'End of the ruler' Protocol

What’s the policy on rulers with little spaces on the ends that aren’t measured? Ignore it or find out the difference?

It’s not a big deal obviously, but I just feel like I’m getting shortchanged 1/8 of an inch is all.

Hehe, find a proper ruler! I had trouble finding one first, but they’re commonly used for Technical Graphics class so try some sort of place that does school supplies

There’s no policy Tinyman. But if you want an accurate measurement then subtract the edge amount fromn the length you observe.

Or saw off the offending bit.

Surely he should add the extra bit onto the observed measurement to get an accurate reading?

Buy a ruler that starts at zero. They cost about 99 cents.

Is this a serious question? Kind of obvious isn’t it? If the space is 1/8” should you take it into account? How about if it is 1/4”? Would you ignore a 1” space?

What you are trying to do is measure. Not get a number off a stick. Measure.

Wll my thumb measures 1” from the top, to the first line of the joint.

Hope that helps! :)

Where? I looked everywhere and have yet to find them. Unlucky for me, I have 2 thin metal rulers which are a pain to measure.

I had a ruler like that - I sanded the end down until it started at zero.

Now I have a straight wooden “teachers ruler” that starts exactly at zero, and has zero flex to it.

Stop by your local home depot and pick up a bunch of paint stirrers— use them as tally sticks in place of a ruler— tick off the measurement with a marker and date it.

Then measure the tally stick against a ruler— you now have a permanent record of where you were at a point in time.

I’ve a collection— it’s pretty neat to see them laid out side by side.

99 cent? If that’s true, I’m going to file that away somewhere. I know I know; ‘protocol’ and ‘policy’ sound stupid, but I was just trying to add a little humor to the situation. After all, we’re talking about 1/8th’s of an inch here.

I think I meant to ask how many people just ignore the end of the ruler instead of trying to figure what they’d really be. Looking back, that’s a bad question.

It’s good to hear that I’m in the majority in thinking I should saw the end of the ruler off, though. Thanks guys.

What a great idea.

Wrap a piece of insulating tape, Or medical plaster, around the edge which will cover the sharp bits without adding much to the ruler length.

Office supply department. If you are in the US, Target, Walmart, Office depot, etc etc all have wooden rulers.

Thanks, I never thought of that.

I live in Canada, so no Target. I guess Office Depot would be Staples here? Anyway, I went there I got wooden rulers with about 1/4” space. Other rulers have 1/8” or something of space. Will make another run tomorrow.