Swanson Framing Wizard (5 layout tools In-One)

As a comment to the other review that was written. You can check the accuracy of a square by fully opening the swing arm, placing it on a stud and drawing a straight line. Then you flip it over and draw a straight line again. If the lines are right over each other the square is accurate. Normally if a square comes out of 90 deg you have to throw it in the garbage. Except for this tool, using this testing method you can tinker with it until it is back into square. There is NO other square on the market that allows you to do this. Just try to do it with a traditional 16" X 24" square.


A Very Useful Tool   August 16, 2009
S. C. Dominguez (Dallas, TX USA)
3 out of 3 found this review helpful

OK, I'm not gonna lie, I almost returned this. I found one at the local big box retailer on sale and figured 'what the heck' I'll try it. I couldn't disagree more with some of these folks saying this will replace a speed square. This thing is pretty big and it will not fit in a tool belt, so my speed square remains indispensible. Like I said, it remained unused, and I try not to make a habit of keeping too many useless items. However, this tool found its calling. It is an EXCELLENT gable scribe! Pac-Tool makes a gable scribe that sells for about 5 times the price of this tool. It can do some other stuff, but frankly I haven't found much use for it other than as a first-class gable scribe or protractor. Get yourself a torpedo level and you're in business! Once I figured out how good it was, this thing got pressed into full time duty and it has held up perfectly. If you do a lot of work with siding or working with weird angles, get it.


Framing Wizard   December 31, 2009
Mike Sullivan (Mesa, Az.)
1 out of 1 found this review helpful

I have just completed a bathroom removation and this tool was of great value to me in laying out studs and square for floor tile.


Not perfect - but close   April 11, 2010
Donald Repp (San Antonio, Texas USA)
I love this tool. It stores in places where my 12" speed square can't fit.

I agree with other reviews. there is a likelihood that it will lose it's perfect square. That is always true with any tool that pivots. But I find correction is simple and I only worry about it when the measurement is critical.

What I like best is the little rim that rides the board. A regular square doesn't have that and you have to align the top edge with the top of the board. By the time you draw your square line, it has shifted and you start all over.

This tool hasn't completely replaced my speed square, but I haven't used my framing square since I bought this.


If only it stayed square...   March 19, 2008
SC (CT)
8 out of 8 found this review helpful

Ok, I'm still going to say this is my favorite square because unlike my other squares, after I tinker with it, it is actually square.

BUT, the problem is it doesn't hold square for long. I'm finding that I have to pull out my little hex wrench before I begin working each day. Finally today I looked and realized that the adjustment head was notching out the inside of where it should be stopping the angle. Do I pull too hard? Maybe, but I don't always have the time and patience to gently inch the arm out until it touches to stop. I'm thinking even that method might end up notching this somewhat thin aluminum.

Another complaint is that I keep having to flip it over because a screw sticks out on one particular side. I don't know why but it seems that that is the side I want to measure from each time.