Ruler for glass cutting

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Oh, just typed reply thinking you were looking for a ruler / straight edge, might be a measuring tape ???

If for ruling / measuring, you really need a steel tape measure of small size (usual up to 10' for smaller size tapes).
Like this.
http://amanty.com/images/STANLEY-TAPE.JPG

If for use as a straight edge for cutting, you'll be better off with a braced square Jeanette.
You can just check size less cutter 'offset' and cut with less measuring / effort.

I like the Bohle type best, made for the glass industry.
They make them is sizes from 24" through to 98".
http://tinyurl.com/ydpywhx

Another type bout halfway down this page
http://www.hoganswholesale.com.au/default.php?pg=categories&category=1

Or even something lke this . . .
http://store.allstainedglass.com/laglcusq.html

Cheers,
Les
 
Pick up a wide metal ruler at Lowe's Home Improvement and just run linen medical tape down the back of it to keep it from sliding. 4 footer runs less than $10.
 
Roper Glass of Phila (long gone) used to give out 48" wooden rulers with a metal clip on the end to secure the ruler to the edge of the glass. I've been using these rulers for 24 years. You can put the stuff that's left over from round bumpers on the back to keep it from moving. I haven't seen them offered anywhere. Perhaps there's a glass company that has them.
 
Ok, if all interest is in cost, you can make your own straight edge from a piece of meranti timber.

As long as you want it, around 3" x 1" profile, chamfer it down on one long edge and sand nice and smooth for the cutter to run along.

I cut with one of these for a couple of years when I started doing glass work.
Mark measurement top and bottom of glass, line up straight edge with cutter offset to marks, cut glass.

The point of using a braced square in hand cutting is that you can save a LOT of measuring time, mistakes in measuring 2 points and alignment, mistakes when the a straight edge moves on you slightly as you score.

Only when I did a framing show here did I invest in a speed cutter (used for 1/8" and thicker glass) and braced squares . . . I have around 500 pieces of glass to cut and convex).

Boy, those tools paid for themselves 100 times over, just from that event, and I wondered why I ever bothered to do things the hard way for so long.

Les
 
Hello Jeanette, Like Jeff said, you can purchase a nice metal ruler at Lowe's, Menard, Home Depot, or your local hardware store for under $10.00. For glass cutting it is best to get the 2 inches wide and at least 4 foot long ruler. I don't use the linen medical tape on the back though, I purchased a roll of cork from Office Max. The cork rolls are about 10 inches wide so you have to cut piece off of the cork roll wider than the ruler and then attached it to the ruler using ATG tape. Trim off the excess cork with a sharp utility knife and you have a nice non-slip ruler for all of your trimming needs including glass, mats, foam core, etc. JB
 
I have a snazzy aluminium straight edge 1200mm long with a ribbed rubber backing and a moulded finger grip along the top which was specially desogned for glass work. I think Larson Juhl is now selling something very similar. before that I used a length of aluminium moulding with masking tape along the widest edge.
 
I bought a metal ruler and put cork on the back. However sometimes very late at night, when I'm tired, I forget to properly align for the width of the hand cutter. Also, the ruler an slip can as I'm trying to cut a long line.

For me, I have found that, for larger pieces, drawing a line with a marker on the glass, double checking the measurements, and then cutting free-hand on the glass, on the line I have drawn, works well. I'm not trying to hold the metal ruler down, and I don't have to worry about the ruler slipping.

I also use Fletcher glass pliers and squeeze at the end of the cut to break. For me it is easier than picking up the larger pieces of glass and pushing over the edge to break.
 
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