Checking for Square

The most reliable way to check an assembly for square is to compare diagonal measurements. The only drawback is that making these measurments accurately with only a tape measure is often easier said than done. But Ted Raife, an editor at Woodsmith Magazine, has a terrific idea. He made a very simple set of tape holders.
Each holder consists of a square block of plywood with two pieces of hardboard attached to adjacent sides, as shown in the drawings. The hardboard laps over the edges of the block on both sides so that the holder can hook over the corner of the assembly. The adjoining ends of the hardboard are mitered to form a slot that can hold the end of the tape or act as a "cursor" for your measurement (drawing and photo).

The holders make taking the two diagonal measurements quick and easy. One minor regret is that I no longer have any excuse for an out of square assembly.

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Edge-Gluing Technique

Here's an idea that might make gluing up panels a little easier. When edge-gluing several boards to make a panel, I start by laying the boards in order on the pipe clamps to be certain that they're arranged the way I want them. Then, I carefully stand each board up on edge to apply the glue.

The only problem is that a board on edge (especially a wide one) will tip over at the slightest bump. And when one board goes, they all go over -- just like row of dominoes.

To prevent this from happening, I clip a spring clamp on one end of each board. The spring clamps the board up above the pipe, and the handle serves as a stand.

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Driving Screws into MDF

I often use medium-density fiberboard (MDF) for my shop jigs and fixtures. There are many things I like about MDF. It's stable, heavy, and costs about half as much as cabinet-grade plywood. One thing I don't like about MDF is its tendency to split along the edge of a workpiece. But, luckily, there are a couple of things you can do to avoid this problem. MDF tends to split most often when drilling and screwing in its edge, especially when using a tapered woodscrew. It acts like a wedge to drive the workpiece apart. So I've gotten into the habit of using a straight-shanked screw.
However, a straight-shanked screw isn't a cure-all. Even when using a pilot hole and the right screw, MDF can still split out. So one final precaution is to support the sides by clamping an ordinary handscrew across the workpiece, see the photo. It makes it almost impossible to split the MDF.
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Checking for Square

Comparing the diagonals of a cabinet or a box is a great way to check it for square. But when you're working alone in the shop, measuring long diagonals accurately can be difficult. To make this job easier, make a pair of simple tape holders.
Each holder is just a scrap of ¾″ thick plywood cut to 4½″ square. Screw two pieces of ¼″ Masonite 2″ × 4½″ to two edges of the plywood to make up a corner. Then, miter the corner to form a slot to hold the tape and allow for an accurate reading.

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