Inexpensively converting your ruler to a straight edge clamp.

[ho henry]

The other day while in Woodcraft I came accross a unit that sold for $24.00 which helped lock your ruler at a specific inch.

Although it was made from metal, you can make one rather inexpensively from the following material that you can purchase from Lowes for under $7.00.

All you need is a 1/8th inch X 2" or 3" hardwood board, pick out the best, comes in two foot lengths.
A bag of 8 quarter inch wing nuts,
4 quarter inch carriage bolts
16 miniature thin flat washers.  You can obtain them from Radio Shack just make sure thier the same thickness as the ruler.
A tube of Crazy glue.

1st Cut the wood allowing 2" play with the ruler centered once in place on either side.
You'll need four pieces of wood.
Then Drill four holes in each corner of the wood,

Place the ruler squared at its end on a piece of wood so it looks like (T) shape formation, so its end the ruler is parallel with the squared rectangular side of the wood centered.
Glue four washers two on each side of the ruler.
Then place another piece of wood on top clamping it down with the use of the wing nuts.

Repeat procedure at the opposite end.

This will enable you to at least utilise your 12" ruler as a straight edge which you can clamp at either end.

Enjoy

Henry



 

[Ray Dunakin]

Do you have a photo of this?

[ho henry]

Ray Unfortunatley no:

But too put it simply, your creating a sandwich of wood (T) shaped at both ends, the top or bottom depending on which end you will work with, will hold the ruler length mark you want by sliding the ruler up or down and clamping its end.

The washers super glued to the wood will hold the ruler squared in its center.

The bottom T will allow the ruler to glide either to the left or right directly parallel to the sheet diagram your working with.  Thus allowing you to draw perfect vertically straight lines.

Depending on the length of the ruler you use you can also place the unit into a horizontal mode.

Henry