How to clean up a crusty ruler

[mbond]

Ya, I previously said the ruler was metric. Had to be since its 30cm.

But I'm actually quite metrologically bilingual. I was born and schooled through university in Imperial. But my employer and the entire N. American Auto Industry went metric. So I had to learn to speak metric. I just don't like it.

When I went to school, everything was officially metric - but the rulers we had were marked with 30 cm and 12 inches at the same point. so who knows what they were actually graduated in.

I learned imperial measurements independently of school, and have a whole thesis on why is is easier to make really big mistakes in metric.

 

[Tom O]

When I went to school we had about a week of metric exposure

 

[Susquatch]

and have a whole thesis on why is is easier to make really big mistakes in metric.

Love to hear it if and when you ever have time to do it......

 

[MrWhoopee]

I tried the scotch bright without any joy. So I switched to 1000grit wet sandpaper on a block. Rather instant joy.

It seems counter intuitive to start with a high grit and go low, but the 1000 did the trick.

Before

View attachment 62386

After

View attachment 62387

It isn't perfect, but I was not expecting that. It's pretty darn good!

Thanks all!

Nice Starrett Ruler even if does seem to be metric first. WhoAl ever heard of an 11-3/4 ruler anyway!

 

[MrWhoopee]

That almost looks like satin-chrome in the picture.

I was fooled by a combo metric/imperial Starret scale one time. Cut a bunch of stock too short. Who knew that a 150mm scale wasn't 6 inches long? It's been permanently assigned to my drill point gage ever since.

 

[ChazzC]

I’ll add ~1000 grit film to my comparison tests.

"Lapping" Film

Turns out the finest I have is 250G (60µ), so I'll have to add an assortment of finer films to my shopping list.

 

[Tomc938]

Remember (or maybe I haven’t gone into these details before), I was in a sling for 10 weeks before the surgery, then another 4 weeks before starting PT, so the left arm (& hand to a degree) hadn’t moved for 3 months; it wasn’t until late January before I had enough flexibility to use my left hand for much of anything, including opening a jar/bottle/tin of cleaner/polish and holding something so I could work on that something with my right hand.

My rule is one of the thin flexible 9” ones (yes, designed that length, not cut down from 22”) about 105 years old and quite worn so I need to use care.

I went through similar. Shoulder surgery and 6 weeks in a sling. When the sling came off I couldn't get my fingers under my arm to wash. Couldn't believe how tight it froze up, and in what seemed like a short time.

My shoulder recovered well. How's yours doing?