INCRATDPROT06 Pro T-Rule 6-Inch

I have been working with wood for well over 40 years now and have always used a basic tape measure to mark cut lines. However I never liked trying to connect the two tiny lines from opposite ends of my cut. Looking to improve the accuracy and speed at marking cutlines I came across this gem. It's fairly easy to use, and I love how I can put my mechanical pencil in the correct slot and then drag the ruler down the board and get a perfectly parallel line at exactly the position I want. Then I lay my track saw along the line and I'm ready to cut. So much easier than the old way. My only complaint is the size of the markings on the ruler for my old eyes are way too small. And there's so many tiny little holes that I have to really look at the ruler and be absolutely sure every time before making my mark. I wish it was a bit simplified. As it is now, the accuracy is well beyond the thickness of the line that will be drawn, which seems like overkill to me. Still I like the precision and ease of applying the lines over the tape measure method so I'll definitely keep doing it with this method, even if I have to juggle my glasses every time I need to make a mark.

These Incra rules are wonderful! Decades ago, I prided myself on accurate layouts using high quality standard rules and sharp pencils. But my eyes are no longer sharp enough to make that tiny "tick" mark exactly where I intend. With these innovative Incra tools, you can't help but make an accurate mark. Better yet, when you use it as a marking gauge, riding the fence along the edge of your workpiece, you can't help but make an accurate parallel line - much quicker and more accurate than the old method of measuring to make "tick" marks at both ends and then connecting them using a straightedge.Now I'll be the first to admit that, as a woodworker, there are many times when its best to layout one piece directly from another, rather than use measurements. I'll also acknowledge that wood moves, so ultra-precision is often unnecessary. But, I must also say that since I switched to precision layout tools like these, along with precision fences and stop block systems, my work has improved noticeably. And I waste less time trying to "sneak up" on a perfect fit, or cutting additional pieces because the first one was a hair too short.They took just a bit of getting used to, but I now rely on a selection of these etched rules from Incra, as well as a few similar CNC-machined aluminum rules from Woodpecker. Each has its place and I use them all the time, but they all require mechanical pencils with 0.5mm lead. I enjoy modern mechanical pencils, but to save time and frustration I had to get rid of all my 0.7mm pencils which won't work with these tools.Representing good ol' American ingenuity at its finest, these are made in the USA.

I have had the 6 inch incra t-rule for a long time. I purchased this one because (1) it is twice as long and (2) it has metric graduations. I intend to build a project in metric dimensions and it is terribly hard to find a metric-only rule. I am a huge fan of this t-rule system. It has three main uses for me:The first is for accurate layout of mortises and tenons. This tool coupled with a sharp marking knife results in unparalleled accuracy. Usually when I lay out mortises and tenons with this I need only a couple swipes with a shoulder plane for a piston-fit. It is not really possible to get 64th accuracy with your naked eye on a ruler.The second is as a thickness gage when thicknessing stock. It is easy to sneak up on, say, a 1/2" thickness by resting the t-rule against the face of the stock and measuring thickness on the face scale.The third is using the end of the rule as a height gage for router bits, or setting your saw's rip fence some distance from the blade. You lay the long side of the ruler on the router table and read the height at the end of the rule. Or, rest the long edge of the rule against the saws fence and measure to a near tooth on your ripping blade. It is again very precise (to 1/32" on the edge)

I recently purchased both the 12 in Pro rule and the 12 inch Precision Marking rule. Actually I haven't as yet used either on a project though I did test them both a bit on some boards when they first arrived. Now that I have them and have played with them a bit I suspect that I will likelynot use them that often .... and will likely continue to use (at least for most situations) my old combination square and tape measures. However I am glad to have them ... if only for backup. If and when I do run into a situation where a combination square and/or a tape measure seems inadequate I'll break these out and see if they can't help.I think it was the info-mercials for the INCRA rules on Utube that kind of seduced me into thinking these would be good to have ... the info-mercials are well made and enticing. But as a practical matter, after playing with them hands-on some, I doubt that I will give them a great amount of use. But if one had a particular use for them and was familiar with them and so knew what to expect from them then I don't doubt that they would be useful in that case.

Great product, but you will need to .. wash it? The print doesn't come off but there is a lot of excess toner from the manufacturing process that gets everywhere if you don't give it a quick wipe down. Also wish the red alignment bar was half as thick. When measuring out things that are only say, a quarter of an inch thick, it bows the end up making it difficult to draw precise lines.

...get this tool. I usually like to work with a new tool for at least a year before I post a review, but the moment I began using this one, it did more to improve my woodworking than any other tool I own. Accurate layout is essential for precisely fitting joints and this baby fine tuned my accuracy immediately. You can use a 5mm mechanical pencil but mostly I use my marking knife in the conveniently provided slots