Customer Reviews

Alvin & Co. 306 ROLLING RULER - 6"

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

At the suggestion of another person, I purchased a 6 inch and 12 inch rolling ruler with the intent of using both the straight edge and protractor portion to draw lines at specific angles. The tool works, but unfortunately, the numbers are too hard to see without using a magnifying glass. So, I ordered Alvin's 10 inch parallel glider which has numbers that are much easier to see and works for my specific purpose. The two rolling rulers are now gathering dust in my desk drawer.

This particular tool is probably fine for general use, rough sketching, or applications where there precision is not critical. While convenient for marking or drawing lines that are approximately parallel, do not expect precise results, particularly for drafting use. This is an economical, lesser quality, all plastic item best suited for casual use.

Rolling rulers work best where the roller has good traction, can spin easily and roll as straight as possible. That typically means a clean, flat level surface. The black caps at the end of the roller are grooved plastic, which may have a tendency to slide on some surfaces. This can be frustrating. Some rolling rulers have rubber on the roller for better traction, or a metal roller or shaft. One good thing about all plastic construction is that the ruler may not crack if dropped on a hard surface. The unit cost is reasonable, but with the shipping cost added in, you are better off checking at your local graphics arts store. Rating is base on product utility, not cost.

Alvin has manufactured and sold high quality drafting instruments for 50 years.

This item sold by Quint Graphics is NOT Alvin so you don't get the Alvin Quality. You get dollar store quality. Nothing wrong with dollar store quality if that's what you want. It's NOT what I wanted or paid for.

I'd advise you to be very wary of dealings with Quint Graphics.

Ordered the 6" and 12" ruler. I've had a 12" rolling ruler for 14 years...numbers all faded and part of the ruler end was broken...more like an 8" rolling ruler now. Finally broke down and bought another one. Used primarily for drawing parallel lines, or a line parallel to another object. The rolling function is good for lining up with a matchline or corridor walls on blueprints. Don't use the ruler functions at all. The line graduations are funky, and I don't trust the other dimensions on the rolling portion of the ruler. The 6" ruler is nice for 1/4 scale drawings and smaller sheets of paper. If you want a nice ruler to draw straight, parallel lines, this would be a good choice. If you are an engineer and want exact dimensions based off of the rolling ruler, I would caution that use. For what it is, and the cost, this is a nice ruler. I've had one for 14 years, use is regularly, and plan on having one in my arsenal for another 14 years.

I have owned my roller rulers for over 15 years. For my type of office work, they are great. I work with long reports and journals that the ruler helps me go through much faster than sliding a regular ruler. My co-workers liked mine so much they had to have one too.

I found the Rolling Ruler to be a valuable addition to my drawing tools. I used it mainly for lettering guidelines on landscape plans, and it is much easier to use than a standard lettering guide. The markings make it a snap to get the same line spacing each time. The only possible drawback that I found was that you had to be sure that the first line you draw is oriented correctly, as you do not have a T-square to do that for you. I wish I had purchased the 12 inch size also, as I could have used it too.