Looking for rigid steel 6" and 12" rulers with specific requirements
January 5, 2022 2:20 PM Subscribe
I'm looking for 6" and 12" rigid steel rulers to use for repairs around the house and woodworking with inch and mm graduations in specific styles.
My ideal ruler would be:
* From a reputable brand so I can be confident the graduations are correct the edges are square, etc. (unlike many rulers from brands I've never heard of on Amazon with complaints about these).
* Rigid steel (~3/64" thick).
* One edge with 1/16" (1/32" would be okay too) graduations with eighths, quarters, and halves denoted with progressively longer lines to make them easy to identify (as seen here).
* One edge with 1 mm markings with half centimeters denoted with longer lines (as seen here)
* If it's reversible (which is a plus!) the other two edges can be anything. It also doesn't matter which edges have which graduations.
* Ideally not more than, say, $20 for the 6" and $30 for the 12" so I don't worry about throwing them in my toolbox, using them as a straight edge with a utility knife, etc.
Options I've looked at:
* The Mitutoyo 182-105 is very close except the 1/32" graduations do not have quarters and halves emphasized (which I think would make it harder for me to read at a glance). I haven't checked to see if they have a similar 12" yet. The price is very reasonable too.
* The Starrett C604RE-6 and C604R-12 have a perfect 1/16th inch graduations but no mm graduations , and I don't see any other models that have it alongside mm graduations . They're also more expensive than I'd like.
I'm sure there are other reputable brands I should be looking at but rather than going down a rabbit hole I thought I'd ask you all for help first.
My ideal ruler would be:
* From a reputable brand so I can be confident the graduations are correct the edges are square, etc. (unlike many rulers from brands I've never heard of on Amazon with complaints about these).
* Rigid steel (~3/64" thick).
* One edge with 1/16" (1/32" would be okay too) graduations with eighths, quarters, and halves denoted with progressively longer lines to make them easy to identify (as seen here).
* One edge with 1 mm markings with half centimeters denoted with longer lines (as seen here)
* If it's reversible (which is a plus!) the other two edges can be anything. It also doesn't matter which edges have which graduations.
* Ideally not more than, say, $20 for the 6" and $30 for the 12" so I don't worry about throwing them in my toolbox, using them as a straight edge with a utility knife, etc.
Options I've looked at:
* The Mitutoyo 182-105 is very close except the 1/32" graduations do not have quarters and halves emphasized (which I think would make it harder for me to read at a glance). I haven't checked to see if they have a similar 12" yet. The price is very reasonable too.
* The Starrett C604RE-6 and C604R-12 have a perfect 1/16th inch graduations but no mm graduations , and I don't see any other models that have it alongside mm graduations . They're also more expensive than I'd like.
I'm sure there are other reputable brands I should be looking at but rather than going down a rabbit hole I thought I'd ask you all for help first.
Best answer: How about these PEC 6" and 12" rules?
They're 0.040" thick, so a hair under 3/64. On the imperial side they have 32nd and 64ths increments, with different marking lengths for 64/32/16/4. On the metric side they 1mm and 0.5mm scales, with different marking lengths at half centimeters. Handily on the imperial side they also have numeric callouts. Made in the US. Price is slightly steeper than you're aiming for, but not much: $23 and $46.
posted by jedicus at 2:45 PM on January 5, 2022 [3 favorites]
They're 0.040" thick, so a hair under 3/64. On the imperial side they have 32nd and 64ths increments, with different marking lengths for 64/32/16/4. On the metric side they 1mm and 0.5mm scales, with different marking lengths at half centimeters. Handily on the imperial side they also have numeric callouts. Made in the US. Price is slightly steeper than you're aiming for, but not much: $23 and $46.
posted by jedicus at 2:45 PM on January 5, 2022 [3 favorites]
https://www.mcmaster.com/steel-rulers/
This is my go-to place for this kind of thing.
posted by Brockles at 3:08 PM on January 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
This is my go-to place for this kind of thing.
posted by Brockles at 3:08 PM on January 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
The Fairgate Rule Company products are probably more for drafting but seem to have the same-face mixed-units markings you're looking for: the English - Metric Rules Stainless Steel Cork Backing series starts at 12″ and lacks a specified thickness, the similar 12″ x 1″; 30cm x 2.54cm English/Metric is aluminum, again no thickness listed.
posted by channaher at 3:25 PM on January 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by channaher at 3:25 PM on January 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
This is probably the same thing pipeski is talking about, but here is the 12" Irwin adjustable square with level which incorporates a very sturdy 12" ruler for $12.99. Only an English scale is shown in the pictures but the opposite side is probably metric. And the square and level component can be removed of course. They also make a 6" model for the same price. If you want better and finer scale markings, I suggest looking at Japanese versions of adjustable squares with levels.
posted by jamjam at 3:55 PM on January 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by jamjam at 3:55 PM on January 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
I've seen this brand recommended by woodworkers I trust, hopefully have the style you're looking for: SPI
posted by oddphantom at 4:21 PM on January 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by oddphantom at 4:21 PM on January 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
Best answer: Many English/Metric Rigid Machinist Rulers have the characteristics you want:
PEC Tools English/Metric Rigid Satin Chrome Rulers are made in the US, and are the best and a 6" is 17$ and 27$ for the 12". These are 0.035" thick. The Taylor tool folks have factory seconds that are sold as blemished - and you can just buy a replacement combination square ruler, which is much thicker and 9$ for the 12" model and are going to be very stiff at 0.075 thick. These are my secret to absolutely great measurement instruments for a total steal.
Shinwa rulers are 9.99$ for 6" and 17.99$ for 12 and these conform to Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) B 7516 Grade 1. These are made in Japan and these likely have a little bit of flex and I believe are 0.032” thick.
Benchmark is the budget option 6" is 5$ and the 12 is $7 for a plain and 10$ for a fancy black chrome version.
The Benchmark rulers thickness is 0.04" and 'features' each edge of the imperial side starting at zero.
posted by zenon at 5:26 PM on January 5, 2022 [3 favorites]
- markings that are etched
- edges and ends have been ground parallel, straight, smooth and square
- double sided: On the Metric side the markings are 1mm along one edge and 0.5mm on the other
- on the reverse the imperial has 32nds on one edge and 64ths on the other
PEC Tools English/Metric Rigid Satin Chrome Rulers are made in the US, and are the best and a 6" is 17$ and 27$ for the 12". These are 0.035" thick. The Taylor tool folks have factory seconds that are sold as blemished - and you can just buy a replacement combination square ruler, which is much thicker and 9$ for the 12" model and are going to be very stiff at 0.075 thick. These are my secret to absolutely great measurement instruments for a total steal.
Shinwa rulers are 9.99$ for 6" and 17.99$ for 12 and these conform to Japanese Industrial Standard (JIS) B 7516 Grade 1. These are made in Japan and these likely have a little bit of flex and I believe are 0.032” thick.
Benchmark is the budget option 6" is 5$ and the 12 is $7 for a plain and 10$ for a fancy black chrome version.
The Benchmark rulers thickness is 0.04" and 'features' each edge of the imperial side starting at zero.
posted by zenon at 5:26 PM on January 5, 2022 [3 favorites]
How rigid? I have a metal ruler right here that is steel but it does have some flex when I try to bend. I ask because Blick art supply has a variety but they all say they are flexible. You may have luck going into one of their stores and seeing how much flex they really have.
posted by soelo at 5:36 PM on January 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
posted by soelo at 5:36 PM on January 5, 2022 [1 favorite]
* The Mitutoyo 182-105 is very close except the 1/32" graduations do not have quarters and halves emphasized (which I think would make it harder for me to read at a glance). I haven't checked to see if they have a similar 12" yet. The price is very reasonable too.
They do make a 12" version, the 182-125 with the same 1/32" gradations, with a longer line every 1/8". Grainger has them for $32.50, so not too far out of your price range.
Starrett sells precision rules on their site with 26 different different graduations, but none of them seem to be what you need.
here is the 12" Irwin adjustable square with level which incorporates a very sturdy 12" ruler for $12.99. Only an English scale is shown in the pictures but the opposite side is probably metric.
I might be leery of using this as a combination square for fine work, but based on the Customer questions & answers section, one of the 4 long edges is metric with cm and mm.
On Preview, zenon seems to have your answer, but I had fun spending an hour looking at rulers online.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 5:40 PM on January 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
They do make a 12" version, the 182-125 with the same 1/32" gradations, with a longer line every 1/8". Grainger has them for $32.50, so not too far out of your price range.
Starrett sells precision rules on their site with 26 different different graduations, but none of them seem to be what you need.
here is the 12" Irwin adjustable square with level which incorporates a very sturdy 12" ruler for $12.99. Only an English scale is shown in the pictures but the opposite side is probably metric.
I might be leery of using this as a combination square for fine work, but based on the Customer questions & answers section, one of the 4 long edges is metric with cm and mm.
On Preview, zenon seems to have your answer, but I had fun spending an hour looking at rulers online.
posted by ActingTheGoat at 5:40 PM on January 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
Response by poster: Thanks everybody, there are multiple good options here that will meet my needs well. Plus I have some great resources to look at the next time I’m looking for anything similar!
posted by unus sum at 10:50 PM on January 5, 2022
posted by unus sum at 10:50 PM on January 5, 2022
Response by poster: FWIW I decided the blemished PEC rulers at 1/3 the usual price were too good to pass up and ended up buying several of both lengths.
posted by unus sum at 11:10 PM on January 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
posted by unus sum at 11:10 PM on January 5, 2022 [2 favorites]
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posted by pipeski at 2:44 PM on January 5, 2022 [1 favorite]