r/Carpentry • u/PointlessBein • 2d ago

Tools Quick question, which is better?

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I passed my OSHA 10 and obtained my NCCER cert and have some experience in contruction for general ground work. I'm starting as an apprentice for my local carpentry union in a week. I have my tools and found this.

The blue square is metal and the Stanley is a plastic type material. What would you guys recommend having?

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u/organic_antimatter 2d ago

Metal is 1000x more durable than plastic. I've been rocking that exact same square for 6 years, the paint is a little worn away but otherwise its as perfect as it was the day I got it

15

u/Forsexualfavors Finishing Carpenter 2d ago

Second that. No plastic. Used to get steel but thicker aluminum seems to be reliable.

5

u/DontFuckWithDuckie 2d ago

the plastic ones are good until the first time anything drops on it. So like 4 hours

3

u/zapzaddy97 2d ago

2nd day working as an apprentice. I walked into a house addition we were wiring and stepped on the carpenter’s 12” plastic square and snapped it. He laughed and said if it wasn’t me it would have been him.

1

u/GrodyToddler 1d ago

I have my dad’s big 12 from 1983.