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Folding wooden rule.......metric.

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Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby Mike G » 28 Nov 2020, 19:35

You know, like the old Rabone wood and brass jobbies. I'm pretty sure I could find a plastic version that is metric, but I'd like a wooden one. Does anyone know if any such thing exists (and fully metric, not metric one edge and imperial the other)? I'm getting tired of flopping tapes, worn-off lettering, and having to hold the hook end carefully to make it work.
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby AJB Temple » 28 Nov 2020, 19:42

Don't like: wood, engines, electrickery, decorating, tiling, laying stone, plumbing, gardening or any kind of DIY. Not wild about spiders either.
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby Nico Adie » 28 Nov 2020, 20:00

If for whatever reason you’d like an older one (or don’t want to buy from amazon) try searching for Regle Pliante (French) or Zollstock (German) on ebay.
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby Mike G » 28 Nov 2020, 20:23

Thanks guys, that's brilliant. :eusa-clap:
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby PAC1 » 28 Nov 2020, 20:37

The Stabila white folding rule is made of beech. It is coated white with black markings making it very readable to Gentlemen of a certain age. It has certainly been invaluable to me the last several years. It is available at Axminster and several other good outlets.
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby MJ80 » 28 Nov 2020, 21:04

I have a few and hate them. They given them out at the sawmills etc here. They don't fold or lay flat like the Ramble. When they are laid out they go up and down like a little set of stairs. I can't get with them for the life of me, I don't find them accurate. There are some neat tricks with them, quick squares, running boards, opening beers...But they don't use steel measures here, life only goes in 2 meter lengths.
If you want I can send you one to play with.
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby Mike G » 28 Nov 2020, 21:05

We really need a "thanks" button here.
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby Craig Salisbury » 29 Nov 2020, 08:53

Mike G wrote:We really need a "thanks" button here.

I think that would mean new forum software Mike
- I am not grumpy, im pragmatic
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby Woodbloke » 02 Dec 2020, 23:29

Here you go Mike; brand spanking new!

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Vintage-1970 ... SwaJpflBkN

I was tempted myself with this one :D - Rob
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby Mike G » 03 Dec 2020, 14:37

A fellow forumite has very kindly popped one in the post for me, for which I am very grateful. He can identify himself if he wants. Otherwise, that looks ideal, Rob.
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby MattS » 03 Dec 2020, 22:02

I’ve just dismissed these without a thought until recently when I’ve been working with some German shop fitters and they have them in their pockets and use them all the time. Made me think one could be useful as well.
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby MJ80 » 04 Dec 2020, 07:32

MattS wrote:I’ve just dismissed these without a thought until recently when I’ve been working with some German shop fitters and they have them in their pockets and use them all the time. Made me think one could be useful as well.


Didn't it make you feel how insane they are constantly folding and unfolding the things, then getting stuck when something is longer than 2 meters! I've been trying for years to get on with then, they drive me insane, now I am just converting the Germans to a steel tape measures, much easier. Its been like showing a caveman the wheel. I hope it arrives with you soon Mike, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it after a couple of weeks.
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby Mike G » 04 Dec 2020, 07:45

I'll let you know when it arrives Marcus.........and many thanks again.

Yep, it will be for bench work only. A tape is brilliant for DIY and building site work, but at a bench the missing first 15mm and the print wearing off the edges of the tape, plus the tendency of the body of the tape to fall over, twisting the tape when one hand is holding it at the 100 or 200mm mark and the other is holding a pencil or knife, just makes for endless frustration.
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby MJ80 » 04 Dec 2020, 07:59

I have a selection of steel rules I generally use on the bench plus I always have a short ruler with me. I gave up with them completely when I was setting out a double kite winder the other winter.
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby Mike G » 04 Dec 2020, 08:24

I have two or three steel rules, one of which has the gradations starting right at the end.....but is very difficult to read. I guess there must be a way of remarking the markings (which are incised). Also, if I'm using a marking knife I'd rather not use a steel rule because clumsiness leads to more resharpening.
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby MJ80 » 04 Dec 2020, 08:35

Those half mm marks do my head in, even with my glasses on!
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby MattS » 04 Dec 2020, 10:06

MJ80 wrote:
MattS wrote:I’ve just dismissed these without a thought until recently when I’ve been working with some German shop fitters and they have them in their pockets and use them all the time. Made me think one could be useful as well.


Didn't it make you feel how insane they are constantly folding and unfolding the things, then getting stuck when something is longer than 2 meters! I've been trying for years to get on with then, they drive me insane, now I am just converting the Germans to a steel tape measures, much easier. Its been like showing a caveman the wheel. I hope it arrives with you soon Mike, I'd love to hear your thoughts on it after a couple of weeks.


:lol: I know what you mean, when they used them for longer than 2m they really needed a tape! I think both have their uses!
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby Andyp » 04 Dec 2020, 10:11

I remembered last night that I had of these things. My grandad's so probably 80+ years old. I have never used it but it is a keeper for it's sentimental value. Marked Holbro, A209, 5 ft in inches only.

I can remember playing with it in his workshop and it's propensity to pinch the skin on the palm of one's hand while folding it. A trick I have just repeated.

IMG_20201204_094032482.jpg
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cheers
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby Jonathan » 04 Dec 2020, 10:56

MJ80 wrote:Those half mm marks do my head in, even with my glasses on!
I'm with you there, these days it's very difficult to find one without half mm on one edge.

Only time I like the wooden folder is when taking a measurement down from a ceiling.

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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby MJ80 » 04 Dec 2020, 12:54

I will admit with steel tapes measures I do love the metric ones. Being able to accurately read off both edges is such an improvement.
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby Woodbloke » 04 Dec 2020, 14:31

Mike G wrote:I have two or three steel rules, one of which has the gradations starting right at the end.....but is very difficult to read.

Same here but I use a proper 1m R&C stainless steel rule for bench work, liberated as I recollect from an earlier life :eusa-whistle: The other two rules are both decent jobbies from the old firm. I also use a 600mm rule where the graduations go left and right from a zero point in the middle; very handy for marking out stuff from the centre point of a board.
Folding and unfolding those wooden rules though, would probably do my head in as well :D - Rob
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby Malc2098 » 04 Dec 2020, 16:40

My SS brought me back a 600 mm steel rule from Taiwan when he last visited his in-laws.

It has MMs on both sides. Then on one side it's got Imperial inches, and on the other, Taiwanese inches, ten to the foot!!!
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby AndyT » 04 Dec 2020, 17:54

I watched this demo of carving out a bowl from a log recently.

[youtube]0hl-H1KACio[/youtube]

At 22:53 he uses one of those folding rules in quite a nifty way, to measure how thick the bottom of the bowl was. Use this link to jump to it:

https://youtu.be/0hl-H1KACio?t=1374

I've got one that came with our oak flooring fitting kit - metric and Imperial. I quite like it.
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby sammy.se » 04 Dec 2020, 18:31

Mike, I was going to suggest this Festool one:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Festool-Foldin ... 0058HUKXM/

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Then you can officially become a Festool owner :D
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Re: Folding wooden rule.......metric.

Postby Lurker » 04 Dec 2020, 19:00

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