Comments about Staedtler Aluminum T-Squares:

I just got this in the mail. The screws that attach the blade look like they were installed by a chimpanzee. Crooked and kinked. The ends of the aluminum blade were left so rough-sawn that I had to remove the sharp burrs with a file.

A gummed sticker was difficult to remove -- nastiest gummy glue known to humankind. When I resorted to glue remover to get the gummy stuff off, it also smeared the black lacquer that was used for the inch/centimeter marks.

Overall, a poor experience with this Staedtler T-Square. It pains me to see the "Made in the USA" stamp on this thing -- Staedtler should be ashamed.

Comments about Staedtler Aluminum T-Squares:

Aluminum particles rub off the back of this T-square, leaving dark smudges on the paper. At the same time, the printed ruler calibrations rub off the front. Finally, although only a cosmetic problem, the screw heads were completely mangled during assembly.

The best T-squares (and rulers) are made of stainless steel and have the calibrations permanently etched into the surface. They last a lifetime and do as a tool should: make the job easier, not harder. Unfortunately, Blick does not currently offer any of this type.

Between my experience with this Staedtler T-square and with their electric eraser, which another reviewer and I both rated as "junk", I no longer consider Staedtler to be a trustworthy manufacturer. They seem not to care about their products, their customers, or their reputation.

Happily, the complete opposite is true of Blick. My thanks to their excellent customer service department for a prompt, no-hassle refund.