Back in March, 2021, I posted on Facebook:
“Dear Starrett, please make one of these in Grad 4-1. The End.”I have two of these little 6″ Starrett No. 604 Rules. One I keep in my shop apron and one on the bench. They are super useful. But they could be even better.These (and nearly all rules of this sort) are marked in what’s called Grad No. 4. That means one side is 8ths and 16ths. The other side is 32nds and 64ths. The precision of 32nds and 64ths is useless for woodworking. So the rule is basically one-sided.But having 8ths and 16ths running right to left on the reverse side would be really great and something that I would use all the time. There is a designation for that, Grad No. 4-1.Sadly, I am not aware of anyone producing a rule in that format. If anyone knows of somewhere that does, please let me know.
I am happy to report that someone has taken up the challenge and produced (well, contracted with some Chinese factory) just such a rule. Behold:
 Front view: Starrett No. 604 (top) Taylor Tools rule (bottom) |
 Back view: Starrett No. 604 (top) Taylor Tools rule (bottom) |
Taylor Toolworks markets these in 6″ (rigid & flexible) and 12″ (rigid) sizes and in black or satin chrome finish for $5.99 (6″) and $7.99 (12″). Pictured here is a further variation on the 6″ only with end grads. You can find them here. Under the same moniker (Benchmark Tools™) they also sell a variety of 4R and 5R rules for the more machinist-inclined people, also for quite reasonable prices.
I snagged 2 of the rigid 6″ chrome finished rules and have replaced my Starrett No. 604 4R rules. No, they can’t touch the quality of these vintage Starrett rules, but they are graduated in 1/8ths and 1/16th on both sides and that’s what I need for woodworking. Hell, my eyesight is such that 1/64ths is a comically unusable scale anyway.
So, I sold off my Starretts for $25 each, because, Starrett. These were keepers from “a box of machinist tools” at some auction or other. Meaning they cost averaged price was like $1, not the $60 a new Starrett would have cost, or $20-$40 they run on eBay.
Some folks avoid Taylor Toolworks (TT) on ethical grounds as they’ve played fast and loose with the IP of a couple small US-based tool makers. For example, they market an inexpensive ($37) knock-off of the excellent Tite-Mark Marking Gauge made by Glen-Drake Toolworks and sold by Lie-Nielen ($129).
Seeing that it’s sold by (LN) should tell you that 1) it’s a high quality tool and 2) it’s not cheap. And both of those are true. I have 2 of them. Superficially and functionally the TT version is the same. But pick up the Glen-Drake model and you’ll never touch the TT version again. It’s everything you expect from LN: extremely well-made, attractive and highly refined, a tool that’s a joy to use. The TT version is everything you expect from a Chinese version: functional, but unrefined. Sharp knurling for instance.
Given that, why do business with them? They carry a very large selection of specialty woodworking tools that either you can’t get anywhere else, like these rules. Or, are hard to find, usually due to small volumes. So, I avoid the knock-off and get what I need, YMMV.