Thin Beam Square

[Mike Thomas]

https://micromark.com/products/thin-beam-square-1?_pos=1&_sid=b7a704b7d&_ss=r

I have found the thin beam squares from Micro Mark really useful. I have used them for marking and cutting balsa (any thing over 1/16") for years. They work well on even thinner material e.g. 1/32" if you have a sacrificial bit of balsa under the work piece.

[Spiros]

Really useful!! Thanks for sharing!!

[TheLurker]

I like that.

Does anyone know if Micro Mark have a UK or European distributor?  I don't much fancy paying twice or three times the catalogue price in customs & postal charges but I can't turn anything up on "teh intarwebs".

[Spiros]

I will try to check this. I tried to buy the Thin Beam but the cheapest shipping cost was 55 euros!

Too bad if there is no EU supplier.

[Raggedflyer]

Allegedly ~£20 from Amazon and free delivery

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Micro-Mark-83261-Thin-Beam-Square/dp/B08ZVG3WN2/ref=sr_1_16?dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.xoPEeEzpOPwDKUCz5jvKVtFZIr2PdqObcM62Dh28-ADrcbZ5fyKj6LshMBjQxubRBScVaI6XfQBC13YmY2Xt_TZD9QpnjN_HF23meblgs-40cPL3k-784OLBy7NCDua529jEMHZhLL63Nx1NH-UgTfwO-Gnpx84CVwQp_v7BUi2tox5TeMdULQen0eUiyq5raa93k_75BOmBzv7gd0_YH4q8U0g0bBQoeIOMrJUrC1ChNa0rGpZxw6TORFpIJ00FixVAGurdPqqlfK-XAN5lRgENwXgAnhaxujsaMGOAoMY.w6yKI8DKLv0_Tgwq749l21aOtGgU1I-ooAnPYzSu2DM&dib_tag=se&keywords=Micromark&qid=1767101397&sr=8-16

[Spiros]

Thank you!!

[Jmk89]

While I don't want to prevent or discourage anyone who wants to buy one of these, I decided to make one myself using 3D printing.

Picture attached.  The nib at the end of the beam holds the beam level with the surface being cut or marked - a feature that I find useful on squares.

I'm happy to share the stl file with anyone who sends me their email by PM.  I instructed the slicing program to provide support so that the offset of the blade on the back side of the print was held in place during printing.  This had to be cut and sanded off once the print was done.

[SP250]

Yeh I made my own too.
From a sheet of 1.5mm steel with a hack saw and fine files to finish it off, checking every couple of cuts against a commercial square. 
These days would be easy to get one CNC machined - but would probably cost more than Amazons £20.00. I just use double sided sellotape and the same thickness ply or balsa to pack up to the same thickness of the wood being cut.  I guess sheet aluminium could also be used.

John M
PS can't attach photo as it is too large and I have no idea how to change that on my phone.

[Raggedflyer]

Am I missing the point here?

If the cutting mat is set to the edge of the table so the handle part of a normal T square can be located just off the table edge, with the mat and wood aligned the cut can be made as usual.

[Andrew D]

Am I missing the point here?

If the cutting mat is set to the edge of the table so the handle part of a normal T square can be located just off the table edge, with the mat and wood aligned the cut can be made as usual.

That's what I do.  No special tool required...

[Mike Thomas]

Ragged Flyer and Andrew, I agree that  "If the cutting mat is set to the edge of the table so the handle part of a normal T square can be located just off the table edge, with the mat and wood aligned the cut can be made as usual." I have done that on numerous occasions when my thin beam square wasn't handy, and it works well. However, it does require more things to be lined up correctly, work piece, square, mat, and edge of table. And if you have a lot of pieces to cut, it slows things down. I wouldn't say a thin beam square is an essential in the workshop, but it is very useful, as are many of the jigs and tools we use. The main issue I believe is not its usefulness, but its availability and price. And it's a shame that geography plays such a significant part.

[Andrew D]

Ragged Flyer and Andrew, I agree that  "If the cutting mat is set to the edge of the table so the handle part of a normal T square can be located just off the table edge, with the mat and wood aligned the cut can be made as usual." I have done that on numerous occasions when my thin beam square wasn't handy, and it works well. However, it does require more things to be lined up correctly, work piece, square, mat, and edge of table. And if you have a lot of pieces to cut, it slows things down. I wouldn't say a thin beam square is an essential in the workshop, but it is very useful, as are many of the jigs and tools we use. The main issue I believe is not its usefulness, but its availability and price. And it's a shame that geography plays such a significant part.

Yes of course, if you are doing the same task regularly then special tools are the way to go...

Andrew