What I use for small jobs for example when I am cutting off multiple lengths of the same length is the good old wooden scribing block.
You can move the stem in or out and lock it off with the tightening screw. Or you can use the combination square again locking it off at the desired length. For larger jobs use a tape measure but buy one with the best locking mechanism you can find, but after locking it off at the desired length put your fingers down over the tape so it does not move in or out while transferring it to the wood or steel to be cut. Another device I use is a curtain track which opens out to 12 feet and slides inside each other very tightly. You can slide it out to the length required and again transfer it to the piece to be cut. Look around your home or workshop and adapt whatever you have to do the job. It is amazing what you can come up with. Ray [Non-text portions of this message have been removed]
