Starrett CB12 4R Combination Squares Chrome Review

I work in a fabrication shop, everyone has Starrett squares, excellent quality, my old one has lasted 12 years with heavy use but was growing legs and me I highly recommend paying the extra money for satin finished blades. Everyone I work with has a regular chrome blade with discoloration and rusting which is ridiculous for the price but I haven't seen any issues with the matte finish.

I inherited a set of 12" Starrett forged squares (with square, protractor and centre) from my uncle when I was a teenager in 1968 when he died. He was a metalworker during WWII and used it in his daily work then and before. I've used it since 1968. However, over the years I've used it less and less as the blade has tarnished over the 70+ years and the engraved markings are harder to see. I was looking at the current Starrett range and thought I'd have to spend over $250 to replace everything…

I wasn't a fan of buying one of Revain's Starrett combo boxes. I don't like the prospect of buying something pre-assembled and leaving it up to chance to transport this tool to maintain its quality. Starrett instruments are incredibly well made and of excellent heirloom quality. I bought a Combo Square Set here and it was badly damaged on the ruler side - small black point dents on the stainless steel ruler from being run over by a pickup truck from California to the east coast. where I live…