Vaunt Squares & Bevels
A Vaunt square gives you straight, repeatable marking and checking for joinery, roofing, studwork and general site layout without guesswork.
If your cuts are wandering or your frames are finishing out, start with the square in your hand. A proper Vaunt square, whether that is a vaunt try square, vaunt combination square or sliding bevel, gives you clean set-out, honest angles and less rework when you are marking timber, checking corners or setting awkward cuts. If you need more layout options, pair them with Vaunt Angle Finders and get your marking sorted.
What Jobs Are Vaunt Squares Best At?
- Marking studwork, sheet material and timber for straight cuts is where a vaunt square earns its keep, especially when you need repeat lines that stay true right through first fix.
- Checking carcasses, door linings and cabinet corners with a vaunt try square helps chippies spot small errors before they turn into gaps, twists or a poor finish on site.
- Setting out rafters, trim angles and roofing cuts with a vaunt speed square or vaunt roofing square makes life easier when you are working fast and do not want to keep second-guessing your marks.
- Transferring odd angles from existing walls, stairs or scribed work with a vaunt sliding bevel saves time on refurb jobs where nothing is bang on square to start with.
- Using a vaunt combination square for depth checks, 90 degree marking and quick level transfer is handy for bench work, second fix and snagging where accuracy matters more than speed.
Choosing the Right Vaunt Square
Sorting the right one is simple. Match the square to the marking job, not the other way around.
1. Try Square for Straight 90 Degree Checking
If you are mainly checking timber edges, marking square cut lines and keeping joinery work true, a vaunt try square is the straightforward choice. It is quicker and cleaner for simple 90 degree work than carrying a more complex tool you will not fully use.
2. Combination Square for Versatility
If you move between site set-out, bench work and snagging, go for a vaunt combination square. It gives you square lines, depth setting and repeat marking in one tool, which is handy when you are checking more than just corners.
3. Sliding Bevel for Odd Angles
If you work in refurbs, stair work or anywhere the building is miles off true, a vaunt sliding bevel or vaunt bevel gauge is the one to buy. It lets you copy the angle you have actually got on site instead of assuming the wall or return is right.
4. Speed and Roofing Squares for Fast Set Out
If you are cutting rafters, trimming studwork or marking sheet goods all day, a vaunt speed square or vaunt roofing square saves time. It is the quicker option when you need repeated angle marks and square lines without stopping to line up a longer rule.
Who Uses These on Site?
- Chippies use a vaunt square every day for first fix framing, door sets, skirting and bench joinery because it keeps cut lines straight and corners honest.
- Roofers and timber framers reach for a vaunt speed square or vaunt roofing square when setting rafters and birdsmouth cuts, as it is quicker than measuring every mark from scratch.
- Joiners and cabinet fitters swear by a vaunt try square or vaunt engineer square for checking boxes, panels and finished work where a tiny error shows up straight away.
- Kitchen fitters and second fix carpenters keep a vaunt combination square close by for marking hinge positions, checking reveals and repeating offsets without hunting for extra kit.
- Anyone doing refurb or scribing work uses a vaunt sliding bevel to lift awkward angles off old walls and trim them properly rather than guessing and cutting twice.
The Basics: Understanding Vaunt Squares and Bevels
These are marking and checking tools first and foremost. The main thing is knowing which one gives you a fixed reference and which one copies what is already there.
1. Fixed Squares for Known Angles
A vaunt try square, vaunt engineer square or vaunt set square gives you a fixed angle, usually 90 degrees or a preset layout angle. That is what you want when you are checking timber, marking cut lines or proving a corner is actually square.
2. Combination Squares for Measuring and Marking
A vaunt combination square slides along a rule so you can set repeat distances, check depths and mark square lines from the same face. It is useful when one tool needs to cover several bench and site jobs.
3. Sliding Bevels for Copying Angles
A vaunt sliding bevel does not tell you an angle by itself. What it does is capture the angle from a wall, stair string or existing trim so you can transfer it straight onto your workpiece and cut to suit the real site conditions.
Useful Extras for Vaunt Squares and Bevels
A square is only as useful as the rest of your marking kit, so get the basics around it right.
1. Tape Measures
A square marks the line, but you still need a reliable start point. Keep one of these with your vaunt square so you are not measuring off scraps, guessing centres or walking back to the van halfway through setting out.
2. Vaunt Marking & Cutting Gauges
These are worth having for repeat offsets, parallel lines and cleaner layout on timber. They save you from creeping marks and inconsistent reveals when you are doing joinery, trimming doors or working up a batch of pieces.
3. Vaunt Profile Gauges
When the job moves from square cuts to awkward shapes, these stop you wasting material trying to trace uneven edges by eye. Handy for flooring, trim and any refurb work where nothing is truly straight.
Choose the Right Vaunt Square for the Job
Use this quick guide to sort the right type before you buy.
| Your Job | Square Type | Key Features |
|---|---|---|
| Checking timber edges and marking 90 degree cut lines | Vaunt Try Square | Fixed square head, quick visual checking, clean straight marking for joinery and site timber |
| Bench work, repeat offsets and depth checks | Vaunt Combination Square | Sliding rule, multi use head, better for measuring and marking from one tool |
| Copying awkward wall, stair or trim angles | Vaunt Sliding Bevel | Adjustable blade, locks to angle, useful for refurb and scribed fitting |
| Fast framing marks and rafter layout | Vaunt Speed Square | Quick angle references, compact shape, ideal for roofing and studwork set-out |
| Precise corner checking on metalwork or fine joinery | Vaunt Engineer Square | Rigid fixed accuracy, good for inspection, machine setup and tighter tolerance work |
Common Buying and Usage Mistakes
- Buying a combination square when you only need a simple try square can slow you down. If the job is mostly checking 90 degree cuts on timber, a fixed square is often faster and less fuss.
- Using a sliding bevel as if it proves an angle is correct is a common one. It only copies the angle you set, so always check the source first or you will transfer the same mistake onto every cut.
- Dropping a square loose in the van with heavy kit soon knocks it out or damages the edge. Keep it protected and check it against a known straight edge now and again.
- Marking from a rough or damaged stock throws the whole line off. Make sure the square is sitting tight against a clean edge, or your cut will be out before the saw even starts.
- Picking the wrong size for the material wastes time. Small squares are handy in bags and pouches, but for sheet work or longer set-out they can leave you chasing the line instead of striking it cleanly.
Try Square vs Combination Square vs Sliding Bevel
Vaunt Try Square
Best for quick 90 degree marking and checking on timber and joinery. It is simple, fast and dependable, but it will not help much when you need adjustable depths or copied angles.
Vaunt Combination Square
Better if you want one tool to mark square lines, set repeat measurements and check depths. It is more versatile than a try square, though not as quick for repeated basic corner checks.
Vaunt Sliding Bevel
This is the one for awkward site angles, scribing and refurb work where nothing is standard. It is not a measuring square in the same way as the others, but it is far more useful when the building is out.
Vaunt Speed Square
Best suited to fast framing, roofing and marking across timber on the move. It is quick and compact, but for finer joinery checks a try square or engineer square is usually the cleaner choice.
Maintenance and Care
Keep the Edges Clean
Wipe off plaster dust, sawdust and site muck after use. A tiny bit trapped against the stock or blade is enough to throw your line out.
Check Accuracy Now and Again
If it has taken a knock, test it against a known straight or square reference before trusting it on finished work. It is quicker than remaking a bad cut.
Store It Flat and Protected
Do not leave squares rattling around under saws and fixings in the van. Bent blades and knocked stocks are a proper nuisance and usually avoidable.
Tighten Adjustable Parts
On a vaunt combination square or sliding bevel, keep an eye on the locking mechanism. If it loosens off, your angle or setting can creep halfway through marking.
Replace When It Stops Reading True
A worn or damaged square is false economy. If it will not sit properly or you cannot trust the line, swap it out before it starts costing you time and materials.
Why Shop for Vaunt Squares at ITS?
Whether you need a vaunt try square for clean joinery checks, a vaunt combination square for bench work, or a sliding bevel for awkward refurb angles, we stock the proper range. You will also find the wider Squares & Bevels selection in all the key types, all held in our own warehouse and ready for next day delivery.
Vaunt Square FAQs
What squares does Vaunt make?
Vaunt covers the main square types most trades actually use, including vaunt try square, vaunt combination square, vaunt engineer square, vaunt sliding bevel, vaunt speed square, vaunt set square and vaunt roofing square options. That means you can sort everything from basic 90 degree marking to angle transfer and roof set-out without mixing random bits of kit.
What is the difference between a try square and combination square?
A try square is the simpler tool and is mainly there for checking and marking a fixed 90 degree line. A combination square does more because the head slides on a rule, so you can set depths, repeat measurements and mark from a chosen distance. If you just want fast square lines, go try square. If you need one tool to cover more layout jobs, go combination square.
Are Vaunt squares accurate enough for joinery?
Yes, for normal site joinery, second fix and general bench work they are more than up to the job when treated properly. The real thing is keeping them clean, not knocking them about in the van and checking them after a hard drop. Any square will let you down if it is bent, clogged with dust or used off a rough edge.
What is a Vaunt sliding bevel used for?
A Vaunt sliding bevel is used for copying and transferring angles that are not fixed or not known in advance. It is ideal for stair work, scribing, trim, old walls and refurb jobs where you need to match what is actually in front of you rather than assume the angle is square or standard.
Will a Vaunt speed square do the same job as a try square?
Sometimes, but not always. A Vaunt speed square is brilliant for quick framing marks, roofing work and fast cross lines on timber, but for fine joinery checks and proving a corner dead square, a proper try square usually gives you a cleaner read.
Do I need anything else with a Vaunt square for setting out properly?
Usually yes. Most trades pair a square with Tape Measures for accurate starts, then add Vaunt Marking & Cutting Gauges or Vaunt Profile Gauges when the work needs repeated lines or awkward shape transfer.
