Searching for a good quality, metric-only, 300mm steel ruler

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Donald/john I was just using the tape as an example another would be a scale rule, 1000s of draughtsmen have done accurate work with these for years, all with just one scale per edge and each edge different. Same with engineers who before DROs and CNC managed to mark out work to high accuracy with a rule that does not fit in with what you want. So it's going to be hard to find one that ticks all your boxes.

If you want to mark flat surfaces accurately then think about a scribing calliper that will read to 0.01mm

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

As has been said about other peoples threads, if you can't be constructive or helpful then don't post as it's likely to be deleted

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

Why does it have to be double sided metric? Metric one side imperial the other I can understand but why both sides metric, if you want it to read from right to left turn the rule through 180.000 degrees.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by SillyOldDuffer on 22/03/2022 15:15:22:

…

Is it worth the bother? …

Dave

* I hate the word 'quality' – it's meaningless! …

No it's not worth the bother. A rule like everyone else uses would be just fine. Much more precision work than 1mm is done with the commonly available ruler. 1mm is actually laughably imprecise in most engineering circles. If the OP has difficulty seeing the lines, do like many of us blind old gits do and get a set of head-mounted magnifiers.

Quality: it is meaningless in that context because it is a noun not an adjective. It does not describe tools at all unless preceded by words such as "good" or "poor". / End pedant mode /

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

Posted by Baz on 22/03/2022 16:23:53:

Why does it have to be double sided metric? Metric one side imperial the other I can understand but why both sides metric, if you want it to read from right to left turn the rule through 180.000 degrees.

A very good point indeed.

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

Or there is that interesting numerical algorithm called "subtraction"…

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Does not even need the complication of subtraction or turning the rule 180deg (Numbers will be upside down if you do this which just won't do)

Say you want to measure 157mm.

From left to right. Easy enough as you put the zero on the starting point at the left and then a mark at 157mm.

Now if you want to go right to left. Just put the 157 on the starting point at the right and mark off at zero.

Rule stays the same way up, is not rotated and does not need a scale on any other edge.

[Ady1Participant @ady1]

You guys should have your own radio show

A perfect fusion of yes minister university challenge and monty python

Edited By Ady1 on 22/03/2022 18:14:31

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

**LINK**
This thread covered much ground with regard to the perfect rule, it may be worth looking at the suppliers mentioned in the thread.

Mike

[David NobleParticipant @davidnoble71990]

Posted by Ady1 on 22/03/2022 17:59:12:

You guys should have your own radio show

A perfect fusion of yes minister university challenge and monty python

Edited By Ady1 on 22/03/2022 18:14:31

Best one yet

David

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi Donald, there's a second hand one Rabone Chesterman No. 49 which might get you started until you find your ideal one, it doesn't look too bad for a Tenner.

Regards Nick.

[BazParticipant @baz89810]

Is it a Rule or is it a Ruler, I have a rule, don’t tell her indoors what it cost, and the Queen is a ruler, so what is the correct name for this metric calibrated straight edge?

[blowlampParticipant @blowlamp]

Have you thought of drawing one yourself and having it made?

Martin.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by Baz on 22/03/2022 19:08:57:

Is it a Rule or is it a Ruler, I have a rule, don’t tell her indoors what it cost, and the Queen is a ruler, so what is the correct name for this metric calibrated straight edge?

.

Wonkee Donkee explains it [maybe correctly, maybe not] : **LINK**

What is a rule?

[quote] … a rule, usually, measures straight from its edge; a ruler starts its measurement a little way in from the edge. [/quote] 

MichaelG.

Edited By Michael Gilligan on 22/03/2022 19:58:52

[MacolmParticipant @macolm]

Search for Starrett C331, though perhaps only available easily in USA. It has 1mm graduations one edge, and short 0.5mm on the other, and is 300mm long so can readily be used reversed. Not cheap!

Edited By Macolm on 22/03/2022 21:19:44

[SillyOldDufferModerator @sillyoldduffer]

Posted by Baz on 22/03/2022 19:08:57:

Is it a Rule or is it a Ruler, I have a rule, don’t tell her indoors what it cost, and the Queen is a ruler, so what is the correct name for this metric calibrated straight edge?

Beaten into me at school that a ruler is wrong. Fine and dandy except the older I get the more I realise much of what I was taught at school was wonky. If enough people call them rulers, then it becomes correct.

Dave

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

When in doubt about words, consult a dictionary. Both of mine, paper and ink type, say a ruler is a straight edge with measuring graduations on it. Or it can be HRH etc. Both are acceptable to messrs Webster and Macquarie.

[Donald MacDonald 1Participant @donaldmacdonald1]

Posted by Hopper on 22/03/2022 16:26:48:

Posted by Baz on 22/03/2022 16:23:53:

Why does it have to be double sided metric? Metric one side imperial the other I can understand but why both sides metric, if you want it to read from right to left turn the rule through 180.000 degrees.

A very good point indeed.

There are time when it stops you having to read upside down. e.g. When you are measuring to the left away from a right surface inside a confined space or box.

> if you want it to read from right to left turn the rule through 180.000 degrees.
And then you have to read upside down.

Rabone Chesterman No. 49 ==> sold out.

> Is it a Rule or is it a Ruler?
I wondered about this too. According to my research, if you are a trademan especially if you are a carpenter or a mason or if you are a self-righteous pedant with a burning desire to feel superior to the rest of the world, then 'rule' is the only name you will accept for the calibrated, straight-edge device they use for marking lines.

For all the rest of the known universe, we are perfectly happy to call it a 'ruler'.

But Wonkee Donkee could be right – who knows? Or as I now suspect, WAS right once but being a living thing, the language has now evolved.

> Have you thought of drawing one yourself and having it made?
Nope.

> Starrett C331
As per my original question, I would prefer to not 0.5mm and to not waste a side on Inches.

Don
 

PS It seems that some people don't understand what "good quality" means. So to get clear what I meant was a reasonable balance of things like:
– clear markings that are durable and won't rub off over time 
– tempered stainless steel that is flexible, springy and won't rust easily
– has an easy-to-read surface – ideally one that scatters light rather than reflects light like a mirror
– made to an accuracy of say better than 0.25mm
– straight/cutting edges that seem to be dead-straight 
– edges that aren't so sharp that they risk cutting your hand open
…that sort of thing.

 

Edited By Donald MacDonald 1 on 23/03/2022 00:32:11

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

**LINK**

[Donald MacDonald 1Participant @donaldmacdonald1]

Posted by Dave S on 22/03/2022 12:49:22:

I would suggest you look at a Maun Safety Rule: Maun rule

Dave

Hmmm… I'm having a second look at this. On the upside, as well as avoiding knife jumping problem, the design seems to avoid parallax like nothing else.

But I am I correct in thinking the markings create little kicks when you try to draw a straight line?
Also the far side seems harder to use.

[Donald MacDonald 1Participant @donaldmacdonald1]

Posted by Jon Lawes on 23/03/2022 00:07:52:

**LINK**

Either the photo is terrible or the rules themselves are extremely hard to read.
There also seems to be a lot of 0.5mm markings…

[Jon LawesParticipant @jonlawes51698]

Posted by Donald MacDonald 1 on 23/03/2022 01:12:18:

Posted by Jon Lawes on 23/03/2022 00:07:52:

**LINK**

Either the photo is terrible or the rules themselves are extremely hard to read.
There also seems to be a lot of 0.5mm markings…

I just linked to a Rabone Chesterman 49, as you mentioned they are sold out I located a second hand one.

[HopperParticipant @hopper]

This thread sums up much of what is wrong with the consumer society today. The OP has a problem. So the first instinctive solution is look for some consumer item to buy to solve the problem. Followed by myriad suggestions for the perfect consumer item that will "do it all" and provide that lovely Golidlocks moment of "Just right!" and resulting shot of very addictive dopamine to the brain.

Instead of looking at what skills could be developed with a little effort to overcome the problem using existing consumer items in the OP's workshop.

Reading a ruler upside down is not that hard. It is a skill, albeit a fairly minor one, and any skill can be learned and then taken to a higher level through practice. It would not take much time at all to learn the skill and practice it until it became second nature.

I can read whole novels upside down if I want to. Because I once had a job where I often interviewed people across a desk or table and I wanted to read the notes or documents they had in front of them but they did not want to show to me necessarily. So I started reading them upside down and found it a bit faltering but not impossible. So I practiced on documents at my own desk placed upside down. Within days I could read upside down almost as well as right way up. Then at home I started reading novels held upside down and to this day I can read upside down almost as quickly and easily as right way up. The human brain is an amazing thing. But is also a slave to habit. Once you break the habit of only reading right way up and get into the habit of upside down, it is easy. Why would it not be? Reading top to bottom is only a cultural convention and not a natural human action at all.

So I'd suggest the OP take his 300mm ruler to bed with him every night and practice reading it upside down over and over. I guarantee within a week of this bedtime reaing it will be as easy as right way up.

Edited By Hopper on 23/03/2022 07:31:51

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by Pete. on 22/03/2022 00:28:44:

You're unlikely to find a rule with a non slip back, maybe a straight edge, because these are used more for scoring lines, not saying they don't exist, just might be easier to buy a straight edge, and a rule separately.

I have one, just not sure where I got it, and it's metric/imperial.

[Bill PhinnParticipant @billphinn90025]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 23/03/2022 10:49:46:

Posted by Pete. on 22/03/2022 00:28:44:

You're unlikely to find a rule with a non slip back, maybe a straight edge, because these are used more for scoring lines, not saying they don't exist, just might be easier to buy a straight edge, and a rule separately.

I have one, just not sure where I got it, and it's metric/imperial.

Yes, I have one too. I seldom use it, though, because the non-slip backing prevents you from sliding the rule/ruler smoothly into position; instead you often have to perform a series of tedious lifting and repositioning operations to get it where you want it. The same would apply if it was a steel straight edge.

I have a suspicion non-slip backings on rules and straight edges are there mostly for novice users who haven't yet learned to push primarily downwards with the pen or knife, rather than downwards and (more than very lightly) sideways at the same time.

 

 

Edited By Bill Phinn on 23/03/2022 12:13:43

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