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Your cart is empty.This aluminum straight edge is an economical alternative to other much more expensive straight edges on the market. This straight edge is very helpful to determine machine table flatness and in setting up machines such as jointers and planers and various out feed tables. The straight edge is made from extruded aircraft aluminum and then the reference edge is machined flat to within 0.003" over the entire 50-inch length. The easy-grip cross section is 7/16 inch thick and 1-3/4 inch wide. Finish is black anodized. There is a hanging hole in one end. These straight edges are available in five different lengths.
Rene
Reviewed in the United States on August 31, 2023
I got the 50" straight edge for precision work and set up in my amateur wood shop. I checked it against other straight edges and rules whose straightness I know. It is very straight, around 15/10,000s maximum deviation.And it came in a very stout tube that was inside a reasonably stout box.For approximately $55, this can't be beat.By the way, it is from Taylor Tools, who have an excellent reputation. Taylor Tools shows it as sold out on their website, so I was extra happy to find it here.
2sapoton
Reviewed in the United States on November 13, 2022
Delivered intact with no shipping damage, in a 0.080” (2 mm) wall thickness (thicker than domestic mailing tubes, less so than international) mailing tube with endcaps, which was in turn packed in a long narrow cardboard shipping box. Comes with two removable soft plastic end caps on the straightedge. Made in Taiwan. The mailing tube looks like it could do as permanent storage, though I’d like to have a case that allows the straight edge to be suspended by the hang-hole. Don’t know if I’ll make one or not.Finish is good. Faint machining marks are just visible on the straight edge surface, can’t be felt with a fingernail.I got this to check and adjust a jointer. I don’t have a reference surface to test flatness. I tried to draw a line using a 0.2 mm drawing pen, flipping and swapping straight edge ends and doing it again, then using a fabric magnifier with a measurement reticle. I couldn’t satisfy myself that it was less than 0.005” flatness that way. That’s the limitation of my technique, not the straight edge. Next up was our kitchen island granite countertop. Again, flipping and swapping ends, the largest feeler gauge I could slip under the straight edge anywhere was 0.0015”. Couldn’t get a 0.002” under it anywhere. Shining a flashlight on one side in a dark room, there were a few places where a little bit of light was getting through. Honestly, I was impressed our countertops seemed that flat. In the end, my testing was unsatisfactory, but was the best I could do.The jointer beds? They’ll need some work.I’m satisfied I’ve gotten my money’s worth. I've got much shorter steel straight edges, but one a meter long with any promise of engineering accuracy will cost at least triple what this one does. This will have to do for me.
Chris R.
Reviewed in the United States on August 18, 2020
This straight edge is very well made and finished. It must be said though that the tolerance of .003 is accurate if you place each end on a block it will sag at least that much from gravity in the middle. I needed a straight edge to set some rails on my CNC over the gantry and it worked fine. Just take into account the tolerance and it will perform perfectly. Price is great for what you get. laying it flat it will surely run absolute straight since it cannot sag and that is what I tested on sheet goods. Love the black finish so it won't reflect light into your eyes. Price is great to for something this precise compared to others out there. 5 stars on flat sheet work, 4 stars for precise end to end vertical work.
Jim
Reviewed in the United States on November 23, 2020
Dead flat, lightweight, easy to use, big hole at the top for hanging, barely half the price of bigger-name flat sticks. What's not to like? Evaluated flatness against a couple of 0.0005"/1" levels, and against both Makita and Festool track saw guide rails. Used a feeler gauge to find discrepancies. Most I could find was around 0.0015", in one small area. Also did the two-line test (draw a line, flip the flat stick to the other side of the line and repeat - look for variances) - less than 0.001" variance. Unless you're doing something that requires ridiculous specs, this flat stick will serve you very well in the shop. Aluminum makes it light and easy to use, and the flat edge is wide enough give you a good solid reading (no teetering on a skinny edge). Highly recommended.
Customer
Reviewed in the United States on June 23, 2016
Excellent for general tool setup on longer runs where precision in the range of .008" over 18 to 24 inches is acceptable. This is not for cutting, scribing along, or for use in harsh gritty conditions...It is Aluminum after all. It is not suitable scraping flatness indicator fluid transfer. It is not precise for such work and the machined face is not smooth but slightly ridged with concentric arcs. This also affects the use of detecting light under the edge as the ridges reflect some light along the arc and allows light spillage even on an apparent contacted surface. When you don't have a Surface Plate 45" in length, this will at least highlight areas of dramatic flatness issues using thin glassine paper strips. Works well in mating cast iron table saw plates. Attention should be used to the ends where shipping and handling may cause impact deformation bulging resulting in end point bearing being elevated above the plane of the machined surface. Filing a bevel away from the working surface removed the risk. Design with depressed grove helps finger grip and reduces chance of tool slipping out of the hands. It is not sent in a permanent storage, soft protective sleeve or wooden box. Only a low grade single layer chipboard cardboard box keeps the painted finish or the machined base from being abraded in shipping. You will need to provide much better storage yourself. Second unit shipped well packaged in heavy cardboard tube is suitable for the task. Just put into service, time will tell if it holds up. Taylor Toolworks was very responsive to my needs and certainly demonstrated a strong and appreciated commitment to customer satisfaction. I highly recommend them as a reliable seller. At this price point the Aluminum Straight Edge seems a good value. Recommended.
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