Reply To: Which Starrett Combination Square to begin with
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The Starrett’s come in models with cast iron heads or hardened forged steel. The rules come in regular or chromed. And you can get the single head or the square and center heads. The model numbers reflect these options. The forged heads are harder and will resist a drop to a concrete floor better if you want to spend the extra $30. 12″ is the most useful. I think 18″ rules tend to be awkward. For me, at least.
I think for a starter the cast head with only the square is perfectly fine. It runs about $100 on Amazon. I like the chromed rule. The model number for that with a 12″ rule will be C11H-12-4R or C11H-12-16R where the “C” is for chromed, “11H” is for the cast head (33H is the forged head), “12” is the length of the rule being 12″, and “4R or 16R” is the graduations on the rule.
If money is no object, you can buy the model with the center head on it, too. You can also get the model with the square, center head and protractor head in a nice box but that runs about $250. I find that I don’t use the center head very often on my 6″ model. You can always buy the extra heads later.
You won’t be sorry for buying a Starrett square and you’ll have it for the rest of your life.