We are fans of old-school tools for boatbuilding, and one of our favorites is the folding ruler. Our 2′ folding ruler has performed admirably on many restorations and new builds, but recently we purchased a 3′ folding ruler made by Sybren of Holland, and it has jumped to the top of our folding-ruler class.The first thing that caught my eye about the 3′ folding ruler was how the light-colored hardwood provides a sharp contrast to the black measuring marks and large numbers, making it easy to take measurements from plans or the dark corners of a workpiece. The markings are incised in the wood, making them much longer lasting than markings screen-printed on a flat surface. One side of the rule is marked in feet, inches, and eighths and the other is marked in feet, inches, and sixteenths. Completely folded, it is a 9″ ruler with eighth-inch markings showing; to get to the sixteenths, the ruler must be unfolded to its 18″ length. The numbers on both sides of the ruler read from left to right, and the increment markings are on the near side of the stick when it’s laid flat. Surprisingly, that is not the case with all folding rulers, the old Stanley rulers among them, which require looking over the far edge to measure or mark a workpiece. Folded, the ruler is short enough to fit in a pants pocket without being completely buried and difficult to retrieve.
All photos by Kent Lewis
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Great features in light wood, dark egraved markings and friction hinges.
Interesting to note that imperial measurements still prevail on both sides in the USA!
A different mfr folding rule is one of my most cherished mementos of my grandfather.
I wore out a couple of 2′ rules, might be interesting to try the 3′ version…
Am old enough to remember when all carpenter’s overalls (from Penny’s work clothes section) had a narrow and deep pocket on the right hand side that held your folding ruler. It lived right next to your 16oz. hammer. I was about twelve years old when I got my first one. I was proud knowing I was tooling up as a young carpenter.