After spending many hours trying to fix my measurement mistakes on small leather projects I recognized the importance of having a good measuring device.
Omnigrip rulers have a patented non-slip backing that securely holds them in place during cutting. A proper blade angle of 90 degrees while cutting is maintained by its 2 millimeter thickness. Additionally, the ruler’s transparency, double sight lines, and multiple angle markings increase measurement accuracy.
Table of Contents
Rulers for leather cutting should have a non slip backing
Accurate measurements come from having a measuring device that is able to stay in place.
The most common way of securing a measuring device when working with leather is to provide a non slip backing.
The best non -slip feature that I have seen is the addition of a raised edge on the tip of the ruler.
This design, patented by Omnigrip securely locks the ruler on the edge of the cutting mat or the leather. This allows you to add just a minimal amount of pressure to keep it from moving.
The next suitable alternative is the use of non slip tape on measuring devices. Companies such as Weaver Leather Craft provide measuring devices that are backed with non slip tape, or you can purchase the non slip tape separately.
And finally cork is the most common non slip material added to the back of measuring devices to prevent slippage. But you are better off purchasing your own cork and adding it to the back of your own measuring device.
I have written extensively about this in the post titled 9 Tips for Cutting Straight Lines. I go into more details on cork and non slip backing. Be sure to check it out if you are interested in more information on these alternatives.
As a final alternative, some leathercrafters have even modified their rulers by adding a little bit of beeswax to the back side of them. This prevents the ruler from slipping as you have pressure to it.
Transparent rulers reduce misalignments and cutting errors
When it comes to measuring all of the rulers that I tested we’re very good at making accurate measurements.
I live in the US and I am very familiar with using inches to make my measurements. But I am also very comfortable with using the metric system for making measurements.
I found that the best rulers for making measurements had the imperial system which deals with inches on one side and the metric system with meters on the opposite side provided the best measurements.
Transparent rulers reduce the amount of work needed to make accurate measurements and cuts.
It is much easier to align the lines of a transparent ruler so that you can see the leather underneath while you’re making the cut.
For people that struggle with making straight lines, this is the best choice. There are many transparent rulers on the market but I have found that Omnigrid provide the best rulers in this category
Omnigrid rulers have double sight marks. This means that the measurements are placed vertically and horizontally so that you can place your ruler in any direction to get an accurate measurement. I was able to grab the ruler and an army created provides the best options for transparent rulers.
Non-transparent rulers can be just as accurate as transparent rulers but they tend to require a little bit more work to make accurate measurements.
When using a non-transparent ruler such as a wooden or metal one, you would need to make measurements from multiple sides and then connect the lines in order to make an accurate cut. This is great for those that struggle with cutting a straight line.
But regardless of the tool that you use, there are other components that contribute to cutting straight lines. If you feel that you struggle in this area be sure to read my post on 9 Tips For Cutting Straight Lines.
Measurement devices should allow cuts from any angle.
There is no doubt that in the process of cutting leather you’re going to have to cut at different angles. This is a challenging process regardless of what type of ruler you use.
The best rulers for making angle cuts are the “L” squares since they are basically two rulers put together in a 90-degree angle.
If you ever have to make a 90-degree cut for a sharp angle cut, the “L” square is a perfect tool to get the job done. This can be done with a regular ruler but it’s a little bit more challenging.
Measuring triangles can also be used to make 45 degree cuts. This is a great tool to have because it is so much easier to cut in a natural 45 degree angle across your body rather than a 90-degree angle with your body.
I love the triangles because they allow you to make the 90 and the 45 degree with no problem. But what happens when you want to make a 30 degree cut or a 60-degree cut?
Do you guess or estimate the cut?
No, you use the Omnigrip ruler. Not only is the Omnigrip ruler transparent but it has marks for 30° 45° 60° cuts. The shape of the ruler also allows you to naturally make the 90 degree cut as well.
With this ruler allows you to make 99% of the cut that you will make during leather crafting. This ruler can be bought and 18 and 24 inch sizes. They can even be bought in the shape of wide rectangles.
Thick rulers provide a guide for accurate cutting
The thickness of the ruler is a very important feature when cutting.
When you’re making a measurement with the ruler you need a nice thickness so that the blade can be vertically aligned on it. This prevents the blade from slipping over the edge of a ruler while cutting.
The thickness of the ruler acts as a guide for your knife as you pull it down the side of the the ruler.
The thinner the ruler, the easier it is for the blade to slip. A blade slip could result in inaccurate cuts, blade damage, ruler damage, or possibly finger damage.
I found that when attempting to cut straight lines and using the ruler as a guide it is much easier to apply downward pressure to a very thick ruler.
From there I gently place the blade in a 90 degree angle next to the side of the ruler. I only apply enough pressure so that the blade is touching the ruler while cutting.
This tends to produce the best cut. If the ruler is thin it is very difficult to get and maintain that 90 degree angle needed for accurate cuts.
What I have found to happen with thin rulers is that when I try to use the ruler as a guide the blade actually twists outward. This leads to improper cuts and curves while I’m attempting to cut a straight line.
From my tests, I found that the ruler should be approximately or no less than 2 mm thick in order to be able to accurately align the blade vertically. The Omnigrip rulers are 2 mm thick and allow for perfect alignment.
Measuring devices should protect the fingers during cutting
Another component that is often overlooked when selecting a ruler is finger protection. Again as mentioned above, a thin ruler provides a minimal amount of protection to your hand when making cuts.
It is much easier for the blade to slip on a thin ruler and to come over and cut your finger.
There are some specialty rulers that actually have a trough or a slight indentation for finger placement to protect them in case of an accidental blade slippage.
This is a great feature because it allows you to apply a maximum amount of pressure by placing your fingers down in the truck while you cut. Alumicutter makes rulers and have this feature.
Omnigrip PDF
