Straight Edge Source

[James White]

Does anyone on the list have a less expensive source for a three foot strait edge? $68 from Lee Valley was the best I could come up with.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=56676&cat=1,240,45313&ap=1

James

[James White]

Actually I may go with this one. I think for the money you cant beat it.
http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=50074&cat=1,240,45313&ap=1

James

[Peter Quinn]

Try Garrett Wade, while normally very high they have some reasonable deals on good import straight edges with acceptable tolerances for woodworking.

http://www.garrettwade.com/shopping/product/detailmain.jsp?itemID=107414&itemType=PRODUCT&iMainCat=12395&iSubCat=12407&iProductID=107414

Occasionally they put them on sale at even bettr prices.

[Gary McKown]

If you are not quite as needful of precision, their Veritas aluminum ones are roughly half the price. I have the 38" version.

[Rod Sheridan]

One thing to note is accuracy.

The Lee valley steel straight edge was flat to within 0.001" overall

The Lee Valley aluminum straight edge is flat to within 0.003" overall

The Garret Wade straight edge is flat within 0.0005" per inch (The 36" straight edge could be out by 0.018")

As you can see you are comparing apples and crab-apples.........Regards, Rod.

[Peter Quinn]

Good eye Rod...glad I don't own one of those...that thing is a piece of junk. Sorry for that suggestion.

[Doug Shepard]

Does anyone on the list have a less expensive source for a three foot strait edge? $68 from Lee Valley was the best I could come up with.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=56676&cat=1,240,45313&ap=1

James

I came to the conclusion recently that based on cost vs. accuracy, the one you linked to was about the best I could do and mine showed up last week. Just couldn't afford to go with a Starrett or similar.

[James White]

I just got off the phone with Lee Valley. I ordered the Veritas 38" Aluminum straight edge. I figure as long as you are careful with it, it should last a lifetime and .003 is good enough for woodworking machines.

James

[Chris Friesen]

I managed to drop my Veritas aluminum one from the bench onto concrete, with a bounce off the edge of a steel plate on the way down.

After cussing for a while I recovered it, filed off the small divot that it had received, and checked it out against another straightedge. No damage to overall straightness.

Lucky me.

[Steven Bolton]

Chris, do you think the steel one, being dropped, would be more durable?

Thanks

Steve Bolton

[Eddie Darby]

Halfway down the page are some straight edges that beat the Lee Valley price by a fair amount. $24.98 Cdn

http://busybeetools.ca/cgi-bin/product10?&NMCLASS=00166&NSBCLASS=00278&NETID=0219100221081768271

"Item No: B2657
38” Aluminum Straight Edge from CRAFTEX

Ideal in the shop for checking surfaces whether straight or flat.
Stands on edge without support allowing you to have your hands free for making
any adjustments that are necessary. The straight edge is 1 3/4” wide and 38”
long and ground flat to with in .0015”.
Weighs just over 1 3/4 lb."

[Jack Briggs]

LMI (Luthiers Mercantile International) has a 30" black polycarbonate straight edge with edges milled to within .001" flat - 17 bucks!!!

http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproducts.asp?searchtext=recent&Submit=Search&NameProdHeader=Straight+Edges

[Tom Esh]

LMI (Luthiers Mercantile International) has a 30" black polycarbonate straight edge with edges milled to within .001" flat - 17 bucks!!!


Whoa! I like that. Specs almost as good as steel. I'd probably use that a lot more than the steel beast (aka the toe chopper :D).

[Rod Sheridan]

Hi Tom, it's not possible to compare the accuracy of the polycarbonate straight edges as they only state partial specifications.

Regards, Rod.