Reader Find: Empire’s 1240 “Fat Boy” Framing Square — Double Thick for Durability
By Chuck Cage
Phillip writes: “The ‘Fat Boy’ is a 16″ x 24″ aluminum framing square that’s a full 3/16″ thick. That’s 50% thicker for durability. I’d love to have a couple of these to make jigs, templates, etc.”
Actually, this looks like a really nice framing square. I’ve met people before who swear by plastic ones, but I’ve always managed to break ‘em — and even to bend some of the metal ones. Look at it this way: sooner or later you’re going to drop it off the roof or back over it with the truck, yeah?
Empire also offers some other versions, including a (less expensive) standard version — as if the $13 street pricing is somehow too much to pay for a good square.
“Fat Boy” Framing Square [Empire]
Street Pricing [Froogle]
Via Amazon
March 21st, 2007 at 2:48 pm
If it’s aluminum, is it really better just because it’s thicker? I like steel. Don’t care how thick it is. Lexan is supposed to be really good for furniture layout, but I wouldn’t get just any old plastic one.
March 24th, 2007 at 10:23 am
[...] Empire’s 1240 “Fat Boy” Framing Square: Double Think for Durability This aluminum framing square is 3/16″ thick — about twice as thick as standard squares — to help survive drops from the roof and other mishandling. While some craftsmen prefer plastic or lexan for lightness or steel for strength, an thick aluminum square provides a little bit of both. [...]
March 27th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
I purchased one of these a few years back at Home Depot thinking that bigger is better, then the first time I went to cut stringers for stairs I realized that the stair gauges I had wouldn’t fit. Although Empire does sell some gauges that will fit it still made for a bad day at work and its worth thinking about if you want to but one of these.