My Best Sub-$20 Tool Buy: Saddle Square

My Veritas saddle square – I bought it in 2008 and have used it on almost every project since.

I often get asked, “What’s your favorite tool?” That’s an almost-impossible question to answer. Favorite for what? When? What day is it?

I almost always say mine is the router plane – and I truly love using that tool – so maybe it is my all-around, non-project-specific favorite. But if I’m fitting drawers or tool chest tills, it’s the No. 52 shoot board plane. If I’m making a box, it’s my custom-handled dovetail saw (having a handle that fits one’s hand perfectly can’t be overrated…at least if one’s hand is significantly different in size that that of the so-called average woodworker). If I’m making a blood sacrifice, it’s a toss-up between the flush-cut saw and skew rabbet plane.