We just listed 140 more Anarchist Square Kits in our store this evening. This is a fun afternoon project for a budding or experienced woodworker. The joinery and decorative details are all cut – you just have to tidy it up and assemble it.
We published a 14-minute video on how we assemble the squares (see below). Plus we show how to square them up and add a simple lip that makes them even more useful.
If you are shopping for gifts for others, please be aware that Dec. 11 is the last day we can guarantee that your order will make it to its destination before Christmas. Every day after that becomes a little dicier.
— Christopher Schwarz
Thank you for (1) the video, and (2) restocking. This will be a great gift for my grandson (and one for me). Just in time for Christmas!
Really looking forward to this build; the video is really helpful to this budding woodworker.
For those uninitiated, when might one use this on a project, as opposed to a combination square or large try square? Is it basically a try square with a cross brace for stability?
It’s a replacement for a framing square. We use it for laying out rough crosscuts on our boards. I use it to lay out all my dados in a case sides. And I use it to confirm the ends of my panels are square before I start dovetailing. I wouldn’t work without one.
Looks very cool, but I have a question…
I would have expected the grain to run lengthwise, but it’s running across the sticks, at least in the lead photo. Why?
(Yes, it’s plywood and the grain alternates direction in alternate layers so it’s plenty strong and stable regardless, but I still like surface grain to run lengthwise.)
Is this done for structural reasons? Or aesthetic reasons? Or to maximize material usage in the CNC? Or is it just a random sample?
That’s the prototype. On all the production squares the grain runs the correct way. I need to replace that photo.
This is great! I’ll definitely be ordering one. I’m (almost) certain I’ve seen photos of the square mounted to the lid of a Dutch Toolchest. Any thoughts or instructions on how to do that?
I’ve never done that, I’m afraid. And a quick image search doesn’t turn up any ideas. I’m sure someone has done it and can weigh in here.
I’m looking forward to getting mine! Any tips on how to accurately clean up the joints with a chisel or sanding block, for those of us who don’t (yet) have router or shoulder planes?
You can make your own router plane by drilling a 3/8″ diagonal hole through a piece of 2x stock and tapping your 1/2″ chisel into it. Google ‘Poor Man’s Router’ and you’ll find a video on this.
Hi Andy,
At most you have to remove 1/32″, so it’s not a big job. If you have sandpaper, wrap #120-grit around a cork block (or a block of wood). Count your stokes on each joint and try to sand the area evenly.
If you have a chisel, use it like a scraper. Hold it upright with the back of the tool facing you. Pull it toward you. It will act as very unaggressive scraper. Scrape each joint surface evenly and check your work often.
Hope this helps.
Could you please add the dimensions of this square to the description?
done
Are there plans available to make the square myselve?
https://www.popularwoodworking.com/projects/english-layout-square-2/