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Bevanger 07-06-2008 10:16 AM

Have you ever needed a square but can't find the ruler? I'm in need of a 11 inch square and 5 in square. Does anyone make their own and how?

mic-pa 07-06-2008 11:43 AM

In your case, why can't you use a 12" ruler and a 6" ruler and square you block up.?? I doubt they even sell the size you are looking for. But a storer that cuts glass to size could cut you an acrilic ruler to the size you need. It might be a bit pricey though. Marge

bj 07-06-2008 11:50 AM

I do what mic-pa suggested. I use the next size up ruler, and just align the opposite corners on the diagonal and square it up. Sometimes I can get by with only trimming 2 sides, sometimes I have to trim all 4.

DazzleMe! 07-06-2008 12:08 PM

If you have a stain glass store, or local Home Depot or Lowes will cut a piece of plexi glass for you.

I have been to both and both were reasonable.

It might take a day or two with the stain glass place but usually the home improvement stores will do it while you wait. If you can find someone to do it for you!

Izy 07-06-2008 12:27 PM

1 Attachment(s)
Bev, I just had DH make me a full set of templates from acrylic, it is really easy to cut and if you use your cutting mat to mark out and square up the acrylic you get perfect templates in any size you need :D Heres a picture of the set he made me.

Bevanger 07-06-2008 01:03 PM


Originally Posted by mic-pa
In your case, why can't you use a 12" ruler and a 6" ruler and square you block up.?? I doubt they even sell the size you are looking for. But a storer that cuts glass to size could cut you an acrilic ruler to the size you need. It might be a bit pricey though. Marge

I do have those, just not sure how to use them.

Bevanger 07-06-2008 01:04 PM


Originally Posted by Loretta
Bev, I just got a 5 inch square at joanns with my 40% coupon and 10% guild card so it came to about 2 dollars I think. Do you have Joann coupons there?

Yes, and I have looked for the 5 inch one but we here don't have it :x

Bevanger 07-06-2008 01:07 PM


Originally Posted by Izy
Bev, I just had DH make me a full set of templates from acrylic, it is really easy to cut and if you use your cutting mat to mark out and square up the acrylic you get perfect templates in any size you need :D Heres a picture of the set he made me.

Lucky You. I asked hubby, but he said he didn't have the tools to do it. :cry:

Bevanger 07-06-2008 01:08 PM


Originally Posted by DazzleMe!
If you have a stain glass store, or local Home Depot or Lowes will cut a piece of plexi glass for you.

I have been to both and both were reasonable.

It might take a day or two with the stain glass place but usually the home improvement stores will do it while you wait. If you can find someone to do it for you!

We have a Home Depot in the next town over. I'll have to call around. Template plastic at Joanns is too thin

Bevanger 07-06-2008 01:09 PM


Originally Posted by bj
I do what mic-pa suggested. I use the next size up ruler, and just align the opposite corners on the diagonal and square it up. Sometimes I can get by with only trimming 2 sides, sometimes I have to trim all 4.

I'll see if I can locate a video that shows me how
Thanks everyone

Minda 07-06-2008 01:47 PM

Bev,
Check out this site. Scroll to the last ruler on the page.

http://www.robsrulers.com/new_page_2.htm

Bevanger 07-06-2008 02:15 PM


Originally Posted by Minda
Bev,
Check out this site. Scroll to the last ruler on the page.

http://www.robsrulers.com/new_page_2.htm

Sooooooooooo cool. Thanks hun

Quiltinsolitude 07-06-2008 04:45 PM

Make a few phone calls to local hardware stores and/or glass and window shops. Most will cut the acrylic in whatever size you want. Be advised that you will generally not be paying for only 5x5 piece, but for the size piece that the store used to cut the little one from. Usually that would be an 8x10 . . .sooooooo if you planned ahead to figure out how many rulers you could get from that size, you may have to pay a slight cutting fee (our store charges $1 per cut) or not (we usually don't charge for any cuts if you buy the acrylic from us).

By the way, what you want is plexiglass. It is more expensive than real glass (go figure). You can probably get by with 1/10 inch thick, which is the thinnest we carry at our hardware. The thicker the plexiglass, the more expensive.

Plexiglass isn't the easiest thing in the world to cut; hardly worth the investment in the cutting tool when you can usually get it cut to size for no charge.

Izy 07-07-2008 04:51 AM


Originally Posted by Bevanger

Originally Posted by Izy
Bev, I just had DH make me a full set of templates from acrylic, it is really easy to cut and if you use your cutting mat to mark out and square up the acrylic you get perfect templates in any size you need :D Heres a picture of the set he made me.

Lucky You. I asked hubby, but he said he didn't have the tools to do it. :cry:

Bev....My DH only used a craft knife and my long ruler, just score it through then snap in downwards...you can help here by holding it firmly over the edge of a table or work top right on the score line and bend it downwards...honestly it is easy to do :D

Bevanger 07-07-2008 05:10 AM


Originally Posted by Izy

Originally Posted by Bevanger

Originally Posted by Izy
Bev, I just had DH make me a full set of templates from acrylic, it is really easy to cut and if you use your cutting mat to mark out and square up the acrylic you get perfect templates in any size you need :D Heres a picture of the set he made me.

Lucky You. I asked hubby, but he said he didn't have the tools to do it. :cry:

Bev....My DH only used a craft knife and my long ruler, just score it through then snap in downwards...you can help here by holding it firmly over the edge of a table or work top right on the score line and bend it downwards...honestly it is easy to do :D

thanks dearheart

retrogirl02 07-07-2008 01:26 PM

If you need it right away, you can always use a cereal box...that's how they used to make patterns before we were spoiled with acrylics. Bev, I hate to measure...and I do mean HATE....if you have a nice rotary cutting mat, you can use your larger ruler in conjunction with the markings on the mat to get your cuts easier. I usually have the hubby cut them out of foam core which works perfectly, can be re-used hundreds of times and we get from his work. A nice piece from your local office supply store would't cost much, you can make several shapes from one and it only requires an exacto blade to do.
*if you use this method, score both sides of the poster board before cutting through the foam center*

Bevanger 07-08-2008 03:49 AM


Originally Posted by retrogirl02
If you need it right away, you can always use a cereal box...that's how they used to make patterns before we were spoiled with acrylics. Bev, I hate to measure...and I do mean HATE....if you have a nice rotary cutting mat, you can use your larger ruler in conjunction with the markings on the mat to get your cuts easier. I usually have the hubby cut them out of foam core which works perfectly, can be re-used hundreds of times and we get from his work. A nice piece from your local office supply store would't cost much, you can make several shapes from one and it only requires an exacto blade to do.
*if you use this method, score both sides of the poster board before cutting through the foam center*

Thanks dearheart for the idea. I like the see thru though cuz this way I can square my blocks up if I can see the center. I'm picky I know...


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