Features:

  • Takes error-prone calculations out of miter cuts
  • Upside down or backwards, the reading is always correct
  • Scale shows angle for a miter joint and single cut
  • Saves time and reduces waste
  • Ideal for carpenters, plumbers and all building trades
  • 12-inch miter saw protractor with two scales--red "miter cut" scale and black "single cut" scale
  • Allows direct transfer of the work angle to the miter saw in 3 steps with no calculations
  • Durable 1/4-inch thick aluminum alloy; Teflon O-ring for smooth, precise operation
  • 7-inch version also
  • 12-inches long; 1-1/2 pounds; 1-year warranty
Accurate and a huge help!

This is a great tool to have in your shop, but nearly everyone has said that. I wanted to address the accuracy, having read many of the less-than-stellar (and older) reviews on the topic. The comments mostly singled out the degree wheel decal being mislocated, leading to offset errors varying from a half-degree to more than a couple. I decided to buy anyway, based on the updates that said returning a bad one usually resulted in getting a better/good one. When the packaging for my recent purchase included a bold sticker, "New! Laser accuracy!", I expected to see degree marks laser engraved into the metal, but it had the same basic construction as used for years: an opposing set of printed plastic appliques. I called Starrett to challenge their marketing claim, but the Engineer stood up to it. He said that laser tooling is now used in the placement of the marks. I didn't grill him to learn whether they use a laser index to apply the same pre-printed decal, or if the marks are printed onto the decal matrix using a laser printing process after it is affixed. Either way, they have apparently taken a technological step toward putting the accuracy issues behind them. My protractor has not yet had the trial by fire of the kitchen trim rework, but it has shown to be as accurate as I am capable of measuring with my other shop tools. In my opinion, if your mitre saw is properly dialed in, you'll get the solution you need from this tool.

Great tool for angles on moldings and trim

Wow, if you've ever had angles on cabinets, molding, trim, etc and can't figure out the angle. You need this tool. Was installing light bar molding on cabinets and had tough angles. This does both sides at once. Perfect. Had to tweak one about 1/2 a degree and that was the only one

Great tool!

I read several old reviews here of the 505A-12 - and its smaller 7" sibling - and became nervous about the suggested lack of accuracy due to poor decal placement. So I contacted Starrett to verify if - as their web site claimed - the scales are now laser engraved and don't still employ simple decals. They assured me that the laser engraving was an enhancement implemented a few years back, and expressed frustration that Amazon reviews never expire due to age and this has lead to much confusion about their products. Based upon this information, I bought a 505A from Amazon. It is, indeed, a great tool with a highly-accurate scale that exhibits none of the inaccuracies that others mentioned here years ago. One of the qualities that I like most - in addition to the accuracy, of course - is the very smooth yet snug action of the pivot, i.e. the pivot action is tight enough that the protractor will easily hold its position. You can use it in tight places where you can't read the scale until the protractor is removed from the measurement location; it's not going to move. Wish I'd had this gizmo 40 years ago!

Best protractor I've ever seen.

Heirloom quality. No doubt. Couldn't go the plastic one of any brand. Yes, it's pricey. I winced, but I knew Starrett makes bangin' measurement tools. You simply can't cut molding and trim without checking the angles. Crown molding requires accurate measurement. Here's the thing.....when you're using it, you know it's right.

Great tool for flat wall baseboard or chair rail trim cuts! May not be best option for crown molding.

Solid and precise tool. Invaluable for wall moldings such as chair rail and baseboard. Very nicely made and worth having the aluminum over the lesser solid plastic option.. My only wish is that it gave absolute wall angles as well on the reverse side (which is blank). This tool only gives degrees for single or dual (miter) cut angles for your trim work. But if you want to use it purely as a protractor to measure the wall angle, it is not as useful. (For example, if you place it up against a 120* wall, it does not have any indication on the markings for 120*, it instead gives you 2 different cut options for single or dual cuts to fit trim into that 120* wall angle, but will not display in anyway the absolute angle of the wall at 120*. But it does exactly what it advertises for cuts, and does it very well. Just beware if you are looking for a simple angle measuring protractor that give absolute values of a wall angle (which is needed frequently for tables or apps that solve for crown molding cuts - where you enter the spring angle of the crown and the absolute wall angle and it gives the miter and bevel settings for your miter saw to cut crown molding)

Starrett makes the best!

This is a great tool. Very solid and accurate. Starrett makes very high quality tools. I have used a plastic one of these for a few years and finally bit the bullet and spent the money on this. I don't regret it. It will last forever!

Must Have Protractor

This is just a very nice tool, well made, hefty, comes with a carrying pouch for protection and it has that "old school" feel, not some flimsy cheapo tool. This protractor is a solid tool, accurate, and a pleasure to use. I use it for setting table saw fence and miter gauge alignment, and I check the lineup of my Festool MFT track, and any angle that needs stetting I always check for square and with this Starrett 4041-12 it is a snap. I keep it within reach and always verify my setups. There nothing better than knowing that you are dead on every time. I have other devices that serve the same function, even digital ones but tins is the one sitting right where I am working, always, and I trust it implicitly it does not let me make mistakes. I think one reason that I choose this is that it just feels right in your hands the movement is firm and smooth and you know you can trust it. Although the movement is quite firm and retains it's setting well, it can be prone to accidental movement as there is no physical lock so you need be careful if you are taking the measurement to another place, this is not a problem as it holds the setting as long as you don't somehow bump the protractor and move the setting. I don't even worry about that as there is nothing wrong with working carefully, in fact that is a plus you ought to be paying attention to the job at hand. I am most satisfied with this item and highly recommend it to anyone who wants to get serious when dong setups in the shop. Don't accept some crappy plastic substitute, ignore the price, pay the man and be happy knowing you will know the angles for years to come.

Starrett Quality what more could you ask for.

As a Starrett user, I never wavered when it came time to replace an old cheep digital protractor with a Starrett. The Starrett Quality made in the USA is all I needed to see. If this was available when I bought my first one, I would have bought Starrett the first time around. Would I recommend this, A big fat YES.

Best protractor for woodworking

been using this tool for a couple months now at work. Its solid and holds the angle well for transferring to other places or just to read the values. The "miter angle" part of the dial is much more helpful than I expected. Each time I used it to measure an angle, then cut two pieces to the displayed miter angle, the joints have been flawless. I can't fault the dial as it is bigger than most. However, my eyes are sometimes struggling to see which little mark the arrow is pointing to. Assume my only option would for it to have a digital readout, but then the cost would skyrocket. Plan to keep one close to me in my tool box from now on.

A good tool for doing trim work.

Just received the Starrett miter protractor while doing a crown moulding job. One of the outside corners read a 46 1/2 degree miter cut. That's what I cut the crown to and the fit was spot on. Couldn't be any easier. Starrett makes a holster for the larger version of this protractor. Wish they made one for this one.

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