MSC Stainless Steel Metal Shatterproof Straight Edge Metric Ruler Ideal for Sewing (30 cm)

Pros:Durable AF: Unlike plastic or wooden rulers, this thing won’t snap if you accidentally sit on it or toss it across the room in frustration.Precise Measurements: The etched or engraved markings (usually mm and cm, sometimes inches) don’t fade, so it stays accurate over time.Sharp Edges: Great for scoring paper or acting as a cutting guide with a blade – it doesn’t get chewed up like plastic ones.Solid Feel: Heavy enough to stay in place but not obnoxiously weighty.❌ Cons:Not Flexible: Can’t bend it around curved surfaces like a tape measure, so not ideal for 3D measuring.Sharp Edges (Again): Yeah, they’re a pro and a con – they can scratch surfaces or poke holes in bags/pockets if you’re not careful.Cold to Touch: Minor gripe, but it’s a thing especially in winter or in a cold lab/workshop.

Oh, I know these are just two simple and humble rulers but they were perfect for Duncurin’s needs.I had a really tricky flagging job to do at our daughter’s house. In a moment of madness, she took up the paving slabs that the builders had put down (she has a new-build home) and also the grass. The paving chap wanted a ferocious amount of money to pave it with the outside paving tiles she’d bought and could not even contemplate starting before October. My wife and I thought she’d be staring at the Somme all summer and so agreed to try to help her put some of the tiles down.Well, these are massive things. They come in packs of two and weigh 33kg. She had carried them all round to the back of the house all by herself.I knew that cutting them would be a nightmare, not just because of the weight but also their 60x60cms size. I have a wet cutter by Ferm, as previously reviewed. This will cut to over 25mm depth so I thought it might get through the tiles but I knew that the platform/table that makes up the Ferm would be way too small. I therefore built a larger wooden platform to sit flush with the Ferm metal one and would also be at the same level. The problem now, was that the fence would be useless and I knew I’d need to know if the tiles were running true as they are fed into the wet blade.These two rulers thus have telling advantages. Here goes: they are metal, they are thin but robust, they have lovely straight and precise edges, they have measurements that go right to the end with no ‘dead’ zones, they have the measurements on both sides and these are run the opposite way round which was also crucial, they are inexpensive and of course delivered courtesy of Amazon logistics in no time.I created the extended platform out of old hardwood floor boards. I routed down to just over 1mm which is the thickness of the rulers and to the same width. I then set the rules in the routed grooves and glued them with epoxy. I made sure that the rulers were precisely the same distance from the blade and also parallel.I ranged the measurement so that the numbers would face each other and of course would correspond. Please note for obvious reasons it wasn’t possible to change the labelling on the rulers thus they start from nought even though they impinged precisely on the edge of the metal platform/table of the Ferm wet cutter, some way from the blade. In a way this did not matter as long as the rulers corresponded with each other.Please see the photo attached. You can see one of the tiles at the side and with help from my wife we were able to use a new fence made up of a Trend clamp also reviewed and the whole thing was set parallel with the blade, also reviewed.All in all, this worked really well, although it nearly killed us! The rulers behaved beautifully and made sure that my new fence ie the Trend clamp once positioned at the correct distance from the cutting wheel was held straight and true simply by lining up the Trend clamp with the same markings on each of the rulers. The fact that they were in routed slots and were of a robust construction meant that the water and all the gubbins didn’t affect them and after a simple wipe over they were ready for the next cut. The markings didn't rub off and were easy to read even when the wet blade was, as it always does, covering everything including us!

Armour for practising maths on your own

I recently purchased this stainless steel ruler, and I couldn't be more thrilled with its performance and quality. This ruler is an absolute gem for anyone who values precision and durability in their measuring tools.Firstly, the stainless steel construction is top-notch. It's incredibly sturdy and feels like it can withstand years of use without any signs of wear and tear. The weight is perfect—substantial enough to stay in place while drawing lines or measuring, yet not too heavy to be cumbersome. The sleek, polished finish not only looks professional but also resists scratches and stains, maintaining its pristine appearance.One of the standout features of this ruler is the clear, easy-to-read conversions etched along its length. Having both metric and imperial measurements readily available makes it incredibly versatile for a variety of projects. Whether I'm working on a detailed drawing or a simple home repair, this ruler ensures that my measurements are always accurate and reliable.The precision of the edges on this ruler is remarkable. The sides are impeccably straight, which means that whenever I draw lines with it, they are somehow straighter and cleaner than with any other ruler I've used. This level of accuracy is essential for my work, and it’s incredibly satisfying to have such reliable straight edges for drafting and measuring.The hole at one end of this ruler is another brilliant touch. It's perfect for hanging the ruler on a pegboard or hooking it onto a binder ring, making storage and accessibility a breeze. This small yet thoughtful addition highlights the practicality and user-friendly design of the ruler.Overall, this stainless steel ruler is an indispensable tool that combines durability, functionality, and convenience. It has quickly become my go-to measuring instrument, and I highly recommend it to anyone in need of a reliable and versatile ruler. Whether for professional or personal use, this ruler truly stands out as a superior choice.

Great item will buy again

I love these. They’ve gone through three children at school now and still going strong, very sturdy steel ruler size as expected functions well

VERY GOOD

It’s a ruler so you can’t really go wrong with that, very sturdy, correct length, zero bend, but I find it’s quite sharp edged being metal and rectangular so it can scratch things it’s messing easily and even skin so use with care