I've been wondering about the various straight edge rulers out there. Obviously not all are created equal, but are there any that really stand out in the crowd?

I think I may have just found such a thing today at Office Max. It's a 12" Metal Safety Ruler, by Helix (model# 32046). The center is recessed, to protect your fingers, and there's non-slip rubber strips on the bottom, too!







Now, I know a model project isn't complete for some without the letting of blood, or the loss of a fingertip (right, DNA? ). But, I really like the grooved trench down the length of this ruler.

The only things that are a little odd are the 1 3/8" width, and the rubber pads. The pads are non-slip, so I can't just slide the ruler to the next line to cut, but when it's in place, it ain't movin'. Just things to get used to.

I look at the ruler, and I think I am in love. A simple, bland sort of tool love. Still, next time I'm at Office Max, I will make this ruler mine.

Currently I have a cork-backed metal ruler...but the metal portion is wholly flat. Meaning if I want to make a cut that doesn't wander, I have to flip over the ruler, thus losing the cork advantage.

I zapped myself really good the other day even though I count myself as dextrous. Hopefully a ruler like this will save my fingertips and my pride!

I saw this one in the store many months ago and wondered if I should pick it up. I decided to go with the Denny's basics and everything works great. However, let's us know how it turns out. If you think you are getting less wandering cuts (foamcore is my challenge) I might pick it up.

I forgot one very important detail: it's only $1.98!

I've been cutting 1" foamcore squares for my MiniChunk Pro MasterBoard. Getting that 70 degree angle with a normal ruler without sliding around and getting a squirrely cut was tough. With this one, I'm very pleased. Only one of the rubber grip lines is on the 1" square, but that's enough to hold everything in place.

Just be careful when cutting an scoring your cardstock: if you don't lift the ruler, the rubber grips can catch an edge of the cardstock and rumple the very thin top layer. Even so, you can't see any difference after edging.

heh. I even tried to switch back to my original ruler, and it shifted in the middle of one of the first cuts I did. No going back for me!

I got a backup, just in case. I think these may be so cheap because the 3/4" marker line isn't as long as the rest of the 1/4" and 3/4" marks.

I'm not kidding, either. It's just the type of thing that would drive me nuts if I had made it, but just the type of thing I love as a consumer!

Bah! If ya ain't bleedin' then ya ain't tryin'!

Seriously, that isn't a bad idea. It really does seem like I get sloppy and slice off the tip of a finger at least once a year.

Hmmm, the Office Max in my area has closed its doors. Oh well, I was interested in looking at those rulers, but they are not at anye of my local stationers.

The Auld Grump

Looking at your thing, Aleph, I dug out a ruler designed for mat-cutting with sliding cutters. Without the cutters it looks a bit like your one and it does have rubber strips underneath. I tried it and it was really good. Sorted! I thought... but not so. Its a soft alloy and my damn knife started carving chunks out of it.

Otherwise I have two edges I inherited from my now deceased father-in-law. A great guy he was a craftsman with marquetry - you know, the timber veneir picture thing. He loved good tools. So I've a metre metal straight-edge - excellent for big board cuts, very heavy and doesn't slip easily, but it is a bit thick and casts a shadow if your light isn't right.

The other one of his is about two foot, heavy metal but with one bevelled edge. This is the one I use most, it doesn't slip easily.

BTW: Do any of you guys have trouble with your caps-keyed digits having to be pressed quite firmly. I'm going nuts with not registering individual caps. Keyboard knackered or me typing too quick and light?

I did stick some cork to a gash metal rule. It works well but the cork is too thick. Handy for non-exact chopping card quick tool; accurate enough if you are careful and the light is good.

Light, light and more light, that's my advice, regardless of the rule. I've gathered loads of 'em over the years. I can't abide working in poor light.

BTW: the two rules off my da-in-law were very, very expensive and had to be ordered from a specialist tool shop. Thank God he purchased them!

Regarding cuts... Em, sorry I very rarely cut myself, in fact once in about the last year, believe it or not. And that was very clean, quickly bandaged with masking tape. I don't suppose I'm any more dextrous than you guys, but maybe as a modeller rather than a gamer, I'm very, very slow. I think it was Robby I was talking to (or DNA? - Hisst Ka, Ghenghis? -memory fracked*) but they said the were under pressure to build quick and often for their groups. Maybe that's the difference.

MAGSMAN

*EDIT* The metal rules off my Da have holes in the end and - he drilled this into me - must be hung from a hook when not in use so they never lose their straightness...

*EDIT* *Actually, I've just remembered: it was scunkape

That was going to be my question about the ruler. I use a ruler I really like that I picked up from officemax (or was it office depot). Its not steel, but an alloy of some kind. Although I'm not carving chunks out ofg it like magsman, after a few thousand cuts it does feel slightly roughened when I pass my blade along it. Its a nice beefy ruler with a nice wide strip of ridged rubber/plastic underneath to prevent it from slipping. Apart from the slight softness, It's perfect. I'll have to snap some pictures.

Actually, I was exagerating (nothing new there then!) When I was cutting - using a dead sharp blade as always - I noticed a tiny thin sliver of bright material which could have gone almost unnoticed, a bit like silver foil. So I stopped using it. I didn't want to harm it for its proper mat-cutter guide purpose. Shame, 'cos otherwise it was ideal.

MAGS

Hmmmm, looking at the safety ruler in that light I would guess that it is an aluminum alloy, extruded then marked.

The AUld Grump, pity... I think that I will stick with my steel rules for now.

That sounds exactly like it, so you 'n me both...

MAGS

*EDIT* Actually, I've just remembered, it was scunkape who was talking about the pressures of making stuff as a GM.

I think it is some kind of alluminum (or alluminium to my UK brothers ) or alloy. I haven't had any problems at all with carving chunks or slivers out of it. However, if I run my finger along the edge, there is a fine metal powder that comes off on my finger. So, once a week or so, I rub it off on a paper towel. No biggie.

No, mine is definately tiny slivers. Feels like alumin i um, though. A satin grey finish. Its a shame 'cos the slot for the cutter makes a brilliant hand-hold, comfortable and firm. I can manage if I'm careful, but I don't want to spoil it and I do love a real sharp blade.

MAGS

Add my vote for this ruler. It's all about the non-slip rubber backing. I haven't had any problem with damaging the edge yet, but it's too early to tell how it will fair in the long term.

Hi guys

Whilst my voice may not count for much, I've been using this ruler and it's great Definately not slipping anywhere!!!

Dave

Thanks, CodeTheif! Welcome to the boards!

I got another ruler to add to my collection (alongside my new 36"x24" cutting mat - Blick Art Store in Berkeley is a dangerous place!).

I still use my 12" Helix for all the tight work, but I wanted a longer ruler for cutting foamcore and drawing guide lines.

So, I got a 36" AlumiCutter (by AlumiColor). It's got a safety guide for my fingers, and a non-slip back that grips way better than cork! It is aluminum, so some won't like it, but I love it.





In this next shot, you can see how the bottom is notched in, for the felt-like non-slip pad to nestle into. This means it doesn't sit really high off the cutting surface (which is one thing I don't like about the cork backing).

Wow...again...geek droooooooooooooooooooooooooool!

That looks like a very nice ruler. Do they make them in smaller sizes?

I have tried both rubber backing (left marks on the cardstock) and cork backing (big gaps on edges, prone to tilting) but often use just a flat metal ruler and press hard. Sure, I make mistakes sometimes, but I have better luck than with the other options I've tried. This ruler looks like it'll solve everything, if it were only shorter...

Arabin

Blick had it in stock in 12", 18", 24", 30", and 36".

Good to hear. I used to live very close to a blick art store... but now I will have to hunt around local non-chain stores as there are no blick stores in the state of Washington

Hmm, I just checked and they have it available online:
http://www.dickblick.com/zz556/44/

Thanks Aleph13!

Arabin

I would love to have a safety ruler, but aluminium is too soft for me. I would grab that alumicutter though. That thick edge would help me make true perpendicular cuts on foamboard. I have no problem cutting foamboard that angles in for tile edges. But when I cut it to make shapes I need it to stay perpendicular so its flush when I glue it to other pieces. Its a real pain anytime I try and do it.

Usually, I prefer very short rulers. Seems almost all my cuts are under 8" long. So I look for very short rulers because they're quicker to move. I had been using a short but very narrow ruler. Unfortunately it proved too narrow for my fingertips, so I ended up nicking myself regularly.

So I picked up a 6" officedepot brand steal ruler, with a cork back, that was about 3/4" wide. Probably 2 or 3 times wider than my old one. I typically use it face down though so the cork isn't really any help. It works very well for me. I've never noticed any slivers or powder and the edges are still smooth. But sometimes I have trouble getting an edge to line up. I'd swear I've worn the middle down just a bit.

I have a similar steel ruler, but I found it too hard to get a reliable cut using the cork face down... I still use it, but have the cork face up, so it's basically just a normal steel ruler.

I would still love to pick up the alumicutter but I didn't get it for my birthday, and can't justify the shipping cost from Dick Blick. It's unfortunate that nowhere else seems to carry it in black. I searched and there are a couple of craft/hobby stores a drivable distance away that carry a silver one... but now I've seen black, that's what I want... heh.

Aleph, how is your black ruler holding up to cuts? Is it looking battered or still nicely black?

Arabin

Yes, I need to put the cork face up too. I don't dare try cutting into anything with even a millimeter of space between the ruler and the paper.

Well, since this is the The pseudo-definitive ruler thread I thought it ought to cover both the good kinds of rulers and the bad.

This would be an example of the bad.

. . .

When I first saw this kind of ruler I thought: "Perfect! I can hold the ruler firmly at the raised center and therefore have no risk of cutting my fingers as I cut into the paper. And the cutting edge of the ruler would sit flush on the paper as there's no cork to raise it up off the paper."

Of course, the obvious problem with this ruler is that it barely makes any contact with the paper. Most of it is up in the air! So while I was cutting away into my paper the page would slide all over the place. Oh well, it looked good at the store so I thought it was worth a shot! Now I use a plain metal ruler with cork running down the center.

Thanks Eidrog, that one does look like one to avoid.

I still would love to pick up the Alumicutter, but noone has it in store, and the shipping is pretty high online

It's been on my wishlist for some time now but family members haven't bought it for me yet... maybe this Christmas...

Arabin

In 2001 I lost my Staedler 24" steel ruler while running for a bus. I bought it in 1985 and thought replacing it would be easy.

WRONG.

They just dont make steel rulers that thick anymore, my old one would make a handy sword. Dang.

Lee Valley sells a steel straight edge in 12" and 24" lengths that is 1/4" thick. They also sell a 36" straight edge that's 3/8" thick.

I picked up an Alumicutter ruler from Dick Blick (the 18" one) and it is awesome. I love it.

Only one head's up to be aware of... my 45mm rotary cutter works fine with it for cutting paper and cardstock, but the blade does not stick out far enough from the handle to cut thicker materials like chipboard or foamcore. I'll have to pick up one that has a different design (or larger diameter) so I can do that, or stick with an x-acto.

But, it's worth it for the Alumicutter. Really nice not having to fear for my fingers when cutting!

My wife, who works at a hospital, once came home with two pretty solid metal rulers (one steel, the other supposedly aluminium with a narrow, slightly raised steel edge) which some pharmaceutical representative had given to her.

They just have the name of some medicine on them, but I've been using them for years now, and they show not a scratch.