48 in. Aluminum Straight Edge Ruler

I originally bought this 48" AL ruler to use as a guide to cut insulation, it worked great for unfaced 16" R15 but not lengthwise on R49 batts, I ended up using a 2x4 for that. It's a well made ruler with easy to read numbers and has some weight & thickness to it (1/8") so it should last a long time. The numbers are painted on but not etched & there is a hole at one end for hanging. The back side has no numbers, so it can be used as a story stick, marking your measurements in pencil for repeated cuts. I used it this way to quickly mark the hight of electrical boxes around the room and to mark a 12" cut on 24" wide insulation that had to be cut in half lengthwise. This can be a huge time saver and prevent measuring mistakes & product waste. Just find your length and transfer it around to the back (using a small square if you want to be accurate) & mark it. Due to it's thickness, this product can be used for jigs that require measurements like an insulation cutting table. It comes wrapped in clear plastic which I chose to keep on so I could use a marker to write my slash marks right on it, later to be wiped off. You could also put tape on the back and use marker on that. If you find this review helpful please click on the thumbs up button, thanks!

We bought this product and a 36 in ruler at the same time. After getting to work on Monday I peeled the plastic protection wrap from them along with the barcode sticker on the back side. I wet a shop towel with acetone to remove the rest of the glue residue left by the barcode sticker. On the 36 inch ruler I turned it back over I noticed that where some of the towel had touched the graduations it melted the graduations. Quite surprised I took a better look and saw that the graduations were printed on instead of embossed, the 48 inch is the same way. No way will I ever buy another one of this vendors products or recommend something they 'made'

A well made yard stick. It is durable aluminum and good for the price. It is also very easy to read , and no need to turn around the ruler since both sides are marked.

This is a good 6' aluminum ruler and straight edge. I have owned a similar 4' empire straight edge ruler for years, and never had any problems with that one. This 6' ruler has a distance scale in inches from each end (so there is a 1" and a 71" number at either end), and is marked in easy-to-read black printing on light aluminum in 1/16" increments. The long edges are very slightly rounded to make it comfortable to handle, while the ends are a square cut with sharper edges. There is a 1/2" hole at one end so you can hang this from a nail or similar hook. A few additional items to note: 1) The easy-to-read marks are printed on fairly thickly (I can feel them running my finger across them), but they are not engraved, so in theory they could wear off given sufficient use; 2) the scales are printed only on one side (the back has nothing on it); 3) this ruler is only marked in inches (so if you wanted metric for some reason, look for a different scale).

Measure twice, cut once is the mantra of every good craftsman. A straight edge rules is absolutely crucial tool to have in your workshop. Being able to mark a perfectly straight line between two measured points is one of the most critical concepts of any kind of building trade be it carpentry, woodwork, masonry, etc. This particular straight edge ruler is nice because a few factors. One, the numbering is very clear and large. Two, the finish allows you to mark on the ruler face with pencil and then clean the mark off easily. Three, the ruler is a good thickness. It’s plenty thick enough to draw a pencil line OR to use as a guide for a knife or razor edge. Four, it’s a really good length. At 36 inches, this can be used in most applications. Five, the end holes are large enough for the head of a drywall screw. Empire is such a trusted name when it comes to precise measurement products. I don’t know who else I would trust more to make the perfect straight edge ruler.

I have a 36" straight edge ruler but this one is better as it is 48". This is good if you want to draw a line or cut drywall that is 48" across. It seems to be well made, the divisions are well marked and it is not too heavy. It is from a company in Wisconsin but unfortunately it is made in China. It would be even better if it was made in Wisconsin.

Nice to have in the workshop for all measuring and drawing straight lines. Lightweight and easy to use. Hangs on the wall when not in use and so its easy to store. The numbers are bright and easy to read from either side of the ruler. It is very accurate with my tape measure. So I can go from one to the other without worrying about being off on measurements 1/16" or not. Strong and doesn't bend easy so you get straight lines every time. Its one of those "nice to have" tools in your arsenal of equipment to have in the shop. Good value Be Safe.

Rating provided by a verified purchaser

It's a great 48" straight edge... Great for plywood and measuring fish