Heavy duty mini ruler

[guitarbutt]

I'm looking for a specific ruler and having no luck. Accuracy and thickness are the most important things. I want it to be short, 3" to 6". It will be kept in a pocket, so 3" or 4" would be ideal if possible. It needs to be very thick, so there's no chance of flexing.

Does anyone have one of these or know a brand that sells such a thing?

 

[CallumRD1]

How thick is thick? I'm a huge fan of the Mitutoyo 182-105. It's 6" long, 3/4" wide, 0.050" thick, metric and inch, and surprisingly affordable for a precision machinist's scale.

 

[snickers muncher]

I'd just pull the rule out of a combination square.

 

[dscheidt]

if you're planning on putting it in a trousers pocket, anything thin enough to be used accurately will bend when you sit on it. the blade from a small combination square is probably the stiffest you'll easily find, available in whatever level of accuracy you're willing to pay for. Also available with different scales on the edges, so you can have standard and metric on the same rule, or the classic 4r set up (by 1/8, 1/16, 32nd, or 64th, depending on which edge you use.), or a bunch of others.

 

[FigN⋅m]

Accuracy and thickness are the most important things.

That's what she -
Anyway, I agree with above by using a combo square ruler. Most have 1/32" markings if that's enough?
Otherwise it sounds like you're looking for a piece of angle iron with a ruler glued to it...

 

[RTM]

You can get replacement blades for a 4” square from PEC and others, but you lose the pocket clip.

https://www.amazon.com/PEC-7181-004-Replacement-Squares-Graduations/dp/B07RV3BM72?tag=atomicindus08-20

I have a 6” PEC rule that has nice beef, but again no clip, but much cheaper. Marked to 1/100”

I think if you don’t need the clip, take the pocket out of your search, you will find nicer ones.

Pardon Our Interruption

 

[neophyte]

I'd just pull the rule out of a combination square.

This.
The rule from a Starrett 4” combination square would be accurate, and incredibly tough.
There are also metric version in a similar size.

 

[dcummer]

It needs to be very thick, so there's no chance of flexing.

Does anyone have one of these or know a brand that sells such a thing?

Starrett makes (has made?) some excellent examples. Several different markings to choose from. My favorite is the c607R-6, it has 16ths, 32nds, 64ths, and 100ths. .042" thick and will not take a bend, flexes very little. Engraved and black filled. Got my first one in 1978, and I bought one last year on the 'Bay. It's marked The L.S.Starrett Co Athol Mass USA, and Made in U.S.A.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

County Comm has two titanium ones. One is super thick and the other is flexible. But it's titanium so it should flex right back.

Indestructible Machined Titanium Precision 6" Inch / 15CM Ruler With D

Our development team is consistently using rulers and we are constantly destroying rulers. That will now change thanks to the new machined indestructible titanium pocket ruler from Maratac®. So rugged it could be used as a kubaton if needed! Made from solid Ti-6Al-4V Grade 5 aerospace Titanium...

countycomm.com

I prefer this second one:

Original Titanium Precision 6" Inch / 15CM Ruler With Decimal Chart

Our development team is consistently using rulers and we are constantly destroying rulers. That will now change thanks to the new Titanium pocket rules from Maratac®. Made from solid Ti-6Al-4V Grade 5 aerospace Titanium with outstanding benefits: Titanium Rulers resist bending. Titanium is very...

countycomm.com

 

[cannuck]

How accurafe are you trying to be? The thicker the steel, the greater he parallax error. Really accurate scales are bevel edged to bring the indicating lines right down to the surface. (one edit) as is the first of the titanium ones above

 

[Fedwrench]

Epsteins has a slew of metal rulers in several lengths, thicknesses, and units of measure.

Search: 71 results found for "ruler"

The Harry J. Epstein Co. - USA Hand Tools - Surplus/Retail/Liquidation

www.harryepstein.com

 

[danielbuck]

I'm looking for a specific ruler and having no luck. Accuracy and thickness are the most important things. I want it to be short, 3" to 6". It will be kept in a pocket, so 3" or 4" would be ideal if possible. It needs to be very thick, so there's no chance of flexing.

Does anyone have one of these or know a brand that sells such a thing?

what is "very thick" ?

standard 6" machinists rules (maybe 1/16" thick or so?) are fairly rigid, and are probably as accurate as your vision is on the markings. I mean, you won't be using them as a pry tool, but for measuring things they are rigid. I've seen some 1/8" thick short rules before, but I can't seem to find them for sale online. They might have been cut down from larger rules.

Maybe a bit more information on how you are wanting to use it, may help.

 

[guitarbutt]

The titanium ones are intriguing.

I don't want metric markings, I've realized. It'll be used for woodworking. 4" would be preferred, but 6" will be tolerable. Taking the ruler from a combination square is a wise idea. I'm also considering cutting a larger, wider rule down to size

 

[oldschoolcraft]

I don't want metric markings, I've realized. It'll be used for woodworking. 4" would be preferred, but 6" will be tolerable. Taking the ruler from a combination square is a wise idea. I'm also considering cutting a larger, wider rule down to size

Maybe this already exists in this format to buy, but since you mentioned cutting a larger one down, I'd consider a T-Square, and then cutting it down to being only about 6.5 or 7" long. Then I'd round the edge off into a semi-circle where the mid point of the semi-circle is on the 6" line mark, so that you get the full 6" and everything past 6" is just rounded into the semi circle. I'd then use sand paper to grind off any markings past the 6" mark so it didn't look crappy and polish it down so it's just smooth metal on the semi circle end.

 

[Wamsutta]

It's got 1/8 and 1/16 on the other side.

 

[legenddc]

Have you looked at Wodpeckers?

Paolini Pocket Rules & PPR Rack-It

More videos are available in the Video tab below. In the hills of western North Carolina professional woodworker Greg Paolini builds one-of-a-kind commissioned furniture and exquisite custom kitchens. In his spare time, he designs tools to make woodworking faster, easier and more enjoyable...

www.woodpeck.com

Woodpeckers Woodworking Rules

More videos are available in the Video tab below.Woodpeckers Woodworking Rules are straighter, heavier, sit flatter, and are easier to handle than any others on the market. Add to that an engraving tolerance of ±.004" total accumulated error and we’re talking about the finest rules you can put...

www.woodpeck.com

Page not Found - Woodpeckers Inc

www.woodpeck.com

Woodpeckers Pocket T-Squares

More videos are available in the Video tab below. The Woodpeckers Pocket T-Squares simplify joinery layout and deliver exceptional accuracy. Whether you’re laying out mortises, tenons, and rabbets or marking the location of hinges and other cabinet hardware, these innovative Pocket T-Squares...

www.woodpeck.com

 

[mike93lx]

https://www.rockler.com/igaging-hooked-rulers

I have one, it's definitely thick

 

[ATC]

Whoever deleted my post in this thread, please PM me.

 

[cvairwerks]

Starrett B4-4R or CB-4R or CB4-16R blades. The 4R's are 1/8, 1/16, 1/32 and 1/64th graduations while the 16R is 1/32, 1/64. 50th and 100th graduations. They're not cheap, but will last a lifetime.

 

[T444e]

The titanium ones are intriguing.

I don't want metric markings, I've realized. It'll be used for woodworking. 4" would be preferred, but 6" will be tolerable. Taking the ruler from a combination square is a wise idea. I'm also considering cutting a larger, wider rule down to size

Personally, I wouldn't cut down a ruler. I typically align the ruler with the measurement I want to mark at the end of the material and make the mark at the end of the ruler.

I like the Starret satin finish rulers with the 4R scale, easier to read.

 

[RoninB4]

-Much as I like other brands of precision tooling/instruments I prefer the Starrett scales (we don't call them rulers in the shop) in the satin finish (cuts reflective glare) in whatever graduation scheme you want. I like the rigid (thicker) because the graduation marks are cut deeper than most other brands. The more shallow cut graduations tend to wear the paint/ink and wash out faster, likely due to abrasive contact with hands and clothing. Not a big fan of Starrett for most other things but their scales, IMO, are superior to all other brands I've had for the last 30 years. Some of the other lesser known brands are quite nice, I own several, but not for shirt/apron pocket use. JMO

 

[jimf]

I have a couple of rulers from Kinetic Customs (www.kinetic-customs.com). One of my favorites is a 6" ruler that is 1/8" thick; it's pocket size so I use it more often than I thought I would. They make their own rulers, hammers, etc. so their inventory changes all the time. Looks like they're currently stocking a 12" version.

 

[rharman]

As mentioned by @legenddc - Woodpeckers

 

[RTM]

Here is the one I keep on my desk at work

https://www.amazon.com/PEC-Tools-502-006-Rigid-100ths/dp/B0186J1MPI?tag=atomicindus08-20

PEC 502-006 6" 5R gradations 1/32, 1/64, 1/10, 1/100 inches. 0.036" thick

Might see what else they carry that has gradations you need. These a thick, and can be forcibly flexed, but not as much as your typical pocket scale.

402-006E has the 4R gradations that everyone is familiar with.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Epsteins has a slew of metal rulers in several lengths, thicknesses, and units of measure.

Search: 71 results found for "ruler"

The Harry J. Epstein Co. - USA Hand Tools - Surplus/Retail/Liquidation

www.harryepstein.com

I was going to suggest checking out HJE.

 

[seber]

Have you looked at Wodpeckers?

Paolini Pocket Rules & PPR Rack-It

More videos are available in the Video tab below. In the hills of western North Carolina professional woodworker Greg Paolini builds one-of-a-kind commissioned furniture and exquisite custom kitchens. In his spare time, he designs tools to make woodworking faster, easier and more enjoyable...

www.woodpeck.com

Woodpeckers Woodworking Rules

More videos are available in the Video tab below.Woodpeckers Woodworking Rules are straighter, heavier, sit flatter, and are easier to handle than any others on the market. Add to that an engraving tolerance of ±.004" total accumulated error and we’re talking about the finest rules you can put...

www.woodpeck.com

Page not Found - Woodpeckers Inc

www.woodpeck.com

Woodpeckers Pocket T-Squares

More videos are available in the Video tab below. The Woodpeckers Pocket T-Squares simplify joinery layout and deliver exceptional accuracy. Whether you’re laying out mortises, tenons, and rabbets or marking the location of hinges and other cabinet hardware, these innovative Pocket T-Squares...

www.woodpeck.com

All of these are available from TEMU for a fraction of the cost. I prefer US made as much as anyone but these are ripoff prices for something that is actually pretty cheap to make.

 

[mike93lx]

All of these are available from TEMU for a fraction of the cost. I prefer US made as much as anyone but these are ripoff prices for something that is actually pretty cheap to make.

Ripoff copies are available on temu, sure. With worse quality and accuracy, at least based on the videos and reviews I've seen on them

 

[RTM]

All of these are available from TEMU for a fraction of the cost. I prefer US made as much as anyone but these are ripoff prices for something that is actually pretty cheap to make.

Ripoff copies are available on temu, sure. With worse quality and accuracy, at least based on the videos and reviews I've seen on them

If you don’t mind them grabbing all your personal information in your phone, while you get stuff made out of aluminum foil.

No personal experience, just hearing from victims of buying their ****.

 

[seber]

If you don’t mind them grabbing all your personal information in your phone, while you get stuff made out of aluminum foil.

No personal experience, just hearing from victims of buying their ****.

I don't use the phone. You can buy with your computer. You do have protection on it right? I checked my 10" rule from them today. It is 1/4" thick and matches my Starrett as good as my eyes can read.

 

[danski0224]

I would have suggested the "CH Ruler", but it appears to no longer exist.

 

[guitarbutt]

I found something on Rockler that I think will work. Some good suggestions on here too, because who doesn't need more tools

 

[h~moto]

How accurafe are you trying to be? The thicker the steel, the greater he parallax error

To draw a straight line, lay the ruler flat. To get an accurate measurement, place the ruler on its edge. Give it a try, you will be surprised at how accurate of a reading you can get.