Woodpecker Paolini pocket rules

[Dusty.House]

Woodpecker finally brought the Paolini pocket rule back and it’s now a permanent part of their line:
https://www.woodpeck.com/ppr-2019.html

I’ve wanted one of these for a while but can’t choose between Stainless Steal or Aluminum. I’m leaning towards the SS because it’s thinner.

Feedback from those who already have one would be appreciated.

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dusty.tools

 

[rexdp10]

I'm going with 6" SS Combo at least...maybe full set. 

 

[Mike Goetzke]

Woodpecker finally brought the Paolini pocket rule back and it’s now a permanent part of their line:
https://www.woodpeck.com/ppr-2019.html

I’ve wanted one of these for a while but can’t choose between Stainless Steal or Aluminum. I’m leaning towards the SS because it’s thinner.

Feedback from those who already have one would be appreciated.

——————————
dusty.tools

I've had the 6" aluminum one for few years now. This is my "go-to" rule. I use the depth stop feature all of the time. Here are two minor issues with the aluminum. 1) Since it's somewhat soft material the corners are wearing a bit. 2) It's a bit thick to precisely mark from.

I may give the stainless a try again. I ordered a set of three stainless when they offered them before but I could see a few tell tail grind marks in the base metal. In the right lighting this made the tick marks difficult to see so I returned them. Think I will call them and see if they have the same metal processing as before. For the price they should be flawless.

Mike

 

[Mario Turcot]

Stupid question, why the two locking knobs?

 

[DynaGlide]

Stupid question, why the two locking knobs?

Owning both the Kreg multi tool and now the Paolini, my guess for the second knob is due to the design to keep the 'collar' square to the rule.

 

[Mario Turcot]

Stupid question, why the two locking knobs?

Owning both the Kreg multi tool and now the Paolini, my guess for the second knob is due to the design to keep the 'collar' square to the rule.

Thanks Matt, if I understand the collar can go skew if not both screws are touching the rule right?

I was wondering because i know you can use the collar/stop to make the rule to stand on it's own so I was thinking perhaps  a double purpose for both screws.

 

[DynaGlide]

Stupid question, why the two locking knobs?

Owning both the Kreg multi tool and now the Paolini, my guess for the second knob is due to the design to keep the 'collar' square to the rule.

Thanks Matt, if I understand the collar can go skew if not both screws are touching the rule right?

I was wondering because i know you can use the collar/stop to make the rule to stand on it's own so I was thinking perhaps  a double purpose for both screws.

AFAIK the screws do nothing when the stop collar is used to hold the ruler up for measuring. I picked up a special version of this SS rule during my class last week with Greg. Only sold to students and it was a bit cheaper than from Woodpecker. Or astronomically more expensive if you factor in the class cost.  ;D

 

[Cheese]

I’ve wanted one of these for a while but can’t choose between Stainless Steal or Aluminum. I’m leaning towards the SS because it’s thinner.

Feedback from those who already have one would be appreciated.

I purchased the original aluminum version in 2011 when they first came out. It was pretty handy but the blade thickness was always an issue. I then purchased the stainless version when it was released about 3-4 years later. What a huge difference.

I actually now use the stainless version quite often and also purchased the metric version.

I sold the aluminum Paolini immediately after receiving the stainless version.

 

[sancho57]

Interesting, I bought the SS one from Greg when I took his class. He only had the SS ones available for sale but the aluminum one we used in the class.

When WP first introduced the Paolini rule the first time I thought yea right a gimicky tool. After taking the class from Greg and using it like I said I bought one from greg right in the class.

This time I bought the set of aluminum ones. I liked the feel of the thicker material.

 

[cpw]

I have a 12” aluminum combo scale and a 6” imperial stainless. I hardly ever use the aluminum, but do like the stainless.

 

[DashZero]

Any disadvantage to combo over having a separate metric and separate imperial?

 

[demographic]

Seems a slightly poor relation to a combination square, what advantage does it have?
I'm possibly missing something here but a combination square is pretty much standard fare for carpenters over in the UK.
Personally I carry a 150mm one in my toolbags cos it does 90% of what I need then I have a 400mm one in my cordless drill box.
The 300mm ones are OK but I find if I carry one in my toolbag it jabs me in the leg/side/tummy when I bend down. I got sick of the damn thing.

Possibly the workshop wallahs find things different?

 

[derekcohen]

There are sooooo mannnny similar set ups on the market, and many for much less $$.

One could just use a Starrett combination square. It does the same thing!

Or there is a Veritas sliding square, which looks so much more sensitible as a layout tool when in the workshop ...

Remove the blade and you can use the end as a height gauge as well.

... or their Ruler Stop, which I have used from pre-production times ...

Honestly, I usually grab a combination square most of the time.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[RKA]

[member=51145]demographic[/member] The main attraction for me is how light and slim it is compared to a combination square (6”).  I can slip it in a pocket and it’s always close at hand.  That Lee valley rule stop Derek posted is a great alternative. 

 

[Cheese]

Seems a slightly poor relation to a combination square, what advantage does it have?
I'm possibly missing something here but a combination square is pretty much standard fare for carpenters over in the UK.

Possibly the workshop wallahs find things different?

Actually I prefer using the Starretts for the workshop. As long as I have a bench to lay them on, I'll use the 12" Starrett and the 6" Starrett and for some jobs use both of them at the same time.

Where the Paolini works well is when you need to carry it in a shirt/apron pocket or when using it on a ladder or scaffolding. The Paolini also works well in wet/damp conditions which I would never subject a Starrett to.

I've ruined a 12" forged Starrett and cracked a 6" cast Starrett when they slipped out of a pocket/toolbelt and bounced on the concrete.  [crying]

For accuracy the Starrett can't be beat but the Paolini does have a niche to fill because of it's size, weight and materials of construction.

 

[sancho57]

If you take a class from Greg you will use his rule. thats what sold me one it. I dont know of any rule that can be set on edge in its own stand which really comes in handy along with the scale on the end to set router bit and saw blade height .

I think Im going to change my order to all stainless today.

 

[derekcohen]

Why is it important to set it on edge ... to measure the height of a saw blade? It is just as easy - possibly easier - to use a combination square held on the vertical. Many ways to skin a cat ...

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[sancho57]

I changed my order and ordered them in stainless

[member=4358]derekcohen[/member]

very handy bit of kit

 

[derekcohen]

What makes you think that yo cannot do that with any other rule? It does not have to be aligned on the horizontal.

Regards from Perth

Derek

 

[cpw]

Any disadvantage to combo over having a separate metric and separate imperial?

The inch or metric versions have the scales inverted on opposite sides, so you don't have to flip it over, just read the opposite side.  The combo, you might need to flip it over so that it reads right.  I don't really recall this being a problem.

I don't use the combo one that much, really only when I need to read metric; because it is my best metric ruler.

I just think that the 6" smaller stainless form factor is where it excels.  It's always on my bench, and I either grab this one or a saddle square if I want to go over a corner.