IfBritish goal specialistit's no wonder that The Tape Store is one of the nation's largest suppliers of steel rules to the business, academia and hobby sectors. From 150mm and 300mm (the most popular sizes) to an incredible 6m (special order only), we have a steel line to suit all applications and budgets.
Are you looking for a specific line or manufacturer that you cannot find on our site? We may already have it in stock or we can deliver it to you within a few days. Just call0800 023 6200and a member of our team will be happy to help you.
Steel rules
Steel rules have been indispensable measuring tools for architects, designers, construction professionals and more around the world for centuries. This is as true today as it was then, despite the advent of advanced precision laser measuring instruments. It may be a basic measuring tool, but a good quality steel ruler is still a very accurate set when used correctly.
What is a steel rule?
A steel ruler is exactly what it sounds like... a ruler made of spring steel or stainless steel with metric dimensionsofimperial (or both) scales along its length. One end is usually flat, while the other end (often including a hole for hanging) is usually round.
Steel rules can have both flexible and rigid shapes and in different thicknesses and lengths. The most commonly purchased lengths are 150 mm (15 cm), 300 mm (30 cm), 600 mm (60 cm) and 1000 mm. But while we may not advertise them all on our website, we can also source professional quality rulers up to 6 meters in length.
Measurements or scales
When considering the metric scale, it is usually divided intoof1mm or 0.5mm graduations for increased accuracy. The imperial scale, on the other hand, can be broken down into a whole range of measurements. From the 8th, 16th, 32nd and 64th to the 10th, 20th, 50th and 100th...
Because there are so many different types of steel rulers on offer, it is very important to make sure you choose the right one. The product page for each line sold through The Tape Store lists the length and, crucially, the dimensions shown. If you have any questions about which rule suits you best, don't hesitatecontact.
Stiffness
The rigidity of a rule will depend almost entirely on two factors; the type of steel used (spring steel or stainless steel) and the thickness of this steel. The thicker the steel, the stiffer the rule, while spring steels will generally be stiffer than their stainless steel equivalents. That said, stainless steel orstainlesslines are generally much more popular due to their resistance to corrosion.
Take good care of your steel rule
It may be sturdy and stiff, but a steel line is not a scraper, not a screwdriver, and is not designed to be used for anything other than taking accurate measurements. It is also not designed to withstand abuse such as drops, bumps, abrasions, bending, and so on. As with all tools, how the user interacts with it will determine how well it performs and, crucially, how long it lasts.
Ideally, you should always keep your steel very lightly oiled to prevent corrosion, as even less durable forms of stainless steel can develop corrosion over time. Additionally, you should replace your line immediately as soon as you notice any damage, such as damaged corners, dented edges, or worn marks.
How to use your rule correctly
Provided the edges and corners of your ruler are sharp and straight (consider replacing your ruler if not), then you should be okay to measure from the end of the ruler. However, to maintain maximum accuracy, this should only be done if you can bump the end of the ruler hard against a square soldered object. Using this method under other circ*mstances may lead to inaccuracies.
In an ideal world, and to avoid inaccuracies, it is much better to make your measurement equal, ie. start from a known point. The easiest way to do this is to line up the 1cm or 1" mark with the end of the part or object you want to measure. Then simply add the remaining 1cm or 1" to the final measurement to obtain the correct reading. Measuring from a scale should be more accurate than measuring from the end, due to the wear and tear the end can experience and the difficulty of connecting things visually.
When measuring an object, always try to ensure that the assembly sits directly on top of the part/object, perpendicular to the object rather than lying flat on it. The 'parallax' phenomenon (where false/inaccurate measurements can be made due to optical illusions) can lead to incorrect measurements if the ruler is laid flat. The user must also ensure that the object he is measuring is completely flat by checking that light passes between the line and the object.
