squares to a lucky LAP reader 🙂
Putting my name in the ring, although I know I should just make some of my own
These are great looking squares!
Dope! Love how math is woven through all of existence
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.
Would love to add them to my toolbox.
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.
Yep, duplicated posts. Doh.
Now you went and made me want to buy the book!
These would be a great addition to anyone’s workshop. I’m sure the winner will be delighted.
Those would be a great addition to the tool chest
I’m game, sign me up!
Lovely for ya’ll to do this! Would be honored to have these in my shop. Thanks!
Add my name to the list. Thanks
One more name in the hat…
Thanks Fitz & LAP. Those are beautiful squares.
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.
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…
It’s hip to be square! Especially if it’s walnut!
Love the books by Walker and Toplin.
I’ll square my shoulders and step up for the prize.
Thanks LAP for all you do!
Beautiful set of squares! I am will be looking to add this book to my library.
I would love to give those a ‘try’!
Holy crap. Give the tree the smallest shake, and look at everything that falls out.
great and interesting info from the book, the squares are very nice too!
Writing from NZ. Would love a set of homemade precisions squares but such a master craftsman. Kind Regards. Mike
I really love their books. Those are beautiful squares. Thank you.
Thanks for continuing to share your wisdom (and your toys:)
Hope I win!
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
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.
I’ll try for a square.
I have the book, so I don’t need the squares, but thanks, anyway.
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.
I will also throw my hat in this ring.
They are beautiful. Love to have them.
Looks like another LAP item I need to buy. I think we all have some toolmaker DNA.
I’m trying. Maybe these will help?
Awesome!
Very cool.
Comment on this post!
Anyone would be honored to have these, I sure would!
Walker & Tolpen provide such an intuitive approach to craft and design in plain terms
Those look great.
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.
What a wonderful set of squares! They are simple, yet elegant.
Thanks for everything, Lost Art Press.
Almost too pretty to use
First comment. Love the blog and books!
In for the squares, if I’m lucky. Thank you!
I love their books. They stretch the mind in ways that are fully practical. I need that!
Thank you for giving me the opportunity to own one of your squares.
People have commented that I’m slightly out of square and I would like to prove I am indeed square.
I love all of these books, please pick me.
That’s so cool that you will share some squares! I just lust for walnut!
Those are beautiful – hope I win.