Starrett 505A-12 ProSite 12-Inch Dial Protractor
by Starrett
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List Price: Our Price: $49.00 You Save: $14.00 (22%) Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Starrett 505A-12 ProSite 12-Inch Dial Protractor
Customer Review: A Must Have for Every Trim Carpenter
Summary: 5 Stars
Trim carpenters are forever measuring angles and making cuts with a miter saw. The advantage of the Starrett 505A is that it makes the job easier. You simply place the protractor into the corner, and it does all of the calculations for you. It reads the angle and the miter saw setting at the same time, with two different sets of arrows.
The thing I like about it, is that it holds a setting, and that is adjustable. There is a setting screw in the back that enables you to adjust the amount of play. The way it comes out of the box, it is almost too tight. If you are laying it up against something, then it is fine, but when you want to pre-set it to an angle, then, use it to align something, it is a little tricky to pre-set. It is so snug that a gentle push will not change it, then with a little more effort, it will change a lot. I used a little WD 40 and loosened the screw just a hair, and now it adjusts perfectly, and still holds a setting. If you are a trim carpenter, and are taking measurements off of walls, the way it is right out of the box is great.
Another thing I like about it, is how ruggedly it is built. Thick aluminum and with this new model, large easy to read numbers.
I checked the accuracy with an expensive Bosch digital protractor, which is accurate to 1/10th of one degree. (Like having 3600 dots in a circle instead of 360) Every setting was either dead on accurate or was accurate to within a few tenths of a degree. That's accurate, although with a paste on measurement face, it is entirely possible for them to make them with less accuracy than the results I am getting on this one as has been mentioned in some of the other reviews.
I like it better than the Bosch digital protractor, because it is beefy, and easy to use and store. The Bosch with its glass LED readout, and bulky frame is great for setting up tools and the like, but not as practical for the job site. That is why I have both. I also use the Starrett combination square for setting up saw blades and other tools that require a perfect ninety. Starrett makes great stuff.
I spoke to Starrett in an email about this protractor, and they said this 505A was specifically designed for the job site, every day use in the shop, and to come in at a price that everybody could afford. It's a great unit for the money. Highly recommended. A great addition to your arsenal.
Customer Review: A bit Disappointed
Summary: 2 Stars
I've been wanting a Starrett 505A yet never purchased it until last week, because I read and heard so many complaints about its inaccuracy going back to 2004. I also understand Starrett was made aware of the problem 4 or 5 years ago and therefore I made a presumption that the inaccuracy was fixed over the period 4 to 5 years. I think I've stumbled on the problem.
and hope it will help someone.
Depending on whether you open the levers with the Starretts Label to the right or left makes a huge difference.
If you swing the Label Arm to the right (clear aluminum to the left) the reading on mine is. (At a 45 degree Miter cut reading), the Zero to 90 reading is off, that will be the reading of the wall angle.
The net being 1/8 inch per foot inaccuracy. [visa versa at a perfect 90 degrees the Red Miter Arrow is off by 1/8 of an inch.
To the contrary when you swing the Label Arm to the Left & Plain Alum to the right -- I get a near perfect 45 degrees. Wall measurement 45 (red) to Zero (Black) and the Miter arrow points to 45 (red).
Don't ask me why. I tested this a good 10 times, each with the same readings. It's just the way the dial label was made and doubt Starrett will change it.
NOTE: An easy way to remember -- always point the "BLACK Zero" "0" into the corner of the wall, irregardless whether taking an inside or outside measurement.
I gave it a 2 Star because Starrett could have saved me a lot of aggravation if it had instructions for that. Also, that piece of aluminum is expensive enough that they could have added a scribe or a label Ruler to one of the arms. It could be made thinner, as is, it is 1/2 inch thick and weights over 1 lb. (Est. 1 1/2 lbs) I can see the potential to make this tool do more than just find an angle, that carpenter can carry in his pouch to do more and weigh less.
Customer Review: Accuracy not quite perfect...
Summary: 4 Stars
This tool is very sturdy. It is constructed of high quality 1/4" x 2.5" aluminum stock. It is simple to use and once set to an angle, it generally stays put. It even has an Allen screw at the pivot point to control the hold-force.
Starrett could improve the accuracy of this tool by concurrently laser etching the inner and outer dial faces, instead of using decals. Click on "see customer images" under the above tool photos, and select the dial-face photo. ALL of the black numbers and lines of the outer ring should align perfectly with the inner ring's red numbers and black lines. As you can see, on my tool, some lines mismatch by just a tad - maybe 1/10 of a degree. While that's certainly good enough for most projects, a tool designed to precisely measure angles should not be off at all. Other reviewers noted more serious alignment errors with their 505A's, apparently because the factory didn't properly affix the decals on their protractor. So, if you buy one of these, you might want to check the dial accuracy on YOUR tool before deciding to keep it.
However, many times during house construction, I don't even look at the dial. Instead, the tool is set to match an existing angle, such as in a stairway. The tool is then carefully placed on the wood about to be cut and a penciled line is drawn against the tool face.
If the scale on this protractor were perfectly etched, it would be a 5 star tool.
Note: For projects needing more accuracy than offered by this tool, the Bosch DWM40L Miter Finder Protractor is an excellent choice.
Customer Review: Could be better
Summary: 4 Stars
As other reviewers have noted, some of these are off by half or more of a degree. If we're talking about a tool that indicates whole degrees, and especially since it's from Starrett, well, it ought to be accurate to the degree line marking width. Better buy one in person where you can see if the tool measures 0 and 90 exactly when folded and opened (take a try-square with you).
Once you've found an accurate one (my experience is that more often they ARE accurate, but that's at my own local home improvement shop), there still remains one missing item. A lock. Where's the lock on this thing? It ought to have a lock. You take a measurement by stuffing the thing into a back corner of a cabinet or something, and while pulling it out, you bump it. The gauge goes off immeditely. So you stuff it back in, remeasure, and pull it back out. Then you walk to your sawto adjust the mitre, and in setting down the protractor, you bump it again. So it's back to the cabinet for a third measurement, etc.
It ought to have a lock to stop it from changing readings when accidentally bumped a little. Seems to me that a hole through the axis, tapped, and a brass thumbscrew would do the job and should have been included.
Other than that, I am real pleased with mine. The size is perfect, large enough to work with big lumber, small enough that you don't need two hands to hold and set it.
Did I mention it ought to have a lock? It should, you know. ;)
Customer Review: Not what you'd expect from Starrett
Summary: 2 Stars
I'm a finish carpenter that works in the pebble beach, ca area. I've purchased this protractor for working on base, casing, and just general finish work where accuracy is critical. I found mine to be off about 3/16 of an inch in 12 inches @ 45 degrees.
Not a real big deal, however when you need an angle to be right this is a good tool to get you into the general vicinity. I contacted Starrett about this and they're standing is that they make their protractor within a 1/2 degree tolerance. Chop saw manufacturers make their gauges within 1/4 a degree...
The main reason I bought this is due to the Starrett name and its reputation for being exacting. Since I've purchased this protractor, I've also purchased one by True Angle (about 30 dollar cheaper) and have had its accuracy within a 1/16th of an inch.
So in general the Pros are:
Starrett name brand
Very Durable Metal Construction
Smooth Movement And Tight Holding
Cons:
Expensive for inaccurate Protractor
None Adjustable for precision
All in all, if I could find another protractor that was metal and as accurate as the true angle I bought I would have returned the Starrett.