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Thread: Custom 150mm Rule: Designed for Toolmakers, by a Toolmaker.

  1. #1
    Supporting Member Mook's Avatar
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    Custom 150mm Rule: Designed for Toolmakers, by a Toolmaker.

    I’ve decided to design and make what I think is the perfect rule for me.

    The first thing I wanted was for it to be readable whichever way I pick it up. That’s why I’ve rotated the numbers 90 degrees, so they’re always readable.

    I also wanted the numbers to be bigger and clearer, so I’ve gone with centimetre spacing instead of cramming in smaller marks.

    Half-millimetre graduations? I’ve left those out. They just make the scale busier, and I’d rather keep things simple and easy on the eye.

    For the graduations themselves, I’m using the old Moore & Wright wavy style. It’s a lovely, distinctive look, and it makes the marks stand out much better.

    On the end, I’ve added a double hook — exactly ten millimetres high and thirty wide. Both sides, and even the very end, will carry one-millimetre markings, which should be really handy for quick measurements.

    One face of the rule will measure from that hook, while the other will measure from the end, giving me both options in a single tool.

    And to finish it off, the whole thing will be 1.6 millimetres thick, which gives it the rigidity I want without feeling heavy.

    The graduations will be laser-etched first, and then I machine the profile on a magnetic fixture to get a precise finish.

  2. The Following 4 Users Say Thank You to Mook For This Useful Post:

    emu roo (Aug 26, 2025), Improvised DIY (Aug 26, 2025), Jon (Aug 25, 2025), rlm98253 (Sep 1, 2025)

  3. #2
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    Thanks Mook! We've added your Scale to our Measuring and Marking category,
    as well as to your builder page: Mook's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:

    Scale by Mook
    tags: scale


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    emu roo (Aug 26, 2025)

  5. #3
    Supporting Member carl blum's Avatar
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    Hello Mr. Mook:

    When can I buy some? A 30cm size would be nice too.

    Thanks, Carl.

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    emu roo (Aug 26, 2025)

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    Supporting Member Mook's Avatar
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    Sorry Carl,

    A few people have asked for me to make some but I'm not intending to make them myself. It's odd turning work down after 30 years of self employment but I am retired now. I can send you the files if that's of interest. I may make a 300mm one for myself in the future, if I do, I'll let you know.

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    emu roo (Aug 26, 2025)

  9. #5
    Supporting Member mklotz's Avatar
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    mklotz's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by carl blum View Post
    Hello Mr. Mook:
    When can I buy some? A 30cm size would be nice too.
    Thanks, Carl.
    Metric T-rules are available commercially.

    This page...

    https://www.amazon.com/Woodpeckers-P...3&sr=8-10&th=1

    advertises both 150 and 300 mm versions though, sadly, the pictures depict only the inferial versions. Perhaps the maker's page will show the metric versions.

    Conventional metric T-rules with no calibration on the crossbar are widely available, e.g....

    https://www.amazon.com/PEC-Tools-zer...s%2C153&sr=8-5
    ---
    Regards, Marv

    Smart phones are to people what laser pointers are to cats
    Homo sapiens is a goal, not a definition

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    emu roo (Aug 26, 2025)

  11. #6
    Supporting Member Mook's Avatar
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    [QUOTE=mklotz;254494]Metric T-rules are available commercially.

    This page...

    https://www.amazon.com/Woodpeckers-P...3&sr=8-10&th=1

    advertises both 150 and 300 mm versions though, sadly, the pictures depict only the inferial versions. Perhaps the maker's page will show the metric versions.


    I wish I had seen these before, it would have saved a lot of messing about designing and making one!



    2,500+ Tool Plans

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    emu roo (Aug 26, 2025)

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