Starrett - 505A-12 ProSite 12-Inch Dial Protractor (Rating: 1)
I have a Bosch digital angle gauge I can and do rely on to accurately determine angles for cuts for things like crown molding. However, it isn't something I want to carry around in my tool bag for occasional use. For that, I looked to the Starrett PRO SITE 505A. Unfortunately, my Dial Protractor, like so many others produced by Starrett, is about a half degree off. For example, if the black gauge reads "0," the miter cuts shows "44.5."
For rough carpentry, and if you are not extending a line a significant distance, the sloppy tolerance of the PRO SITE 505A may be fine. If not overly abused, it even appears it would give years of use and much convenience. Still, why pay a penny for a tool which does not do what it was designed to do?
For true fine woodwork, you, obviously, need precision cuts. They require accurate measurements. As such, this is not the tool for such purposes and you may want to look at digital gauges or, if applicable to your needs, an adjustable protractor, such as is often sold in a set with a center finder and a try square. In many cases, they may be cheaper and just as, if not more accurate.
Eighty-nine and a half, or ninety-one and a half degree joints (forty-four and a half or forty-five and a half degree miters) for a picture frame can add up to a couple glaring degrees when a job is assembled. Such gaps are quite visible and, certainly, the earmark of amateur or cheap work.
As others elsewhere noted, Starrett sullied their name with this one and I will never again presume to associate the Starrett name as a guarantee of precision. From my purchase of this, I would not be comfortable putting down several times the money spent on the competition's measuring devices to get the Starrett name.
I have a Bosch digital angle gauge I can and do rely on to accurately determine angles for cuts for things like crown molding. However, it isn't something I want to carry around in my tool bag for occasional use. For that, I looked to the Starrett PRO SITE 505A. Unfortunately, my Dial Protractor, like so many others produced by Starrett, is about a half degree off. For example, if the black gauge reads "0," the miter cuts shows "44.5."
For rough carpentry, and if you are not extending a line a significant distance, the sloppy tolerance of the PRO SITE 505A may be fine. If not overly abused, it even appears it would give years of use and much convenience. Still, why pay a penny for a tool which does not do what it was designed to do?
For true fine woodwork, you, obviously, need precision cuts. They require accurate measurements. As such, this is not the tool for such purposes and you may want to look at digital gauges or, if applicable to your needs, an adjustable protractor, such as is often sold in a set with a center finder and a try square. In many cases, they may be cheaper and just as, if not more accurate.
Eighty-nine and a half, or ninety-one and a half degree joints (forty-four and a half or forty-five and a half degree miters) for a picture frame can add up to a couple glaring degrees when a job is assembled. Such gaps are quite visible and, certainly, the earmark of amateur or cheap work.
As others elsewhere noted, Starrett sullied their name with this one and I will never again presume to associate the Starrett name as a guarantee of precision. From my purchase of this, I would not be comfortable putting down several times the money spent on the competition's measuring devices to get the Starrett name.
