You may have the best quality’s wood , the best woodworking equipment and the best possible mood to create stuff , but if you make measuring and marking mistakes , you’ll be “in trouble” eventually .
In woodworking the measuring and the marking of wood is an extraordinary important job , as you see also in HERE .
I have many rulers , folding , tape meters , metalic rulers , but i also i’ve made a research for the best ones . Here are my suggestions , to help your measuring techniques :
Who hasn’t seen or use a the classical wooden folding rule , every house on Earths has ?
I don’t think many . This wooden folding ruler comes from the specialist on metric tools Cresent and the quality of the wood and braas are very nice and good quality .
It measures in graduation from 1/16″ of the inch , the numbers are crystal clear and this type of rulers are must for every carpenter outhere .
It helps the most to measure in steady surfaces and you want steady measuring conditions and results , not round or flexible ones .
This is a classical wood measuring tool and you can have it from Amazon in here . ( for around the 15$ bucks )
2) The Qwork 36 Inch Flexible Curve Ruler , ideal for woodworking and more .
When you want to measure curves , arcs and general flexible wood designs and you want micrometric precision and tight “hung” of the curve , the classical tape meter isn’t the appropriate .
The aluminum its made of , cannot be set and measure totally accurate a flexible surface , no matter how thin and flexible is .
It’s still a metalic material , having limits .
In here you need a flexible measuring ruler made out of silicone , rubber , soft plastic and stuff like that .
This 36” flexible meter from Qwork is a very nice quality’s meter , measuring inches and cm , with clear and bold numbers .
It’s made of very soft plastic and it has also a metal strip for better adjustment and a very nice feature is that , it can totally bent , in order to measure even the tougher situations .
I think it’s a very nice deal and you can get it from Amazon in here , with a little more than 10$ bucks .
3) The Stanley 33-735 Fatmax Tape Ruler .
The tape meters are measuring equipment that gives you serious flexibility combined with accuracy as a woodworker and you can see this Stanley Fatmax here in Amazon .
I don’t know any woodworker that doesn’t have in his toolbox , a folding meter , a flexible one and of course a durable tape meter .
Why to have this Stanley tape meter ?
1) It has the famous Stanley well made quality( Stanley never “betrays” you ) and its sliding mechanism fulfills the highest standarts .
2) The numerals are very clear and easy to read .
3) Its sliding movement and retraction are quite smooth , sign of its good quality’s mechanism .
4) It’s kind of heavy , which is an advantage for me and another good sign of elite material choices and well made in general .
** The complete tape meter list , visit Amazon in here .
4) The Mitutoyo 182-105, Steel Rule, 6″ X 150mm , Metal ruler .
I like very much the portability and the help you get from a light metal ruler as this Mitutoyo here and i highly reccomend you to see it here in Amazon .
The metal woodworking rulers have serious advantages for a carpenter ( and not only ) and if you have some in your toolbox , you’ll get the maximum of measuring help from them .
Why to have a Metalic Rule ?
1) It’s the lighter ruler you can carry with you to measure small lengths .
2) You can have in your pocket , with other rulers and not worry about the weight charge of your trousers , which in many cases is kind of uncomfortable .
3) I’ts the most comfort and accurate rule , you can have to measure many small lengths , fast and easy , in order to proceed to your carpenter measuring and marking fast .
4) This specific one has the “golden” balance of weight , width( it’s wide enough) and portability .
5) It measures accurate from both ends .
6) It has the appropriate thickness and doesn’t bend much . The lot of bending can cause false measuring from lack of stability above the wood surface .
7) The numerals are very easy to read and ther are highly measuring accurate .
8) No worries for rust and general damaging of this metalic ruler . It’s made from stainless steal with a nice finishing .
9) And yes , i like much the Japanese rules . There aren’t expensive and the attention to detail is very nice .
Check if you like , the complete list with metal rulers on Amazon here .
Keep woodworking and gain the most of happiness from it .