Great post Larry. Don ----- Original Message ----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] To: [email protected] Sent: Saturday, February 10, 2007 9:40 PM Subject: Re: [BlindHandyMan] roto rule description
Here are copies of some of the answers: From John Schwery: Scott, the nut that looks like a regular nut, that is, the 6-sided nut, is the locking nut. If you will notice on the square nut, on one side of that nut is a little notch. That is the side you want to face up for measuring. Supposing you want to measure 2 and a quarter inches. The end with the threaded hole is where you start. From that end, spin the square nut until it lines up with the 4th mark, that is, 2 inches and have the notch side up. then, continuing to spin in the same direction, count 4 turns, again, with the notch side up. Turn the other nut until it locks the square nut in place. You should have 32 and a quarter inches. Now, if you want to make that 8 and a quarter inches, screw in the 6 inch extension. From Mickey Fixsen: The threaded piece is the primary measuring device. The rectangular nut is the measuring nut and the hex nut is the locking nut. Here is how to use it. There is a small hole in one end of the threaded rod. This hole is where the extensions attach to the threaded rod. Rotate the rectangular nut down to the end of the threaded rod until it is flush with the end with the small hole and the notch on one side of the rectangular nut is oriented on the same side as the raised threads that are 1/2"apart. You have now zeroed the tool. If you rotate the rectangular nut 8 turns toward the opposite end of the threaded rod, you should end up with the edge of the rectangular nut that was flush with the end of the rod, now flush with the first raised 1/2" raised thread. The tool now measures 1/2" fron the end of the rod with the hole in it to the edge of the rectangular measuring nut. Hence, when this edge of the measuring nut is flush with a raised mark, you have a particular measurement in 1/2" increments. For every full turn of the rectangular measuring nut, you have changed the measurement 1/16". For every half turn of the measuring nut, you change the measurement by 1/132". For every quarter turn of the measuring nut, you change the measurement by 1/64". If for instance you need a measurement of 1 1/4", start by rotating the rectangular measuring nut so that the edge closest to the end of the rod with the hole is flush with the second raised thread fron the end of the rod with the hole, and the notch on the measuring nut is oriented on the same side of the tool as the raised threads. Now, rotate the measuring nut 4 full turns further away from the end of the rod with the hole and make sure the notch is on the same side of the tool as the raised threads. There is now 1 1/4" from the end of the threaded rod with the hole to the edge of the rectangular measuring nut. You can measure up to six inches with the threaded rod alone. This is from the end of the rod with the hole to the closest edge of the measuring nut. If you need to measure 6 inches to 12 inches, simply install the 6 inch extension. You can add extensions as needed to measure up to 42 inches with what you have there. So far, I have been talking about measurements from the end with the hole to the closest edge of the measuring nut. This is how you would use it for outside measurements, like across the outside of a box, or from one end of a boart to a given length. For inside measurements, like inside of a box, you measure from the end of the rod with the hole to the far side of the measuring nut. The measuring nut is 1/4" thick and you willl need to remember this with some operations. Just remember that the raised threads are 1/2" marks and that every full turn of the measuring nut is 1/16". When you get the measuring nut where you want it, you can tighten the hex shaped nut against it to hold the measurement nut from turning and changing the measurement. Like most things, there is a bit of a learning curve with it. Just use it a bit and get used to how it operates. You will find that it is very accurate. It is by far the best overall measuring tool for use by the blind. By the way, the Clickrule works on the same principle as the rotomatic, but uses a sliding device instead of a rotating nut, and it has a detent that lightly holds the tool every 1/16". The clickrule won't lie as flat on the workpiece as the Rotomatic and does not have it's 1/64" accuracy. They both have their plusses and minuses. I use them both, depending on the particular task at hand. If you have any other specific questions about how to use the Rotomatic, just ask. Good luck. From Dale Leavens: You have done pretty well at describing the rule. The threaded rod is six and a half inches long. The large rectangular nut is the one you most commonly use for measuring. The other nut is used when/if you want to lock the rectangular nut into place to hold a measure or even to use it as a sort of monster feeler gauge. You should notice a small notch cut into one of the longer sides of the rectangular nut, this is to help orient it. You are correct, the half inch marks are where a thread is continued all around the face of the milled side of the threaded rod. Each revolution of the nut represents one sixteenth of an inch so, half a turn is a 32nd of an inch and a quarter turn is a 64th. two complete turns is an eighth of an inch and so on. If you require more than 6 inches then you thread the 6 inch rod bringing your measure up as far as 12 and a half inches, add the 12 inch rod or the 18 inch rod or any combination there of and you have the lengths you require. What I really like about the measure is that I can set a size off of a plan or I can take a measure from a project, lock the nut into place then go to my miter saw and pressing the end of the rod against the blade, adjust the wood to be cut until it is flush with the nut and cut an exact size. I frequently end up with a bit of a bruise on my chin from holding the saw down against the board, I do have a bungee cord hanging on the cabinet I can use to hold the saw down to the wood while I set the distance precisely but this takes time and I often don't bother. I can as easily use it to very accurately set the distance from rip fence to blade on my table saw and so on. This is of course not adequate beyond 42 and a half inches although I suppose you could get more rod if you need or want it. I do try to keep a stick or two around here precisely 4 feet long but rarely do I need it. Even when I raised this addition it was mostly fine to use the dimensional lumber and/or relative measures with a locking tape measure. I used a block to space studs, locking tape measure to determine the actual length of span for building the roof trusses, I didn't actually even have the roto ruler back then but a folding meter stick ruler. A tactile ruler though just isn't accurate enough for cabinet work and hardly for structural framing. Things like carpenter squares known to be 24 on the two inch leg and 16 on the inch and a half leg can also be helpful in frame construction. The foregoing messages should give you a pretty complete description of the Roto-rule. -- Larry Martin Woodworking for the Blind --joining the world of blind wood workers -------------- Original message ---------------------- From: "R & S Enterprises" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> > I seem to remember someone a few weeks ago gave a very good description of > the operation of the roto rule. I would like to talk with them via > telephone. If they would e-mail me off list with a phone number and best > time to call I would call them. as I have some ideas to discuss. > thanks > Ron Yearns > > [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] [Non-text portions of this message have been removed] To listen to the show archives go to link http://acbradio.org/handyman.html or ftp://ftp.acbradio.org/acbradio-archives/handyman/ The Pod Cast address for the Blind Handy Man Show is. http://www.acbradio.org/news/xml/podcast.php?pgm=saturday The Pod Cast address for the Cooking In The Dark Show is. http://www.gcast.com/u/cookingindark/main.xml Visit The Blind Handy Man Files Page To Review Contributions From Various List Members At The Following address: http://www.jaws-users.com/handyman/ Visit the new archives page at the following address http://www.mail-archive.com/[email protected]/ For a complete list of email commands pertaining to the Blind Handy Man list just send a blank message to: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Yahoo! 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