Some of my models lately have been a little ... off. Nothing really wrong, per se, but I've encountered various minute strangeness whilst building over the last few months - edges not matching up, folds slightly off, that sort of thing (I am really, um, methodical about building, so these this is unusual).

Last night, while cutting out a DJ battlemap for our Friday Evernight game, I realized from where the strangeness comes.


My straight edge ain't straight.


I bought a new straight edge - one of the ones mentioned and have been using it for some months now. Like Mags and Aleph, I had occasional slivers and dust come off it, and periodically I'd run a damp towel to clean it up.

Well, fast forward a few months (and a lot of cutting), it looks like that has had an effect. I was cutting some long cuts last night, and something didn't look right. I was cutting on the side of my mat that has the grid, so I matched up the cut lines against it ... and there was a slight arc inside. I checked all sides (I was cutting big squares) and all of them had the inside bowing. So, I checked my straight edge the same way - and by goodness, it had it, too.

I can only guess that months of cutting with it has slowly shaved off tiny bits on the inside, to the point where it is actually noticable. So, if you've been using the same straight edge for a while - you might want to check to see if it is still straight.

Robby, are you talking about the safety ruler I use?

I found that my first one has one chewed-up edge, so I just use the other side. Also, I bought a backup, since they're so cheap; only $2!

Ok, then, I only use the Helix or C-Thru Stainless Steel rulers. The 6" Helix the most unless it is a long cut or fold then if easy cut it's the CutterBee papercutter or the 18" C-Thru.

I stick with a steel rule.

The Auld Grump

Is this one of those double entendre questions I've heard so much about?