Rulers, Square etc for new wood worker - Metric??

[sofa_king_rad]

I picked up a 32" WOodpeckers T-Square and love using it compared to my cheapo empire.

Now I want more. I bought a 12 Rule in Metric and love it...now I want to do more metric...SOOO much quicker to find halfs, lol.

However, I don't really think in metrics or know the comparisons off top of my head, so curious if many in the states use metric?

Any woodpecker tools you can't live without?

 

[nclemmons]

Check out the Paolini Pocket Rule.  It's useful and great in stainless.  I prefer imperial even though I use metric when making cabinets, largely because of the 32mm system.

I have their long 4' ruler, their T-Square and the large square. 

 

[Max Fracas]

I just ordered the 200mm Paolini ruler in stainless.  I prefer the thinner blade the stainless has over the thicker aluminum.  I bought the 200mm because I use a Kreg multipurpose marking tool and wanted something similar in a longer length (the Kreg is 6"/150mm).  If you don't want to spring for the Paolini, I'd definitely recommend the Kreg tool.  It's inexpensive and has both imperial and metric markings.  Plus a level bubble I've never used. 

I have the Woodpecker 1281 square (300mm), the 600mm t-square, and the 450mm precision framing square.  I like all of them, but I use the 600mm t-square more than the others.

My 12" Starrett combo square is a great tool, and since I switched to metric I've been thinking of getting a metric blade for it.  Those are pricey.  If the 200mm Paolini works well, it'll be cheaper than the blade for the Starrett. 

 

[McNally Family]

In keeping with my goal of learning the metric system myself and teaching my Son as well, tools that show both Metric and Imperial measurements:

1) Starrett C434ME-300 300 and 11-3/4" Combination Set with Square, Center and Reversible Protractor Head and BladeOPL

2) Mitutoyo 500-197-30 Advanced Onsite Sensor (AOS) Absolute Scale Digital Caliper, 0 to 8"/0 to 200mm Measuring Range 

3) Mitutoyo 950-300, Pocket Steel Rule, 6"/150mm (1/64"/1mm), 1/2" Wide, With Pocket Clip

 

[Stone Message]

Check out the Incra range and in particular the Precision T Rule - simply brilliant.

Peter

 

[Paul G]

http://www.woodpeck.com/psq2015.html
http://www.woodpeck.com/sawgauge.html

As for metric or not, if you can deal with constantly converting then go for it.

 

[Paul G]

Check out the Incra range and in particular the Precision T Rule - simply brilliant.

Peter

Is this what you're referring to?http://www.woodpeck.com/incraprot.html

 

[ear3]

You can also keep an eye out on ebay, craigslist, or even post a WTB listing here on the FOG for the large precision framing squares Woodpeckers has made twice as a OTT, one in 18" and one in 26".  I use the 26" all the time when working in sheet goods to square up my cuts.  It's worth every penny.  The metric versions are 450mm and 660mm.
http://www.woodpeck.com/psq2015.html

 

[rvieceli]

Paul - That's it... but go straight to the source at Incra.

cheaper and faster shipping. plus sign up for emails and I think you get 10 or 15% off your first order.
https://www.incrementaltools.com/Articles.asp?ID=160

Ron

 

[Stone Message]

Check out the Incra range and in particular the Precision T Rule - simply brilliant.

Peter

Is this what you're referring to?http://www.woodpeck.com/incraprot.html

Hi Paul,

Mine is metric and is slightly slimmer but it is essentially the same. It gives you the opportunity to put a 0.5 mm line with its centre at 0.25 mm increments from the edge of the "T".

It is brilliant for doing Domino layout marking.

I cover it in my measuring and marking video:


Peter

 

[sofa_king_rad]

incra piece looks awesome, would you suggest 12" or 6" or both?

 

[Stone Message]

incra piece looks awesome, would you suggest 12" or 6" or both?

I have both - in fact mine are metric and are the 150 mm and 300 mm versions. I bought the 300 mm first and then realised that it was a bit floppy for short work, but otherwise perfectly useable, and then got the 150 mm for shorter marking tasks. I need both and love them both.

Peter

 

[sofa_king_rad]

I went ahead and ordered the:
* Precision T-Rule 6"
* Precision T-Rule 12"
*Center12 Centering Rule
*Rule12 - 12" Marking Rule.

 

[Stone Message]

I went ahead and ordered the:
* Precision T-Rule 6"
* Precision T-Rule 12"
*Center12 Centering Rule
*Rule12 - 12" Marking Rule.

You will be delighted - I have not seen anything made by Incra that I do not like - but I have not seen everything !

Peter

 

[GhostFist]

half of 3/4 is 3/8
half of 3/8 is 3/16
half of 3/16 is 3/32
half of 3/32 is 3/64

 

[JimD]

I have the 12 inch t rule and use it a lot.  I don't have a domino, yet, but I like it for the track saw.  It is so accurate getting the mark in the right place becomes the limiting factor. 

 

[Anderson-Plywood]

You can also consider the Anderson MFT Square if you have a MFT table.

Anderson MFT Square

 

[ear3]

Had an experience yesterday where I was reminded how valuable the larger Woodpeckers precision squares are.  Was called in on short notice to clean up someone else's mess -- wall to wall and floor to ceiling built in shelving for a large walk-in closet.  Job had originally been offered to me, but I've been so busy with work that I couldn't spare the week it would have taken to design, build and install it.  But apparently the other guys didn't work out so well.  It was really shocking what I found when I got there -- the place was a crime scene.  Rather than building some sort of casement that would anchor the almost ten foot verticals at the top and bottom and then allow adjustable shelving, the design (which was the original sin at the root of all the problems) called for free standing verticals where the shelves themselves would be screwed in to the verticals (either from the sides or using pocket screws in the shelf itself) and tie them to each other.  The shelf supports were just 3/4 x 3/4 strips of ply.  So the previous guy thought it would be smart to make the strips, which were about 14" in length to support the 18" deep shelves, using a jigsaw!  You can imagine how straight those were.  I wasn't adequately briefed before walking in (I had been led to believe that all the components were fabricated, and well), otherwise I would have brought my MFT, which would have made short work of batching out these supports.  But I did have my 18" Woodpeckers square and the TSC55.  So using the square I was able to quickly align the rail straight on various pieces of scrap and fabricated 30+ of these narrow strips in about a half hr.  Then used the square to align the supports for attaching them to the verticals before putting them up.

That square is worth it's weight in gold.

Gonna finish up on Monday.  The finished product will not be something I'm be proud of -- I doubt I will use pictures of it in my portfolio -- but at least it won't be the disaster it was heading towards.  And I learned a good lesson about not taking a job like this in the future unless I've built all the components myself.

 

[Anderson-Plywood]

Just to let you know that we made a video showing how to square the MFT table with the Anderson layout square:

 

[Neal W]

Training your standard brain to see in metric isn't particularly hard once you make yourself do it. Most of us can eyeball about an inch or even 4 inches. An inch is 25.4 mm. So 4" is roughly 100 mm and then the math gets easy. A foot, 300, a yard 900. It isn't precise but you don't "see" precise imperial measurements either.

That's what your tape measure and rulers are for.

And the math is much easier when you use metric. And I think I can get much more accurate when not thinking in fractions. 

So when you are looking at something to get a good idea just remember those rough estimates and you'll have a good idea.