Paolini Rule

[Chris Parks]

Woodpeckers have just announced another run of this tool and I was just wondering if anyone who has bought one previously would comment on if it is useful or something that sits in the drawer never to be used. I looked at buying one the last time they were run and knocked it back because I have a sneaking suspicion it will be used a few times them dumped in a drawer. I would only buy the smallest one if I was to take the plunge, I have a 12'' Incra rule I never use but the 6" is constantly getting used. I don't want this to become a series of comments on the rights and wrongs of WP one time tools, we have been there and done that in prior times.

[dennis thompson]

I have the 6" one which I guess I bought the last time they offered it (2016?). I never use it, I have two cheap General 6" rules which I use 20-30 times a day.
I do remember my grandson saw the price of it (maybe $29 or so) and said why would you pay $29 for a 6" ruler? Good question, simply woodworker tool craziness.:)

[Chris Parks]

Thanks Dennis, I sort of agree but then I thought the Incra might be the same and I use that constantly.

[Derek Cohen]

Chris, you know there are sooooo mannnny similar set ups on the market, and many for much less $$.

One could just use a Starrett combination square. It does the same thing!

Or there is a Veritas sliding square, which looks so much more sensitible as a layout tool when in the workshop ...

http://www.leevalley.com/US/images/item/woodworking/markmeasure/05n3201-dsp2.jpg

Remove the blade and you can use the end as a height gauge as well.

... or their Ruler Stop, which I have used from pre-production times ...

https://www.carbatec.com.au/images/ProductImages/500/05N68-01.jpg

Honestly, I usually grab a combination square most of the time.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Chris Parks]

I think a lot of this stuff depends on what work you do and I am in no way convinced the Paolini is a good thing for me but some reinforcement of others experience never hurts. I think the idea has been totally rejected now. Are you happy with the LV sliding square, the clamping nut on mine has never felt right. Three posts and I have taken my own thread off topic!

[Frederick Skelly]

Not sure I'd use the Paolini rule very much. I don't see much advantage over my small double squares?
Fred

[Scott Bernstein]

I agree many other tools could be used with similar effect. Having said that I own at 12” aluminum version and a shorter stainless steel version of the Paolini rule. I do use the Paolini rule all the time in my garage hobbiest shop, choosing it over a small double square much of the time. The Paolini rule is lighter and less bulky in my pocket, compared to a double or combo square. The little stop is nice since you can use it as a stand to hold the rule upright on it’s long edge - useful in setting tool height. So...is this woodpeckers tool useful and good quality? Yup. Is it truly unique and worth extra cost? I guess that’s up to the individual pondering purchasing the tool. I like mine and use it often.

[Joe Cowan]

I have his 6" ruler and use it occasionally. It looks good and is useful, but I use my combo square more often for the same job.

[Bill Dufour]

So what is it anyway, a special way to make a toasted sandwich?
Bill D.

[Tim Bueler]

I have the 8" version and use it all the time. I have a light vest that I wear when in the shop for most oft used stuff. Carry the 8" Paolini rule, a 6" rule from Kreg and a 4" Starret double combo square. My 8" Paolini is the one that gets used the most, hands down. The only thing I don't like is the 8" version is actually 9" long and sticks out of my pocket a little further than I'd like.

[J. Greg Jones]

Looks like this is not a one-time tool run, as Woodpeckers says they are adding it to the product catalog full-time. I'm assuming they must have a high demand for these rules. I don't have one but I do have a rule stop that I don't use either! A rule and a combo square covers almost all layout/measuring tasks in my shop.

[George Yetka]

I missed the first run and the second but caught the last one. i was pretty excited for it but dont really use it. I forced myself a couple times. But i find i use their one time pocket square and a 6" square much more often.
Or the delve square when marking for dominos.

[Jacob Reverb]

Golly, with all the fiddly bits and the no-doubt "If ya gotta ask you can't afford it" price, I bet it was designed by a Brit engineer ("Looks good, but can you triple the number of carbs?")

[Yonak Hawkins]

So what is it anyway ?

I had to look it up to find out, myself. It wasn't easy to find as the Woodpecker site page has been disabled. I found one here (https://www.ultimatetools.ca/products/stainless-steel-paolini-pocket-rules-2018-onetime-tool).

[Edwin Santos]

Woodpeckers have just announced another run of this tool and I was just wondering if anyone who has bought one previously would comment on if it is useful or something that sits in the drawer never to be used. I looked at buying one the last time they were run and knocked it back because I have a sneaking suspicion it will be used a few times them dumped in a drawer. I would only buy the smallest one if I was to take the plunge, I have a 12'' Incra rule I never use but the 6" is constantly getting used. I don't want this to become a series of comments on the rights and wrongs of WP one time tools, we have been there and done that in prior times.

Chris,
This is never an easy question to answer. It's possible you could buy one and it will sit in a drawer, and it's also possible that it could become your indispensable companion in the shop. It depends on the way you work and whether you would adopt using the tool as a habit. All their tools are well made.

I adopted the habit of using the DelVe square and it is now my constant companion and used incessantly in my shop, mostly for marking, sometimes for checking square, sometimes for machine setup. I love it so much, I bought a backup. But I do notice others think it is useless.

So my point is the answer depends more on you than the tool itself. Nobody here knows the way you work as well as you do.
Edwin

[David Hawxhurst]

I have the stainless combo metric set and use the 150mm one constantly. It works very well for me. While a combo square can do most of what the Paolini rule can do it is bigger and bulkier. Means it doesn't fit in pocket very well. Paolini rule smaller. lighter and fits in my pocket.

[Jim Tobias]

I have the 6" and 8" version of the Paolini….like them both. I bought the 6" first and enjoyed using it enough to go back for the 8". Lightweight and design makes them easy to use(sliding stop). I also have a Veritas Sliding square that I bought a long time ago and still use it also. I find that different sizes and types of squares work best in different situations. Of course, you can mark a line/point with any but some are better suited for certain situations.
Personal preference rules....pun intended! ;)

Jim

[Ben Rivel]

Yea I had a 6" one a while back and just found I wasnt using it. Already had too many other gadgets that did the same thing.

[Terry Therneau]

I have the 8 and later got the 6. It lives in my shop apron and is used constantly. It's a good tool, but the reason it is used is because it is just the right size for the apron, so it's right there when I need it. I like the stop, which is easy to set, holds well, and is a great way to check that two setbacks are the same when one's eyesight isn't perfect. YMMV

Terry T.

[Wade Lippman]

I had to look it up to find out, myself. It wasn't easy to find as the Woodpecker site page has been disabled. I found one here (https://www.ultimatetools.ca/products/stainless-steel-paolini-pocket-rules-2018-onetime-tool).

$60! That's real easy to resist.

[Norman Pirollo]

Or make my own...406260

[Simon MacGowen]

$60! That's real easy to resist.

:D:D:D

Simon

[Greg R Bradley]

:D:D:D

Simon

Except that the 6" Aluminum one is $32.99. And the basis of the $60 claim is based upon someone who couldn't find Woodpeckers website.

Not much more than a good quality rule.

[Bill Dufour]

Or just buy the Starrett 6" pocket rule with clip. It can also be used to stir coffee.
Bil lD

[Rich Engelhardt]

I won a 6" Paolini from Carbide Processors in a contest they had on Facebook a few years ago.
Great tool!
Just the right size to fit in the front pocket of bib overalls.

Just the right size also to set the fence of the router table to a bearing on a bearing bit & the easy to remove stop makes it much handier than using a combination square's ruler.

[Chris Parks]

$60! That's real easy to resist.

It depends on how much you use it I guess and if it becomes a basic used all the time tool the price is not the issue within reason. Let's put it this way, the price certainly was not a factor in my asking the question.