Review on Kapro - 353 Professional Ledge-It Try & Mitre Square - For Leveling And Measuring - Features Stainless Steel Blade, Retractable Ledge, And Etched Ruler Markings - 12 Inch by Andrew Grimes

You know how some tools just "feel right” in your hand? From the moment you pick up this tool, you will be happy you ordered it. It is solidly made, VERY accurate, and features obvious attention to detail in it’s finishing. The edges are "dead on” in terms of straight and well finished lines that make accurate marking a breeze. I love the little "fold out” leveler tab on the angle that allows you to easily fold it out whenever you want to pull a straight, parallel line from the reference edge of your work - Simply spin it out when you need it and fold it back when you’re done. It keeps the handle end of the square at the same level as the blade when you mark or scribe down your line. (Why didn’t manufacturers make that a feature on every square?)The very accurate cut circles on the blade for putting your pencil or scribe into to drag parallel lines and the similar cut out circles that make it easy to find and mark angles which are dead on accurate at 10, 15, 22.5, 30, 45, 50, and 60 degrees reminds me of something you might only see on a "Woodpecker brand” type tool costing MANY times more.It is also obvious that the materials Karpov used were chosen to last a lifetime. I’ve been working with wood for almost fifty years, and if I could have bought this tool when I first started out, I’m confident I would still be using, and loving it still today. The painted surfaces feel like they have been "powder coated” for long lasting wear instead - not simply sprayed on. The blade has a nice low luster finish that doesn’t seem to reflect back any glare When you are using it under a shop light. I have often found to be a problem with other manufacturers brands. And, the markings on the blade are very crips and easy to read. Yes, it does not have the traditional "exotic wood handle” which was once associated with a quality square. But, then again, you buy this item to make accurate markings, not to win a beauty contest. Today, many cheap Chinese manufacturers are sticking those wooden handles on otherwise trash tools to try to fool you into thinking that, "if it looks like a vintage, quality tool, then it must be one, Right?” Don’t be fooled by that cheap marketing ploy! I have found many of these "knock offs” are very poorly made, with cheaply "stamped” markings, and simply not accurate. This tool has the certified specs to assure you that you are getting a quality tool for a modern age of woodworking.Let me put it this way. If I were buying a square for my grandson, (and, I will be as soon as he is old enough) this would be the one I would get him and teach him how to use it to mark clean, accurate lines.Look, if someone is this excited about "just a tool” - it says a lot. Just so you know that I’m not randomly "singing Karpov brand’s praises,” I also own their Tri-Square tool with the magnetic blade securing system. While I love the new securing system idea, the tag with their company logo fell off the first day that I used that tool. Now the raw, unfinished metal around the adjusting screw just sticks out like a sore thumb. It was just a poorly a piece of light plastic film pasted on the tool. "So, Karpov, are you listening? Do a better on that tool so that it matches up to the quality of this tool!”But, as far as my experience with this tool, you cannot find a better value for a similar quality tool. I’m actually thinking about getting one of these in every size they offer because, sometimes you just need the right size to do the job quickly and efficiently. What more can I say? Just buy it! You can thank me later.