Rulers – my pet peeve

[Ian PParticipant @ianp]

Posted by NJH on 11/02/2012 12:28:34:

Hi Michael

 

I have sent you a message. ( Look in ” My Messages” in “My Account” at the top left of the home page )

 

Regards

 

Norman

 

 

Norman

 

Dont keep it a secret!

 

If you have found a rule that suits Michael, its one that would suit me too. Where can I get one?

 

Ian

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

I found these rules in my Axminster tool store **LINK** both sides have a millimetre and half millimetre scales but one side has the millimetres at the top and the other at the bottom, for metric work they are ideal to my mind. I have no connection to Axminster but I think these rules are nicely made and useful.

Mike

Edited By Mike Poole on 01/04/2019 18:52:30

[Mick HenshallParticipant @mickhenshall99321]

I would like a hook ruler but prices are extortionate, easy enough to alter a normal rule I think

Mick 🇬🇧

[Nigel Graham 2Participant @nigelgraham2]

It's not only rules whose graduations shrink with age. Try reading one of the original Myford die-cast dials in anything but perfect lighting!

Really, the answer is good light and magnifying-glass.

Not long ago, in Aldis or Lidls, I picked up a neat illuminated lens, about 100mm dia., on an adjustable stand combined with a soldering-iron rest. The engineering is rough-and-ready but optically it is of fair standard for the price, and lit by a self-contained l.e.d. unit with AA or AAA cells. I forget what I paid, but I'm fairly sure it was well <£30.

The magnifier can be removed from the stand and replaced without harm to either, so could readily be fitted to a magnetic dial-indicator stand or other appropriate column for machine-tool or marking-out viewing.

.

One of my most useful rules is part of a delightfully antique-looking combination-square, and only 4" long by about 1/2" wide; with the 90/45º square sized pro-rata! I do not know its provenance, or if it ever had a protractor. It is very compact for measuring on the lathe or mill, but for easier reading, if the work-piece geometry allows, I sometimes use it on its square as a depth-rule.

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Why do most rules measure from the left ? Often you need to measure from the right, and just have to work upside down. Personaly, I use a cheapo aluminium rule marked off in 1/8"s (I think they were originally called "blind man's rules&quot however the painted etchings are now getting a bit worn off. I ought to treat myself to a new one next time in the UK.

[PlasmaParticipant @plasma]

I like the scale on the rule in Spurrys post , I've seen them but didn't appreciate why the tapered graduations were there.

I have some rules with slot graduations on the short end, as discussed before, ideal for some jobs.

I also have some rules with the numbers engraved so that it can be read when vertical without having to crank your neck round like an owl. Fabulous for setting surface gauges etc.

[Brian GParticipant @briang]

I bought a 100mm rule, clearly marked, handy for working around a machine but only graduated on one face! Instead of the reverse being used for imperial, right-left measurement, putting 1/2mm on the opposite side of the rule or even a set of handy conversion tables, it just says "Axminster".

WHY?

Brian

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Why? Why cheapness of manufacture of course. Half the cost. Same price. Bingo.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Brian G on 02/04/2019 07:42:34:

I bought a 100mm rule, clearly marked, handy for working around a machine but only graduated on one face! Instead of the reverse being used for imperial, right-left measurement, putting 1/2mm on the opposite side of the rule or even a set of handy conversion tables, it just says "Axminster".

WHY?

Brian

.

That's the side that faces the carpet

MichaelG.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by Mick Henshall on 01/04/2019 21:07:29:

I would like a hook ruler but prices are extortionate, easy enough to alter a normal rule I think

Mick 🇬🇧

I have one but it's marked in picas and points one side and millimeters the other.

And its called a printer's gauge, so neither a rule nor ruler. Go figure.

To add to the confusion, Australian printers call a pica an "emm", but a true "emm" space is a different dimension to a pica, based on the width of a letter M.

[Brian GParticipant @briang]

Posted by Hopper on 02/04/2019 07:58:09:

Why? Why cheapness of manufacture of course. Half the cost. Same price. Bingo.

If it was plain on the back I would agree, but as both sides are marked there isn't a cost saving. I'm reluctant to cut down a 64R but it is starting to appeal.

Brian

[Mick B1Participant @mickb1]

I carry two 6" flexible steel rules in my top pocket, one satin and one black. In most lighting conditions I find the black one with white markings easiest to read.

The problem I find is getting a replacement for the black one as it gets worn. I have a good one at present, but all it says on it apart from the graduations and the standard 20 C statement is 'Stainless' and 'Made In Taiwan'. I wish I could get another, because it's lasted far longer than the Products Engineering black version I had, which is the only black rule that seems to be generally available – that started to lose its finish and get shiny and spotted after I used it for the engineer's legitimate purpose of stirring me cuppa!

You'd think the designers had never factored that in to the spec…

Edited By Mick B1 on 02/04/2019 08:50:39

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, well these are my absolute favourite types of rules.

Regards Nick.

[BazyleParticipant @bazyle]

I had a nice red plastic with white markings 6in ruler with our company name on it. It was red because that is the company colour but it was convenient and easy to read. I must see if I can get PR people to do another run. It was a ruler not a rule but still useful for some things. The two halves are still around somewhere.

[Ian Bradley 7Participant @ianbradley7]

I'm 70 now and I still have the 6" and 12" rulers that I bought in my first year of engineering apprenticeship, they are inches on one side and metric on the other made by Rabone Chesterman. They are both shiny and well worn now and my eyesight is not what it was I could do with one graduated in 1/4 inches now Ha ha.

[Chris TriceParticipant @christrice43267]

I would urge people to check their rules, particularly plastic and cheap ones, for accuracy against a known good one. You'd be surprised at some of the variance.

[AdrianRParticipant @adrianr18614]

Maybe some enterprising chap with a CNC mill should read all the comments and start knocking out the perfect rule(r)

[Peter G. ShawParticipant @peterg-shaw75338]

Chris,

I have a number, 6 I think it is, of 6 inch/150mm steel rule(r)s. Some were magazine mounts, some, the so-called flexible rules were bought, and one is a Rabone Chesterman No. 64R. Nice rule(r) to use, easy to read, but, compared to the other rule(r)s the metric scale is noticeably out by a small amount. So is it incorrect? Or is it that all the others are incorrect?I should point out that the other 5 appear to be identical.

Incidently, comparison was made by placing them side by side and comparing between say 10mm and 150mm thus avoiding any wear on the end.

It's a long time since I compared them, but I do think, especially as the 64R claims to be standard at 20 degrees C, that I would have checked them after leaving them overnight in a warm room to get them all to the same temperature.

Needless to say, the 64R isn't used for much other than drawing lines!

Peter G. Shaw

[Steven QueenerParticipant @stevenqueener14264]

A link to black 6”

**LINK**

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

MSC in the UK do or at least did those thin black ones, I got mine from there, think they go by the name "Easyview"

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by Steven Queener on 02/04/2019 22:05:48:

A link to black 6”

**LINK**

Thanks for the link. Looks good. And good price at $8.95. But the $20 shipping from US to Australia kills it, for something that could be slipped in a standard envelope with a piece of card folded around it. Course, I could pay the $73 and get it priority shipped! The Yanks have just lost the plot on the shipping costs thing. I'll have to pick one up when I am next over there (Ruler that is, not a Yank.).

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by Chris Trice on 02/04/2019 16:43:58:

I would urge people to check their rules, particularly plastic and cheap ones, for accuracy against a known good one. You'd be surprised at some of the variance.

Actually I would not be that surprised these days. In fact, not surprised at all.

I still use my good old 6" Moore and Wright I was issued as an apprentice.

[JezParticipant @jez]

Posted by Mick Henshall on 01/04/2019 21:07:29:

I would like a hook ruler but prices are extortionate, easy enough to alter a normal rule I think

Mick 🇬🇧

So would I…

Axminster sell one, but the design is appalling.

It's a 150mm ruler, but it's about 154mm long. Nothing wrong with that, except that all the graduations start at the same (hook) end, so if you don't want to use the hook you need another ruler – you can't just turn it around. Further, the graduations are metric. On all 4 edges.

They must have tried *really* hard to design it that badly…

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

I happen to like the Axminster hook rule for the same reason I mentioned the rule that kicked this thread off again, I feel that a rule with metric and imperial scales is just too much of a compromise and the chance of having the scale you want on the edge you need is going to be rare. John mentioned he had a substantial collection of rules that didn’t suit his needs but did eventually find a supplier of his dream rule. As with most things our personal preference is likely to be different from next mans, one thing is true and that is there is a wide choice of rules out there so you just have to find the ones that tick your selection boxes.

Mike

[Bill Davies 2Participant @billdavies2]

Spurry's rule rings a bell (some way back). I once had a hardwood rule with 'triangular' divisions, I think it was an NPL (National Physical Laboratory) design. A great rule but eventually was broken. I found it much easier to read than graduations of the same length (which I think are always too long). And I agree with all the previous comments about 1/2 mm graduations, but perhaps that's also the 'too long' problem..

Bill

Edited By Bill Davies 2 on 03/04/2019 21:48:49

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