My wife and I set a stone path through one of our gardens this weekend. To help make sure all the stones were set evenly and at the right height, I set up my Bosch GLL50 laser level on the deck and ran a level line. When I went to look for a stick to reference the height of the stones off the level line, I couldn’t find anything readily available, so I went to one of my toolboxes for a tape measure.
In the back of the drawer I spied an old folding rule. My father-in-law had given it to me when he was getting rid of excess tools after retiring. I knew a lot of people like folding rules, but I’ve never really seen the utility in them, so I accepted it knowing that it would probably sit in a drawer gathering dust until I passed it on to somebody else.
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It wound up being the perfect tool for this job. I only needed about 30″ of ruler, and it was white (well, faded white), so the red laser could be seen, and it was available.
As my wife and I were setting the stones, the contrast between the relatively new laser level and a tool that was old when our grandfathers used it, really stuck me. First, I wondered how did people ever build anything without lasers, they are so freaking handy? Then I thought, probably with tools like the one I was holding, and a lot of skill.
What would be the easiest way to set a path without a laser? Probably putting up a few string lines and referencing off the strings with a ruler. Since the path was curved that wouldn’t have been as easy, plus the string lines would get in the way.
While it’s not an expensive laser meant for outdoor use, as long as we stayed in the shade, it was pretty easy to see the red laser line against the rule.
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We didn’t finish the first day (the sun caught up with us in several ways), so I marked the location of the laser level on the deck with some tape so I could put it in the same spot the next day. While I just could have used a new mark on the rule, we were so used to calling out 25″, and so it was just easier to keep that as a reference.
Availabilty
I’m not even sure if Stanley sells any tools under the Handyman brand anymore, and I can’t even find any Stanley folding rules that aren’t metric. So rather than link to some random rule, I’ll link you to a post about an “awesome” pocketable folding rule Stuart found.
If you’re looking for a modern folding rule, Stabila offers several, with different scale options.
The Bosch GLL 50, on the other hand, is still available at Home Depot for $129. I don’t remember paying that much for mine, but it seems like that is the right price. Maybe I got it on sale.
The reason I chose the GLL 50 over the much cheaper GLL 30, was the GLL 30 has an accuracy of 5/16″ at 33 ft. and a range of up to 30 ft., while the GLL 50 has an accuracy of 1/8″ at 33 ft. and a range of 50 ft. The GLL 55 looks to have similar specs.
I originally purchased it for putting up some chair rail in my hallway and to help with installing some doors. I didn’t think the GLL 30 was accurate enough for those tasks, and I’m still glad I choose the brighter model now that I’ve been using it outside.
Price $129
Buy Now (GLL 50 via Home Depot)
See Also( GLL 55 via Amazon)
Will I be pulling out the folding rule again? Probably the next time I use the laser level. In fact it’s going to be stored right next to the laser level rather than in the back of a tape measure drawer — old tool next to new.
Jason
I still use my folding ruler (sparingly though) for the inside measurement of boxes. I find it’s one of the easiest tools to use when measuring the inside of chests, drawers, and other larger woodworking products.
John
No laser? No problem. It’s easy to make an “old-school” water level out of clear plastic tubing and a couple drops of food coloring. Works great for determining level in situations where you’re working from a fixed point, such as a deck or concrete stoop. They are especially good when working on uneven surfaces or larger spans such as a paver patio or deck layout.
Sam
Exactly what I was thinking…in fact, I still use water lvl when there is no shade what so ever and distances greater than a few yards.
Sam
And yes, I still use a folding rule…it’s use is limited only by your imagination
fred
So this was not quite a job for a robotic total station or even a transit – but you turned a ruler into a surveyor’s rod and got it done.
I still often carry a 50 year old Lufkin folding rule (one with an extension slide) with me because I find it useful for taking inside measurements and comparing them quickly from one point to another (say along the length of a door jamb). Even though my Leica Disto can do this – and can do the math for sloped walkways – sometimes simple is just quicker.
Benjamen
I had to look up robotic total station — yeah that would have been overkill.
Everybody talks about taking inside measurements with a folding rule, and I never grasped why it would be useful until you added that parenthetical about the extension slide and it clicked.
My eyes usually glaze over whenever I see something about folding rules, so I never noticed that some came with that feature. Now I need to find a decent one!
fred
I was hesitant to include a link to the Lufkin,
On Amazon it gets lots of bad reviews – about how its been cheapened up, is no longer accurate, has bad hinges, poor graduation markings, slides that fall out or don’t stay put, bowed bodies etc.
Maybe you need to find one like mine that’s 50 years old – made in the USA – and hasn’t been beat to death.
I’ll pass mine on the grandkids
fred
“I had to look up robotic total station — yeah that would have been overkill”
Yeah not only overkill – but its the kind of tool (costs as much or more than a nice new skid steer) that’s too easy to go missing – and needs to be used regularly to pay for itself.
We usually hired a survey company when we needed one.
Hilton
I love my folding rules. One of these can take angle measurements with the extension slide. I use my Stanley on my table saw (both metric and old).
Well done for getting it all to work.
Frank D
Old school was not that long ago for some of us 😉 Growing up it was measuring sticks, folding rulers, a long length of clear tubing for water level, string line with a hanging level bubble, plumb bobs …
David
I grew up watching my dad use his folding ruler, and inherited a couple from my grandfather. I still reach for it when I need to get an inside measurement or depth measurement using the sliding metal extension – it’s quite handy!
Yadda
I have fond memories of my grandfather and my father using folding rules. My father lost his in a fire. My grandfather’s rules were sold at a yard sale…. I bought several to replace my father’s rules and to have one myself. I like the small ones you linked to. I may have to buy one or more of those myself.
Framer joe
Folding rules with extension,rock…I keep one in my truck for framing…..my concern would be the deck stringers in the photo.
Looks like pt 2×10, and there’s not much. “meat” left between the inside cut and the bottom edge…3 1/2″ ? They can snap or crack with wieght on them ,or bouncing…be careful…
Should be 2×12, and a 2×4 pt nailed on the inside also….
Benjamen
I never really thought about the stringers being that weak, but you are probably right, there’s only about 3-1/2″ inches at the narrowest point. That’s how Menards sold them… At least I have them at every joist so the load is spread around.
The 2×4 nailed on the inside is a good idea. I’m probably going to have to remove the first treads and riser when I finally get around to the walkway. It wouldn’t be hard to just remove them all and add in the 2×4’s then.
Framer joe
Hope it helped..
KokoTheTalkingApe
Now I am curious about path layout. I believe the old-school folks didn’t always lay them out with constant slope, because slope is not the only consideration. You have to think about water drainage and erosion. Also (to be a physics wonk) you may have to think about acceleration in all dimensions. Switchback roads up steep mountains often have zero slope at the turns, because at the turns, the cars or wagons or whatever have to contend not just with slippage from the slope, but also the changing direction. So if the turns aren’t flat (or even banked into the turn), then vehicles are more likely to slide off the road.
That’s an extreme case, but I know from experience that old-timers often thought about very subtle matters like this. I bet those 14th century road builders knew a lot about laying out paths and roads on hills.
fred
The old school – was probably informed by Roman road construction.
For the Romans their roads were an extension of their power and economic might.
Five layers plus curb stones were used – almost always with a crowned surface. You can (I have) still walk on many of them – and picture grain moving up from Ostia to feed Rome an the legions marching along to extend Roman power. 2000 years on – pieces of them are still in usable shape.
mac
Have about 2 dozen folding/stick rules acquired over the years in varying condition. Still use some on occasion. Cool that you had one around that worked out perfectly for you.
And as John said, a water level is the best and most economical tool for your situation. I have an old coffee can tapped for 1/2″ tubing. Can level to pencil line accuracy over any distance. (Water seeks it’s own level.) Had a long discussion with another GC a while back about it’s accuracy over his laser level.
Totally agree with framer joe too.
satch
We used the old folding rules in building curb and gutter and pavements back when I started working in the early 80s. These were called ‘engineer’s rules’ and have a completely different scale to the normal carpenters imperial rule.
Nothing worked like them for setting curb forms off grade stakes. Hold the bottom edge of a four foot level to the engineer’s mark on the stake, level it in the air whilst holding the rule against it at the measurement marked on the stake. This measurement located where the top of the curb form needed to be .
Typically this measurement was a ‘cut’ indicated by a number with a minus symbol – in front of it. This meant you measured down from the level X amount of tenths on the rule. Sometimes the grade of course went up and you had to invert the measurement. Make sure you measure from the right side of your level or staight edge! Messed that up more than once.
By that time curb machines wete well established and ran along stakes you set at proper elevations with a taught line from stake to stake. The tracked machine followed these with two crossed sensor sticks and sped up the process immensely. You still need to set tight radius forms by hand and the rulemand level…still rule.
Julian
Why in the world you’d use a water level instead of a laser, other than outright poverty is beyond me.
But I will sing the praises of the folding rules, the models with the slide out bar are simply the most accurate way of measuring inside measurements.
Shame that the new models really aren’t that good, the slide out bar is stiff and choppy in operation.
I buy them anytime I see them at rummage sales and if one breaks, I turn it into a 12” folding rule for easy to read measurements where a blade from a tape would be akward.
I use them a lot as mini grade sticks in conjunction with my laser levels, like when leveling ceiling or soffit blocking. Set the laser up to a fixed number on the small rule section and that’s your target for the rest of the adjacent areas. Much easier and more practical than trying to line up your laser to the actual height desired.
Julian
George
I got frustrated one day measuring due to the regular large tape flopping around.so I got my neglected folder out and easily measured what I needed to. Now my measuring tapes are getting neglected.
ToolOfTheTrade
It may be an old tool to you, but if you knew anything about trim and finish carpentry you would appreciate a folding rule. Just ask anybody that does finish carpentry for a living. That’s the reason they were made in the first place. It’s the perfect layout tool. Superior accuracy for measuring and laying out any room, wall, corner, window or door in the house for finish carpentry. I’ve trimmed out several houses using just a folding rule. Plus they’re a lot easier to hold than a tape when you’re by yourself and laying out crown measurements and you forget your laser tape. That’s how I learned to use one years ago and it made me a better carpenter. So give it a shot if you ever have to do window stop or shoe etc.
Chris Fyfe
I’ve done the same thing , in reference to flooring in a very distress , poorly built house . I use mine a lot .
hangovna
Milwaukee makes folding rules.
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Hand-Tools/Measuring/Folding-Rules/48-22-3801
https://www.milwaukeetool.com/Products/Hand-Tools/Measuring/Folding-Rules/48-22-3802