Go Back  Quiltingboard Forums >
  • Main
  • Broken rulers >
  • Broken rulers

  • Broken rulers

    Thread Tools
     
    Old 05-06-2013, 11:47 PM
      #1  
    Super Member
    Thread Starter
     
    Join Date: Jun 2010
    Location: England Alton Towers
    Posts: 6,673
    Default Broken rulers

    Have any of you a way of glueing rulers back together. I have broken yet another 24 inch ruler this year.
    They are always clean cuts but I'm so mad at myself.
    DOTTYMO is offline  
    Old 05-07-2013, 04:17 AM
      #2  
    Super Member
     
    GEMRM's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Nov 2011
    Location: South West Ontario
    Posts: 2,237
    Default

    I sat on my 24 x 6 1/2 ruler when I was at the LQS for a class - the crack was so loud everyone heard it and of course it was embarassing to say the least. As it's my favourite ruler, I had to figure out how to repair it - here is what I did:
    Read all the way through first to make sure you have everything you need ready at hand -
    I found a place I could brace one end of the ruler tight up against, while laying it flat on the surface ( by co-incidence, my desk has this slight ledge along one side). I put parchment paper underneath where the join would be. I test fitted the edges a few times to make sure I could line them up cleanly and quickly.
    I used Gorilla Glue (like super glue or Krazy glue) to baste a small thread of glue along the joining edge of one piece.
    Then I lined up the edges exactly, pressing down from the top as well as from the side that was not braced.(Because the other side was braced/wedged, this gave me something to push against).
    I held it in place like that for a minute or two, then I took a spare, 4 inch square ruler, put glue around the square about 1 inch in from all the edges. I put it in place on top of the join, lining up it's marking lines with the ruler I was repairing, more or less centering it. I held that in place for a minute or two, then I placed a very heavy weight on top, another heavy weight pushing from the unbraced side and left it overnight. I am not sure if the weights are required but I didn't want any shifting about.
    The next morning, I took off the weights, peeled off the parchment paper and used a paring knife to gently scrape away any excess paper or glue.
    This ruler is now pretty much good as new, I can see my lines, I can line up on my fabric and I can cut along it's edges, even with the join as it is barely noticeable. I am quite happy with this repair - all my rulers are the same make/manufacturer with the same pattern of cutting lines and I can't buy them anymore, so I really wanted a workable repair.
    If you need more info, or pictures, please PM me.
    Good luck,
    GEMRM
    GEMRM is offline  
    Old 05-07-2013, 04:42 AM
      #3  
    Super Member
     
    Join Date: Jan 2012
    Posts: 4,783
    Default

    If it's in many pieces, I don't think I'd bother. If it's just in two pieces with no missing chips along the broken edges, you can just superglue it. I broke a corner off a ruler once and superglue has held it just fine for a few years now. It's barely noticeable.
    JustAbitCrazy is offline  
    Old 05-07-2013, 05:06 AM
      #4  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Mar 2011
    Location: Ontario, Canada
    Posts: 41,481
    Default

    I used $ store Crazy glue to fix my 15 inch square after I broke it. I put a long strip of clear tape on the bottom after matching the 2 pieces back up, make extra sure to get the edge perfect. I used the tape as a hinge at the table edge and ran a bead of the crazy glue along the crack. I quickly put the ruler back up on the table and held the ruler down and together for a bit. I left it overnight to dry and it is still going strong a year later. I left the clear tape on the bottom because it doesn't interfer with seeing through the ruler and the glue is stuck to it also.
    Tartan is offline  
    Old 05-07-2013, 12:53 PM
      #5  
    Power Poster
     
    Join Date: Jun 2011
    Location: Southern California
    Posts: 19,127
    Default

    I just used heavy clear moving tape on my 8.5" ruler. I taped both sides. Maybe one day I will try the glue. Thanks for the update !!
    ManiacQuilter2 is offline  
    Old 05-07-2013, 03:11 PM
      #6  
    Power Poster
     
    BellaBoo's Avatar
     
    Join Date: Jan 2009
    Location: Front row
    Posts: 14,646
    Default

    I used clear packing tape on a clean cut, on the back, and it's still holding after several years. I'd glue it (clear glue) then put the packing tape across it. I don't know why I hang on to it. At last count I had five 24" long rulers. I won three of them on blog and facebook give a ways.

    Last edited by BellaBoo; 05-07-2013 at 03:14 PM.
    BellaBoo is offline  
    Related Topics
    Thread
    Thread Starter
    Forum
    Replies
    Last Post
    CW23114
    Main
    5
    09-05-2018 04:52 PM
    Sewnoma
    For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
    10
    08-13-2015 05:23 AM
    QuiltingGrannie
    Main
    21
    01-10-2012 02:17 PM

    Posting Rules
    You may not post new threads
    You may not post replies
    You may not post attachments
    You may not edit your posts

    BB code is On
    Smilies are On
    [IMG] code is On
    HTML code is On
    Trackbacks are Off
    Pingbacks are Off
    Refbacks are Off



    FREE Quilting Newsletter