The Steel Rule

The steel rule is the most simple and basic tool to measure length. This World War 2 era film introduces the viewer its various uses and varieties.
This is part 1 of a series, known as MEASUREMENT in the METALWORKING INDUSTRY.
Produced by Loucks & Norling Studios, for the Federal Security Agency and the US Office of Education - 1941
Subtitulado por Daniel Rocha - México
This digital video was produced from a surviving 16mm movie print by the Museum of Our Industrial Heritage. industrialhistory.org

Пікірлер: 111

  • @jakedee4117
    @jakedee41175 жыл бұрын

    "well oiled tools kept in good order mark the competent craftsman" well said sir, even today that's the mark of the true craftsman

  • @Donkusdelux

    @Donkusdelux

    5 жыл бұрын

    I was just going to quote the same thing. It still holds true to this day.

  • @johnopalko5223
    @johnopalko52235 жыл бұрын

    I really like these old films. They get right to the point and give you the information you need without trying to be cutesy and entertaining. Thanks for discovering and restoring this little gem.

  • @Birkbecks
    @Birkbecks5 жыл бұрын

    I'm a retired engineer now self employed and still using all these measuring tools today great to see how to use them correctly. .... well done.

  • @KowboyUSA
    @KowboyUSA5 жыл бұрын

    This is the type of valuable film we were shown in shop class a half plus century ago.

  • @lwoodt1
    @lwoodt15 жыл бұрын

    The basics still hold true today in 2018.

  • @demandred1957
    @demandred19575 жыл бұрын

    Excellent video, and I love how the font of the numbers hasn't changed in so many years that it's still looks exactly like the tools I use everyday.

  • @emeltea33

    @emeltea33

    5 жыл бұрын

    I was thinking the other day that I like it, especially '2', similar to what's on the 2 dollar bill.

  • @AWDJRforYouTube
    @AWDJRforYouTube5 жыл бұрын

    Thanks for these great films, hand not seen them since 1970's machine trades training.

  • @Abom79
    @Abom795 жыл бұрын

    Excellent video!

  • @beachboardfan9544

    @beachboardfan9544

    5 жыл бұрын

    O damn its ABOM!!

  • @bostedtap8399

    @bostedtap8399

    5 жыл бұрын

    Love the artisan allways seems to open the same drawer.

  • @psdaengr911
    @psdaengr9115 жыл бұрын

    It was interesting that the basic linear (not dial) caliper wasn't covered. It was a simple variation of the adjustable square capable of more precise and consistent measurements than a basic steel rule. These sometime incorporated a magnifier

  • @innocentoctave
    @innocentoctave5 жыл бұрын

    Precision, tolerance, accuracy: still the foundations.

  • @YesYou123333
    @YesYou1233335 жыл бұрын

    I remember watching this in Shop class when I was in high school in the 70's.

  • @erth2man
    @erth2man5 жыл бұрын

    I'm a machine shop supervisor that has always carried a six inch scale in a pocket for basic measuring for over 40 years. I tell my crew that it is used for everything from spreading cream cheese on a bagel to digging dog crap out of a shoe. (I just have to remember which end is used for what purpose). You might guess that my guys don't want me to retire any time soon.

  • @krrrruptidsoless
    @krrrruptidsoless5 жыл бұрын

    The steel rule. When the commentator said that at the beginning it was like a movie title. Like the Maltese falcon or something.

  • @indianoladave
    @indianoladave5 жыл бұрын

    back to the basics. learn what a gauge block does before hoping on a cnc and calling yourself a machinist

  • @ferrumitzal4584
    @ferrumitzal45845 жыл бұрын

    As a blacksmith (three rivers forge), I'm supposed to "work to the tolerance of a worn shilling", but I can't stand that notion. Give me a steel rule, well oiled, and a scribe. I keep a steel rule in the bib pocket of my leather apron right next to the carbide scribe that leaves a very fine mark. The only time I like soapstone or a silver pencil is when I need to simply grub off some steel. If you tell me you want something 15" long, I do my level best to get it right on 15"...... not 15.1"!!! Nothing more aggravating than a thick line marking something and having no idea where on the line to cut, punch or drill.

  • @ActiveAtom

    @ActiveAtom

    5 жыл бұрын

    My overall bibs are material built into my overalls as I am a micro machinist making part s of the watchmaker in size. I have my pocket steel scale and a single pencil and a single pen this allows my portability as I move from one work station to another within a short distance of travel. Ferrum Itzal. We liked your story og the rules usage.

  • @andnor

    @andnor

    5 жыл бұрын

    I have been talking to a few (4) blacksmiths that claims that 1mm margin of error is to large for blacksmithing work. How true is this?

  • @canadiannuclearman

    @canadiannuclearman

    5 жыл бұрын

    save time in the long run by being accuracy.

  • @psdaengr911

    @psdaengr911

    5 жыл бұрын

    I don't know why that myth is perpetuated. A blacksmith works to the tolerances needed for the forged part to fit, and degree of fit is always specified. It's only when the parts get large, rigid and are anchored in use that thermal expansion requires looser fit.

  • @psdaengr911

    @psdaengr911

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@andnorIt depends on what processes you attribute to a "blacksmith". The names that we give to trades today are so far removed from their origins that many of them are irrelevant. I'm now an engineer, not a wright, but an information and physical materials manager. "What engineers design, others do wright." ;-D A tolerance of 1mm +/-1/25 inch) for every measurement of a hand forged large part made without any other machining is tough because the parts are worked hot, expanded, and malleable, but measurements are taken when it is cooled. Very few precision parts are forged today without further machining. I received a pretty thorough education in metal working, (starting with my name), through hands-on shop classes in various material crafts - woodworking, foundry, forge and machining. Those clases covered history, development of technology and theory, not just the manual skills. A blacksmith works using heat and impact on iron to shape it. The skill of "black" smithing evolved from general metal smithing which started with easier to process, softer metals like copper, gold and silver. The soot produced by coal fired forges, blown into the shops and onto the workers by the forced air, is where the "black" came from. ) Steel foundry and forge are specializations within the "black" trade. The only tools used by a traditional blacksmith were a forge, anvil, hammer and chisels and the material used was a rough ingot. Originally those tools and ingots were prepared from ores by black smiths. Mill files and metal saws are relatively recent additions, so is the standardized steel rule, all of them built by descendent of the black smiths, building on the work of their predecessors.

  • @alphawhiskey3311
    @alphawhiskey33115 жыл бұрын

    Can you please post more of these kinds of videos...excellent

  • @eldigitom9680
    @eldigitom96805 жыл бұрын

    Very interesting and well presented!

  • @t.d.mich.7064
    @t.d.mich.70645 жыл бұрын

    Simple system it is! A fraction is nothing more than a ratio. 47/64 is actually 47 divided by 64, which equals .7343". Metric is OK with me, but I don't see any problems with Imperial or S.A.E. measurements.

  • @royreynolds108

    @royreynolds108

    5 жыл бұрын

    @HappyandAtheist It is best to use the system used to manufacture the part or in surveying to use the measurement that was originally used for the original survey if trying to reestablish lines and corners. Most times equivalents can be calculated and used which is just fine. I worked in metric when the job I was on used metric but prefer imperial except when laying out a line then I use feet and thousandths of a foot.

  • @ardvarkkkkk1

    @ardvarkkkkk1

    5 жыл бұрын

    @HappyandAtheist It still works.

  • @jacobbellwood6184
    @jacobbellwood61845 жыл бұрын

    I learnt from school that it's a rule because you are ruling it off the mark. Even with paperwork when you line off an item you rule it off with a proper single line for the legal purpose.

  • @sparkiekosten5902
    @sparkiekosten59025 жыл бұрын

    Very nice!

  • @leaturk11
    @leaturk115 жыл бұрын

    how come we don't get training like this anymore...10/10 for this video

  • @ActiveAtom
    @ActiveAtom5 жыл бұрын

    I too love these videos reminders not too far from my training in the early 1970's I.E. my era of existence. WOW I actually have and yes use the miniature rule attached to the small stick holder. 6:17 in is the tool I still utilize in the micro machining shop to this day, some tools never wear-out their welcome. Thank you for placing up to KZread this video for our opportunity to view its content.

  • @Redmech80

    @Redmech80

    5 жыл бұрын

    I to have and use the same tool you mention.

  • @demandred1957

    @demandred1957

    5 жыл бұрын

    I'm going to have to see if eBay has a Trammell divider and that fancy little scale on a stick.

  • @davidmaddison2628
    @davidmaddison26285 жыл бұрын

    Great film from the time people actually knew the basics of doing things.

  • @BTENERY

    @BTENERY

    5 жыл бұрын

    Basic common sense,which seems to be lacking today

  • @liquidsonly
    @liquidsonly5 жыл бұрын

    A ruler is ether a device for ruling straight lines, upon which there are no measured indications, essentially a blank straight edge . Or it's a king or queen. (Americans need to pay attention here). A rule is exactly as described in this video.

  • @MrGoatflakes
    @MrGoatflakes5 жыл бұрын

    Copper sulfate is probably not a good idea though as a layout fluid, sulfate ions catalyse rust, so are best avoided. The idea is presumably that some of the copper cements out leaving a layer of copper you can mark into. Neat idea, but dyes are probably better and not going to rust up your work. Yes I know steel is often pickled in sulfuric acid. But it does make it more likely to rust badly if isn't all removed.

  • @obfuscated3090

    @obfuscated3090

    5 жыл бұрын

    The most popular "dye" today is a thick Sharpie. Even NIMS tests consider them acceptable because industry uses Sharpies so often. I keep red and blue handy.

  • @csonracsonra9962
    @csonracsonra99625 жыл бұрын

    A scribe is located in the combination square... allot of people never realize it. ( it's the ball that sticks out of the black part) 8:03

  • 5 жыл бұрын

    YES!!! I have an old starrett and the man that gave it to me when i was a kid 15 years old!! gave me a proper tutorial on its use too! he gave me the centering head also and a great micrometer set and they are all priceless to me

  • @billrofe7015
    @billrofe70155 жыл бұрын

    Thanks very much for the video's

  • @SuperLeddie
    @SuperLeddie5 жыл бұрын

    nearly everyone calls it a ruler because of the education system. when i came out of school in the 70s and started my engineering apprenticeship i called it a ruler, the old engineer that was teaching me corrected me and said it was a rule, from then on i called it a rule, now i find myself correcting everyone that calls it a ruler.

  • @RichieRichOverdrive

    @RichieRichOverdrive

    5 жыл бұрын

    My old instructor always called it a scale.

  • @rollinrat4850

    @rollinrat4850

    5 жыл бұрын

    I still refer to it as a scale. The youngsters I work with always ask what the hell Im talking about. My boss hates it when I ask to borrow his drill motor! Thats what it is! A drill is what makes the hole!

  • @heronimousbrapson863

    @heronimousbrapson863

    5 жыл бұрын

    The difference, in my opinion, is insignificant.

  • @jacobbellwood6184

    @jacobbellwood6184

    5 жыл бұрын

    I was taught at tech that it is a rule as to the point of ruling a measurement or line off the mark and I have been teaching everyone since, even my boss which is a mechanics engineer. Also with paperwork, when you have to line a piece, you rule it off the mark don't you. A rule rules so to speak.

  • @RinceCochon
    @RinceCochon5 жыл бұрын

    Ok, its 4am and i'm watching a video about steel rules while i'm French and dont use imperial system... I'm definitly lost on KZread.

  • @welshpete12
    @welshpete125 жыл бұрын

    At the beginning of the second world war, when parts were sent over to Britain from the USA . It was found that they would not fit and had to be sent back , at great risk from U Boats . It was a found to be a difference in the inch between the two countries . So measuring equipment had to be recalibrated .

  • @chrisguevara
    @chrisguevara5 жыл бұрын

    Wow...this was very useful when there were very little machines. Those damn machines don't need rulers...they have lasers now :(

  • @MrGoatflakes
    @MrGoatflakes5 жыл бұрын

    Wow, love that tool box. Pretty sick that the "other measurement systems" they mention are twelfths, twenty fourths and tenths of an inch though...

  • @bostedtap8399

    @bostedtap8399

    5 жыл бұрын

    Used for scale drawings.

  • @aceroadholder2185

    @aceroadholder2185

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@bostedtap8399 Yep, you needed them back when drawings were hand drawn. I still have 3 sided engineers and architects rules. The other type rule not mentioned is a "shrink rule" used for making mold patterns so the work will be the correct size when it cools from the molten state. There is a rule for each type of metal.. iron, aluminum, etc.

  • @860240
    @8602405 жыл бұрын

    Scribe the circle on a test piece and check first !

  • @MuseumofOurIndustrialHeritage

    @MuseumofOurIndustrialHeritage

    5 жыл бұрын

    Tools change over time, but the responsibility to do the work correctly doesn't!

  • @Jimmyzb36
    @Jimmyzb365 жыл бұрын

    Skills!

  • @ShakespeareCafe
    @ShakespeareCafe5 жыл бұрын

    4:50 Burn an inch

  • @waswestkan
    @waswestkan5 жыл бұрын

    My first time of swapping out the head on an cylinder oil field engine, I ask the guy breaking me in how much clearance to give the valve rocker arms. H said a nickle's worth so I drug a nickle out of my pocket. O'm nothing but precise. ;)

  • @samhouston1673
    @samhouston16735 жыл бұрын

    @05:20 I wonder if that ruler maker still has "Made in U.S.A." on their rulers.

  • @GalacticSparrow
    @GalacticSparrow5 жыл бұрын

    1:31, Sorry, no is going to measure a tolerance of dead nuts with a steel rule! At least they clarify that later on.

  • @milanssite
    @milanssite5 жыл бұрын

    @4:11 i love the metric system XD

  • @buddyismaname
    @buddyismaname5 жыл бұрын

    Measure it with a steel scale back in the day. I fight a CMM all day trying to hold +/-.0001. We need to go back.

  • @thisnicklldo

    @thisnicklldo

    5 жыл бұрын

    It is about the steel rule, but I see at 01:31 they have a 5/16" dia to a tenth of a thou, on a piece 1.1/8" long on the drawing. Ground I guess, too close to turn to that tolerance I would think at that diameter and length.

  • @LukasDubeda
    @LukasDubeda5 жыл бұрын

    We've always been taught it's a "ruler" not a "rule"... the more you know...

  • @MyKonaRC
    @MyKonaRC5 жыл бұрын

    What about the Rule that is made to be broken?

  • @heronimousbrapson863

    @heronimousbrapson863

    5 жыл бұрын

    😃😃😃😃

  • @rollinrat4850
    @rollinrat48505 жыл бұрын

    A 3/4” steel rule makes a great utensil for eating birthday cake!

  • @heronimousbrapson863

    @heronimousbrapson863

    5 жыл бұрын

    In fourth grade, they made great fencing weapons; so much better than the wooden ones.

  • @tomthompson7400
    @tomthompson74005 жыл бұрын

    as good today as it was then ,,,

  • @lorenrose208
    @lorenrose2085 жыл бұрын

    I use steel rules on a daily basis.

  • @heronimousbrapson863
    @heronimousbrapson8635 жыл бұрын

    Here in Canada in the late '70's we started doing these measurements in metric. It was SO MUCH EASIER than messing around with inches and fractions thereof.

  • @wessonsmithjr.6257
    @wessonsmithjr.62575 жыл бұрын

    And not too far into the future selecting a part and pushing the start button on a 3-D printer is all anyone is going to have to do.

  • @MuseumofOurIndustrialHeritage

    @MuseumofOurIndustrialHeritage

    5 жыл бұрын

    No. I don't think you are going to ever see a robot be either creative, or proactive in intercepting and correcting problems. 3D print files still need to be created with imagination and skills and supervision still need to oversee and verify that the machine is working properly.

  • @MrSaemichlaus
    @MrSaemichlaus5 жыл бұрын

    Dividing a unit by powers of 2 seems very practical at first, but then it comes to 12ths, 24ths and 48ths and I'm glad I didn't grow up in such part of the world :D

  • @brianday6433
    @brianday64335 жыл бұрын

    Dose anyone else see the error on that blueprint @2:22 ? Totally Wrong!!

  • @chadehlers3849

    @chadehlers3849

    5 жыл бұрын

    There .500 !!! Thats engineers for ya!!!!

  • @edmundooliver7584

    @edmundooliver7584

    5 жыл бұрын

    2" inch

  • @alexhayden2303
    @alexhayden23035 жыл бұрын

    Just about every manufacturer of RULES, makes the same d.... mistake. They feel that they must screw up the 1st 2 or 3 inches by engraving micro sub divisions. An experienced worker has no use for these!

  • @djstringsmusic2994

    @djstringsmusic2994

    5 жыл бұрын

    I prefer the ones like shown in the video that have 1/8" and 1/16" on one side and 1/32" and 1/64" on the other.

  • @planpitz4190
    @planpitz41905 жыл бұрын

    I love the way in the US technical things are always down to the point without fuss .Only hassle remaining is the measuring system. I hope the US will transfer to metric soon .

  • @edmundooliver7584

    @edmundooliver7584

    5 жыл бұрын

    I hope not it's so easy in in"

  • @Zajebancije
    @Zajebancije5 жыл бұрын

    Yeah.... the beauty of the Imperial system. Forty-seven-sixty-fourth of an inch.... All clear.... And the irony of it: it is based on the Metric system, check at the NIST! Why make it simple, when we can make it Imperial ;)

  • @heronimousbrapson863

    @heronimousbrapson863

    5 жыл бұрын

    Exactly.

  • @hosmerhomeboy

    @hosmerhomeboy

    5 жыл бұрын

    eh, I work in both. Easier to do math in your head on the fly with imperial. rather hard to keep track of dozens of meters down to the millimeter, where simple dealing with feet, then inches, then fractions of an inch is manageable. Speaking about construction mind you. I'd agree that in general the metric system is better when high accuracy and many calculations are involved. In terms of applied geometry though, it's often easier for me when dividing something to use fractions, which in imperial translates directly to numbers and lines on the tape easily. That being said I do all my volumes metric, since it is easier to multiply, and also generally material comes metric, so why do the conversions?

  • @timothyarmstrong5987

    @timothyarmstrong5987

    5 жыл бұрын

    Imperial got us to the moon.

  • @grinchyface

    @grinchyface

    5 жыл бұрын

    The imperial system is dozenal and not decimal. Plenty intuitive if you're capable of counting to 12, and any given metric has far more factors, actually making it far easier and more precise for precise calculations. Before your rebuttal, with perfect accuracy can you provide me the length of 1/3 of 1 meter?

  • @video99couk

    @video99couk

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@timothyarmstrong5987 And missed Mars.

  • @vladnickul
    @vladnickul5 жыл бұрын

    I have to admit I truly hate the imperial system.To many damn fractions

  • @andrewlangley9507

    @andrewlangley9507

    5 жыл бұрын

    Good exercise for the mind.

  • @ivankoran

    @ivankoran

    5 жыл бұрын

    Fractions are fun and pretty easy tho. And fractions are real where as decimals are approximations of size

  • @markschwarz2137

    @markschwarz2137

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@ivankoran I agree fractions are fun, and useful at times, but your use of "approximations" is a bit misleading. You may want to measure 3/16 of something, which sounds much more satisfying and accurate than 0.1875, but if you inaccurately measure 11/64, it's still the same as inaccurately measuring 0.171875. I use both, by the way, and the worst thing is when you have to convert one to the other. Anyway, I'm not telling anyone to use one or the other.

  • @MuseumofOurIndustrialHeritage

    @MuseumofOurIndustrialHeritage

    5 жыл бұрын

    This is a historic film. We are not advocating how things should be done, today, but I hope reasonable and constructive comparisons are made.

  • @Donkusdelux

    @Donkusdelux

    5 жыл бұрын

    As a cnc machinist, we use both metric and standard, fractions and thousands. one gets very good at converting them! Tho I always use a calculator to insure I do not ruin parts. A few simple tips to make it easy, converting fractions to thousands (lets say 1/8 for simplicity) simply divide 1 by 8 (first number decided by the second) it will give you .125 and this holds true to any fraction! Converting metric to standard, lets say you have 50mm, times the fifty millimeter by .03937 and it will also give you a thousands measurement of 1.9685 Or just under 2 inches This also holds true for any metric measurement Converting standard to metric is simply dividing .03937 by your metric number! there are endless formulas and calculations, but those are a good place to start! There are also allot of fraction equivalent charts available! :)

  • @paulwyleciol3459
    @paulwyleciol34595 жыл бұрын

    04:20 extremeky stupid!!! Order shall return! When wilk the Amys find out, how (easy) mm's work ??? ;-( Anyway for historical reasons: thumbs up and thanks for posting!

  • @denisshepelev1966
    @denisshepelev19665 жыл бұрын

    Stop using wrong measuring system :D

  • @brianday6433

    @brianday6433

    5 жыл бұрын

    Imperial "Rules" Metric Sucks!

  • @MichaelBeck_profile

    @MichaelBeck_profile

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@brianday6433 how?

  • @rollinrat4850

    @rollinrat4850

    5 жыл бұрын

    Theyre both fine. Learn to do conversions. I do them in my head. Theres also these neat devices called calculators or the world wide web! Please just stop the whining.

  • @heronimousbrapson863

    @heronimousbrapson863

    5 жыл бұрын

    @therealnightwriter As someone who has used both, metric is so much easier and is prone to fewer measurement errors.

  • @brianday6433

    @brianday6433

    5 жыл бұрын

    @@MichaelBeck_profile Neither System is more accurate that the other (as some have said). Both can be divided to infinity. I 've been a machinist for nearly 50 years. I do more metric parts than I do in inches. It depends on which system you were raised on. If someone says "I need 12 ft rod" I know about how long that is without grabbing a tape. If they say " I need a 3,048mm rod I grab my calculator then my tape ruler. How would you feel if your next paycheck was in Eros?