Hi Stuart,

You might be able to find the information you want on another post that I’ve made: /bhi-exams-and-the-wostep-course/

Colin

Colin, thanks for the answer! I had not used the wood block. I tried using a 123 steel block but it was marring the edges of the work so I stopped 🙁
I am in the final filing stage where I have less that .002″ to remove (.058mm) and am using draw filing but the two ends have more material than where it is close to the elbow. For the final stage, I might try a diamond plate with a block to keep things square. Then I will use progressively finer wet and dry honing paper. Then, will finish the faces with the honing paper. I like that you stamped your initials and the year. If I get around to practicing engraving, I would engrave it w my name.
I am thinking of blueing the square to help fend off oxidation. We’ll see…. Cheers!

Hey Daniel, thanks for your comment. I found that if you have a decent watchmaker’s vice, then you can set it up in that so that it’s square to the vice and just a small amount is protuding from the top. That makes it easy to keep the top line (that you’re filing) parallel to top edge of the vice and so you can be confident that it’s flat. Draw filing, where you use the file sideways, is essential and helps you to keep it flat and even and it also highlights the high and low spots. Another trick is to use emery paper, you place a the paper flat on a piece of glass and then use a block of square wood that you clamp down on the paper. Then you can hold the try square up to the wood and make back and forth motions along it. You can add some oil, or even water to the paper to make it smoother and help keep it clean. At the end of the day you can only make the square as flat as the tools you’re using, and so you really need a try square to make a try square. It took me around 80 hours or so to finish it, which is probably way too long. I hope that helps.