Need a straight edge for an X-acto

Fenrir Enterprises · 2006-03-29T08:33:19+00:00

I'm not much of a metalworker, I joined this group to look forinformation on metal etching and wound up never leaving. But I have aneed for an item that might be considered simple to those of you witha decent size workshop, but I figure someone might also be able tocome up with a better idea.I need a straight edge to use to cut out business cards, shapes, etc,out of paper and card. Rotary trimmers, guillotine style cutters, andthe like are far too imprecise, it's almost impossible to get them tocut along a specific line. It's very difficult to find a ruler that isgood for this. A cheap plastic or wooden ruler is useless, the bladewill cut these as easily as the paper. I have a Helix and Wescottrulers designed specifically 'for use with a craft knife for papertrimming'. They have a groove for your fingers so you don'taccidentally cut yourself, a beveled edge of about 20-30 degrees tocreate a very nice line to cut along, and a little rubber grip lineron the bottom. However, they are both made out of aluminum. If youdon't hold the blade perfectly parallel to the cutting edge, you willnick it, slice off the metal, or otherwise damage the ruler. Both ofthem are already useless as they have enough nicks and grooves thatthe knife will always go off course. I have about five differentstainless steel rulers. Two of them have a thick no-slip cork linerthat lifts the ruler too far off the page - the knife can tilt and cutunderneath it. The two that don't have a no-slip liner seem to be madeout of softer steel and the x-acto knife will notch them, though notnearly as easily as the aluminum ones. Also, without the bevelededges, it's harder to line it up along cut guides, especially for fullbleed business cards (print to the edge).I guess what I'm basically looking for is a straightedge made out of avery tough metal that won't be easily nicked or scratched with anx-acto blade. Beveled along one edge to make it easier to line up onthe image. A small groove along the underside,...

Mar 29, 2006 20 Replies

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Starrett, for one, makes plain straight-edges in various lengths. They won't be cheap but they will be straight, also steel. You'll probably have to find a local distributor and order through them, I've never seen them in stock anywhere. Not graduated, used to be called a "ruler", for ruling lines on paper, before that term got pre-empted for wooden measuring sticks.

If you want a measuring instrument as well as a straight-edge, they have scales, too. A 1' or 2' scale probably won't break you and will be hardened.

Stan