Folding rulers.

[Ollie]

I had a festool branded folding rule which is an extremely handy item, well my 2 year old son decided to open it by hinging it the "other " way snapping it off. Oh well I thought and just ordered another straight away as its so useful.

To my surprise the new one was missing a small but useful detail. There is no angle markers on the first and last leaves as there was on my original one. they are made by the same company and are the same in every other respect.

Not a major problem but a bit annoying and I can`t even see that omitting this tiny bit of printing would save any money at all.

Ollie

 

[tiralie]

This folding ruler from Lee Valley has degree markings. I believe it is made by Wiha. Swiss made.
I agree some of Festool's decisions on some products seem odd...
Tim

 

[Ollie]

Hi Tim

That one looks nice, I like the little depth gauge attached at the end, I will see if I can get them in the UK.

Link to the people who make the rules for Festool.   http://www.adga.de/pdfs/adga_en.pdf    Might order my own custom ones.

It is a common problem with the quality of things slipping slowly. I remember my local tool shop used to sell really good tape measures with their logo on which I liked because they had the measurements on both sides. I probably bought one every 6 months or so for many years. Then one day I was in there and thought I may as well grab a new tape. To my surprise despite looking exactly the same on the outside and costing the same they only had measurements on one side.
I questioned the shop owner who said he had ordered the same as always and had not even known they were printed differently. Suffice to say I get my tapes somewhere else now.

It is this kind of thing that ends up with Stanley making plastic handled out of square blunt planes and loosing their reputation almost entirely.

Rant over.

Ollie

 

[tiralie]

That one looks nice, I like the little depth gauge attached at the end, I will see if I can get them in the UK.

The depth gauge when snapped into a spot on the ruler will give you your angles. The ruler is a bit "bendy" compared to the wooden ones I like but I like how firm the section snap open or extend and the angle feature is really handy.

It is this kind of thing that ends up with Stanley making plastic handled out of square blunt planes and loosing their reputation almost entirely.

Agreed. Hopefully Festool does not fall prey to this trend. Quality saves you money in the long run. I hate wasting time having to buy new stuff all the time.
Tim

 

[Jak147]

I have one of them withal rules, and while it is very good, I have to say that the black depth gauge/angle measure is a real pain. I can't say I have ever used it and it makes the first leaf useless for actual measuring. IMHO you are better off without it, my next rule certainly won't have that feature

 

[demographic]

Slightly different thing but I have a metal folding Line of Chords rule which when used in conjunction with a set of dividers gives very accurate angle measurements (half a degree anyway) upto about 120 degrees (after 120 degrees you measure from the other side and subtract).

Its also got a circumference measure which gives a measurement of circumference if you measure across the diameter of a circular item.

 

[sancho57]

I had a festool branded folding rule which is an extremely handy item, well my 2 year old son decided to open it by hinging it the "other " way snapping it off. Oh well I thought and just ordered another straight away as its so useful.

To my surprise the new one was missing a small but useful detail. There is no angle markers on the first and last leaves as there was on my original one. they are made by the same company and are the same in every other respect.

Not a major problem but a bit annoying and I can`t even see that omitting this tiny bit of printing would save any money at all.

Ollie

Where do you live? I have a extra one lying about. Phil handed a bunch out at my last get together/ bbq.

 

[Stone Message]

I am not a fan of folding rulers mainly due to my eyesight not being good enough to handle the parallax issues of astigmatism. My father had a couple of lovely boxwood ones with brass fittings. The design was such that when unfolded each part was in the same plane and would sit flat on a surface.

The nearest I can find to the design is this one:
http://www.builderdepot.co.uk/r-s-t...2_YaI5YxGTMwhP_FMZPrNuJSDN5oxStXeIaArEF8P8HAQ

I have no idea how accurately the markings might be and, being a flat when unfolded style, it is not hugely long.

Peter

 

[sancho57]

I understand perfectly Peter. I don't use mine all the time. I mostly use a flat tape by Fastcap. But folding rules do have their place.

 

[Stone Message]

I understand perfectly Peter. I don't use mine all the time. I mostly use a flat tape by Fastcap. But folding rules do have their place.

Hi Ron

Yes, Dad used his a lot but he was making roofs the old fashioned way or big doors. He always had a tape rule too.

Peter