Definition

Noun: A bevel square is a hand tool used for measuring, marking, or checking angles. It consists of two straight-edged arms (rules or blades) that are joined by a hinge or pivot, allowing them to be set and locked at any desired angle.

Usage

The bevel square is primarily used in woodworking, metalworking, and construction to transfer angles from a plan to a workpiece or to verify the accuracy of an existing angle. * The carpenter used a bevel square to set the exact angle for the roof rafters. * Before cutting the molding, he transferred the corner angle with his bevel square.

Advanced Usage

• Setting a Bevel: The act of adjusting the two arms of the tool to match a specific angle is called "setting the bevel."
  • He carefully set the bevel to 45 degrees for the miter joint.
• As a Reference Tool: Once set, a bevel square can be used as a physical reference to duplicate an angle multiple times without needing to measure it again.
  • After setting it from the prototype, the bevel square was used to mark all identical parts.

Variants and Related Words

• Sliding Bevel: Another common name for the same tool, emphasizing that one arm often slides along the other for adjustment.
• Bevel Gauge: A synonym for bevel square.
• Bevel (Noun/Verb): The angled surface or edge itself (noun), or the act of cutting an angle on an edge (verb). The tool is named for this function.
  • Noun: The bevel on the glass edge was smooth.
  • Verb: You must bevel the edges before joining them.

Synonyms

• Angle gauge
• Sliding T-bevel

Related Phrases/Idioms

• To take a bevel: An informal phrase meaning to measure or check an angle using this tool.
  • Take a bevel of that corner before we proceed.

Noun

1. a hand tool consisting of two rules that are hinged together so you can draw or measure angles of any size