I guess this is the best forum to post this…... I ordered some rulers and when I started to use one, I saw that the divisions were going backwards on the 32nd side. I looked around and found other rulers on the internet with the same convention of marking. What am I missing in this equation? It's impossible without doing math in your head to use this ruler's 32nd side, but since I saw another ruler on a google search with the same marking convention, I seem to not know something about rulers. Please help?
Starrett has rules 12", 18", 24",36" and 48"long that have left-to-right 4R graduations with a double row of inch figures.Their numbers are: C604R-12, C604R-18, C604R-24, C604R-36 and C604R-48. The "C" means it is satin chrome finish and the last 2 numbers are the length and the R indicates quick reading.
My guess is that the numbers are reversed to make it obvious which side you are counting on. But then of course I work with Engineers and arguing with engineering logic is hazardous to one's mental health.
That's the way my IGaging rules are made too. I use 32nds more than 64ths so I'd rather have the 64ths backwards. I wish they hadn't made them backwards, or had put inches in both directions as PEC does on their rules.
I just checked and my Starrett is the same. My other Empire on from home depot is not marked at all, only the Inches, which I actually like better since the numbers are more of a distraction anyways. Kind of like when you are trying to count in your head and somebody messes with you by saying a random number. 1 3nd, 2 32nds, 3 32nds, "EIGHT!!!!!!"…
I just wish they wouldn't put numbers on the divisions. I guess your rule doesn't have any lead-in, and if that's the case they mark the divisions that way so you can read from either end of the rule.
Be thankful you don't have to put up with metric. You wouldn't believe how hard it is to get a proper inch rule in England.
I had to import my Starrett rules from the US just so I could have 6" and 12" rules that were actually 6" and 12" long instead of 150mm and 300mm. As you'll all appreciate, that's about 3/16" short (over 12") and even more annoying than divisions going backwards.
The trouble is when you measure, for example, 17 17/32 inches, you have either inches or 32s backwards. That is, on a 24 in rule, you would be at a place marked 4 17/32, or at a place marked 17 15/32.
I just wish they wouldn t put numbers on the divisions. I guess your rule doesn t have any lead-in, and if that s the case they mark the divisions that way so you can read from either end of the rule.
Be thankful you don t have to put up with metric. You wouldn t believe how hard it is to get a proper inch rule in England.
I had to import my Starrett rules from the US just so I could have 6" and 12" rules that were actually 6" and 12" long instead of 150mm and 300mm. As you ll all appreciate, that s about 3/16" short (over 12") and even more annoying than divisions going backwards.
OMG I HATE rules that don't have any numbers on the divisions! You want 64 little marks with no numbers? I have a Brown and Sharpe 6" scale somewhere that's right up your alley ;-)
I wouldn't think it would be that difficult to get SAE scales in England. Interesting. I've worked with engineers in the UK and they always deal in inches. I feel your pain though, trying to work in inches using metric tools is a hemorrhoid!
Its been like that forever, its not backwards.
Turn the ruler 180 and use whichever suits you.
- Richard Lee
yup! i find it handy when i have to measure from right to left along the top of the ruler
To clarify, it's not that one scale reads the opposite direction that bothers me. It is having to remember that 7-16/32" is 5-1/2" and not 7-1/2" or 6-1/2". Like I said early on - of course it's simple math. But simple math, sooner or later, WILL lead to a mistake. That's why I like the PEC scale that Ocelot posted.
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