What is a Folding Rule and What are They Used for

When most of us need to measure something around the house or when working on some sort of construction project, we probably turn to the tape measure. The tape measure has been a mainstay since its invention in 1868, or even earlier, especially since it’s improved a lot since it appeared. But before the tape measure, tradesman had another tool, the folding rule. The folding rule was invented in 1851 by Anton Ullrich, a German factory owner. The folding rule was adopted by a certain number of trades, where it’s still used today even after the tape measure became so popular. The reason a folding rule is still used is because for the things it’s used for, it has some advantages over tape measures.

It’s a no-brainer that folding rules are used for measuring, but it’s the conditions of the measuring that make this tool great to have on hand. One situation that’s great for folding rules is when you need to measure something up high or further away. When you extend a folding rule, it remains rigid in situations where the tape measure would just flop over. Like a tape measure, the folding rule is also handy for measuring shorter and longer distances. If you need to measure something small, just unfold one section of the ruler.

A couple of other things the folding rule can do is it can help measure angles of buildings and other things in the world. You can bend the ruler into a triangle or at some other angle and use it to approximate the angle on a house or a bridge. The folding rule can also be folded into a “4” shape to assist with drawing parallel lines.

Folding rules also have certain special features, depending on the trade it’s being used for. Certain folding rules have special marks on them, mason folding rules, for example, unfolds in 8 inch increments. Other folding rules are insulated for use in electrical work while still others are designed to be used to measure the insides of doorways and cabinets. Most versions will also fit in a pocket or a pouch on a tool belt. It’s a tool that can be carried anywhere and used for almost anything!

While the folding rule isn’t perfect for every job and tape measures can work better in certain situations, the folding rule has its place in performing certain jobs. When it’s used for the right job, the folding rule can do some really cool things that a tape measure can’t, so it pays to use them both for their unique strengths.