A good metric 6" rule so I can use the Festool adjustment markings?

[Dan Lyke]

I'm finally getting beyond fixing up old furniture and doing around the house repairs, and getting on to new stuff. This weekend I built a little box that hangs on the side of our MFT so we're not using valuable top space for laying down clamps, and in the process of cutting the sliding parts that fit in the tracks on the edge of the table, and in adjusting the cheapy dovetail jig (yes, despite everything I've learned from Festool about how worth it it is to buy quality tools, it was under $70 and works just fine for what I want it to do) I realized something:

The Festool markings are all in millimeters (or fractions thereof), and I was using a rule marked in 1/64ths and trying to do conversion back and forth in my head (a hair under four tenths of a mm per 64th), and I really need a good metric 6" rule.

The problem is that all of the ones I've found locally are marked to the millimeter, which is way too coarse for anything but gross carpentry, and I can't imagine what the next increment down would be? Tenths of a millimeter would be close to the limits of human perception, but does anyone make a ruler marked in quarter millimeters (kinda seems silly given the base 10 basis for metric...)? Do I just get a set of metric calipers?

How do y'all deal with this?

 

[Administrator_JSVN]

Dan,

We have a Metric Conversion chart on our website.  It can be downloaded in PDF and printed.  Check it out here:
http://www.mcfeelys.com/tech/metric_conversion.asp

Hope that helps.

 

[Per Swenson]

Here ya go Dan,

but you have to start with the 12.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=32568&cat=1,43513

Per

 

[Ned]

and I can't imagine what the next increment down would be?

Hi Dan,

0.5mm.  All the rules I mention below have at least one half mm scale.  Less than that, you're in digital caliper territory.

I prefer all-metric rules.  It's best to work in one system or the other.

Incra makes metric and combo rules in 150 and 300mm sizes.  Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find them.

Bridge City make some nice rules, though I don't think they have an all-metric one.  I have an SR-24 marked metric on the back that's very useful.  I'd give you a more precise URL, but their non-standard website bugs the hell out of me.

And then there's Starrett.  "Starrett Satin-Chrome Steel Machinists' Rule Rigid, Metric Graduations, 150mm Length, 3/4" Width" with markings on the end of the rule as well.  Item 2117A56, US$20.50, at McMaster and others.  You can easily get a rule of the same size for less than half that, but...

Also, a measuring tape.  5m/16 foot tapes are pretty easy to find.

Ned

 

[clintholeman]

and I really need a good metric 6" rule.

Both Lee Valley [see Per's email] and WoodCraft have metric rules.  Try building your stuff in metric - you'll find it is easier after the first couple of weeks trying to "equate" - you'll like it!

 

[T. Michael]

Agreed; hard to find in this land. 

I'm looking for a 150 mm double square, all metric to help out my Festool project layouts.  Any leads on these?

Mike

 

[Ned]

I'm looking for a 150 mm double square, all metric to help out my Festool project layouts.  Any leads on these?

Mike

Incra makes a 150mm T-rule.  Not the same thing, but covers some of the same ground.

Ned

 

[Dave Ronyak]

For longer measurements, Fastcap offers auto-rewind tape measures with combined inch/ft (USA) and metric scales printed on opposite edges of the face.  Several of their tape measures are also painted with a matte white finish which allows you to mark them as a storystick for your project, and later remove your markings.  I have several differently marked tapes, and the 6"/150 mm Incra T-measure.  The Incra rule is made of very thin SS and thus rather delicate.

 

[MarkusS]

Last year, I bought a Incra-Rule which has a mm-scale. It's 30 cm long and works fine. For longer distances, I've some Starret-rules (various sizes up to 100 cm) and tape measures. Incra and Starret offer rules which are combined inches and mm.

Regards
Markus