REVIEW: Veritas 600mm shop rule

Review and photos: Raf Nathan

A ruler is such a basic and under-rated tool in any workplace, and yet so important. After all, arguably, we could not work without a pencil and ruler.

Always consistent with tool build quality, Veritas make this ruler from extruded and anodised aluminium. Having an accurate ruler at this length is a cabinetmaker’s or luthier’s dream, especially as this ruler can read from 0mm at the end. What is good, is that both long edges are bevelled so you can read directly across measurements onto your piece of wood thus avoiding any parallax error. The base is dished so the outside edges are always flat on the workpiece.

Reading from 0mm at the end is a boon.

The rule is 2-1/2 inches (63mm) wide and the laser etched markings read from the left on both edges. I checked the accuracy of the ruler against my reference tool and it was perfect.

Reading from 0mm at the end is a boon as this is a difficult manufacturing process and some longer rulers avoid this and begin measurements set back from the edge.

The rule appears perfectly straight and there is a pre-drilled hole so you can hang it on the wall. Build quality is very good but let down a bit by the obvious saw cuts at the ends.

There are 300mm, 450mm, 600mm and 1000mm versions available but the 600mm is my preference for furniture making and general woodwork. The 600mm version is currently priced at what I would say is a fair $66, given the special usefulness of such a tool.

Veritas Tools are available from www.carbatec.com.au

First published in AWR#124, September 2024

Raf Nathan @treeman7777 is a Brisbane based woodworker.