The Dovetail Square is an excellent tool to help diagnose potential issues with your Dovetails before they become gaps in your assembled Joint. The Heart of this tool is the Sterling Dovetail Rule and was inspired by pattern makers squares that have been around for decades. We designed our reduced size blade for woodworking and to fit commonly available squares. Sterling Tool Works was the first to make a reduced size blade longer for excellent diagnosing especially with “london” style dovetails where the pins meet to only a kerf. The length is 2-4 times longer than vintage tools for use with thicker stock or “gang cutting” 3/4″ and thinner panels. The Sterling Dovetail Ruler, better by design and functionality.
Sterling tool Works offers the Dovetail Square capability in three options:
- A complete Dovetail Square Kit, Including a graduated etched Rule
- Dovetail Square
- Dovetail Rule
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The Dovetail Square Set Option:
This precision square is supplied with one traditional graduated rule and a dovetailing rule providing a very versatile tool with many uses. The standard rule provides a wonderful compact square with excellent accuracy rivaling common machinist square accuracies of .001” per inch, per U.S. federal standard: GGG-S-656E. Available with either a 4″ or 6″ (100mm or 150mm) precision etched rule with chrome satin finish with blackened etches that is easy on your eyes for excellent contrast and improved accuracy.
The included Sterling “Dovetail Rule” is incredibly handy for checking the squareness of your dovetails to ensure excellent fit and “gap less” joints after assembly. The reduced size of one end of the un-graduated rule allows precise checking of squareness in even some of the tightest “London style” dovetails. Regular size rules simply cannot reach into the spaces the Sterling Dovetailing Rule can. The Dovetailing Rule is hardened, precision ground and finished with the same satin Chrome finish as the standard rule.
The powder coated square casting provides the accuracy required but avoids the stock-heavy feel of a solid machinist’s square, providing excellent balance and feel. Rules lock securely in any position from full left to full right with the tightening of the knurled thumbscrew.
The Sterling Dovetail square set is available with these precision etched rules:
- 4” Length with 4R graduations = 8ths, 16ths, 32nds, 64th
- 4” Length with English/Metric graduations = .5mm, 1mm, 32nds, 64ths
- 6” Length with English/Metric graduations = .5mm, 1mm, 32nds, 64ths
- 6” Length with 4R graduations = 8ths, 16ths, 32nds, 64th
- 100mm with .5mm and 1mm graduations
- 150mm with .5mm and 1mm graduations
The Sterling Dovetail Square:
This option is the Dovetail Square without a graduated rule, if your current squares are not compatible with the Dovetail Rule this is an excellent option that will always be at the ready.
The Sterling Dovetail Rule:
Also available separately without the double square stock. I cannot guarantee that the Dovetailing Rule will fit ALL other makers squares but I have tried a handful of other makers 6” combination squares I had on hand such as Starrett, Goddell Pratt, Brown and Sharpe and the dovetailing rule clamped perfectly in both vintage and contemporary squares. The dimensions of the Sterling Dovetail Rule are: 4″ long, by .330″ tall on the taller end, .90″ on the smaller end and .075″ thick!
NOTE: 4″ Starret Squares will not accept the Original Dovetail Rule.
UPDATE March 2017: We introduced the DTR-2 unit that will fit Starrett 4″ Squares. Purchase them here.
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I had purchased the dovetail square after seeing it recommended in Fine Woodworking magazine by Frank Strazza. It is perfect for its intended purpose getting into tight recesses.
After using it recently, I accidentally removed the arm from the stem and couldn’t figure out how to fix it. I contacted Chris via email that night and the next morning I had a useful response with a pdf file explaining how to fix the square – which worked perfectly! I was hoping for a response in a couple days but such an immediate response with exactly what I needed was amazing customer service!
I was hesitant to spend so much money on this item, but now I’m glad I did and you can be sure I’ll be back for future purchases!
Thank you,
Jason
Jason,
Thank you so much for your comments and support, we do pride ourselves in our customer service and support! We look forward to filling your next tool needs.
Chris
I have one of Chris’s 100 mm double square in metric…I loooove this thing. I also have a similar Starrett…not to take anything away from Starrett but, Sterling Tool Works square is more robust, with a wider and thicker blade, superb and clear graduations, and the fit & finish is amazing and an absolute pleasure to use!
This tool is well made and solid, and it now lives on the tool wall right in front of my bench—in other words, right in arm’s reach. I’ve never been so excited to cut dovetails!
I’ve just ordered the full set of ST-2’s and front & centre of my tool cupboard is where they shall reside. Not too far from my full set of Roubo Curves.
I settle for nothing short of honest attempts at producing near excellence. Some boutique craftsmen like Chris seem to share the same ethos. Thank you Chris
Pat,
Thank you so much for your kind words and support! Its feedback like this that keeps us forging ahead!
Best wishes,
Chris
This thing is hard to put down! I’m an architect and amateur wood hobbyist who just built a shop, and this little guy will be in my pocket ready to solve all sorts of 4″ questions for the foreseeable future. This is a precision-crafted tool, and I look forward to using the hell out of it!
Just wanted to say thank you very much for the dovetail square you sent to me recently. It’s a brilliant item and has been used many times already. Also thank you for the partial postage refund, very honest of you. Really much appreciated!
Chris,
Thank you for your feedback and support! Sometimes international shipping costs come in signifigantly less than the quoted amount, in those cases we refund to our customers. At Sterling Tool Works we treat people the way we would like to be treated!
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I bought the Dovetail Blade (only) and put it in my PEC brand square. It’s a very nice tool that works well for checking tails square across. I use it in a hand cut dovetails class that I teach and it helps the students produce better dovetails.
I’ll also add that Chris was very nice in working with me on the delivery – I need to delay the shipping because I was out of town and Chris worked with me and shipped on the exact day I had asked him to.
Mike
Mike,
Thank you for the feedback! I have had other customers use their Dovetail Rule (Blade) with PEC squares as well! Thank you for your continued support!
Chris
I received the Sterling Tool Works Dovetail Square recently, and have found this tool to be a real gem. With its quality workmanship and compact size, it has quickly become a favorite in my tool collection that I reach for often and find a genuine pleasure to use. Thank you Sterling Tool Works!
Thank you for your post Dan,
That means a great deal to me as I know how meticulous you are about your tools!
Best regards,
Chris