I am getting ready to make a cutting scale out of a nice piece of aluminum I have. I know I want to have Normal tape measure so I can zero from the bed and a 5/4 scale. what other scales should I have?
My plan is to paint the aluminum black, then machine grooves in the aluminum for each scale. Each line will be plus 1/8" for kerf.
What scales other than 5/4 should I put on there? Anybody have pics of theirs?
The scale on my mill has 4/4, 5/4, 6/4 & 8/4
My lt30 has two scales side by side A ruler marked in 1/16 inch and a quarter scale 4/4 5/4 6/4 8/4 You can get quarter adhesive scales from woodmizer both regular inch and a hardwood scale that allows ( I believe) an extra 1/8 on each mark. I put the adhesive tape on the back of an aluminum yardstick and change them depending what myself or customer wants. Will post picture if you need it.
I made two scales. This is the first one I made. I added 1/8 on each scale. I put 4 super magnets on each end to hold it in place. But it still would move so I added the toggle clamp. This scale has 1, 2, 3, 4, and 6 (inches) so that would be 4/4, 8/4, 12/4, 16/4 and 24/4.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/30640/20171103_c.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1509742183)
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/30640/20171103_d.JPG?easyrotate_cache=1509742203)
I made a new one with 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10" scales all on one side. I found I wasn't using the 3" scale and I knew I would be making some 5x7 rafters as well as some 2x8 and 2x10s. I just used a small chisel to make the horizontal marks and a scribe to scratch the vertical lines. I have various number/letter punch sets. This one used my largest set, the second one use a much smaller (1/8"?) set. I spray painted it black and them use 120 grit sand paper to remove the flat surface paint. The second scale has much more contrast/deeper, bolder numbers.
Thanks everyone for the info. I was thinking the 4,5,6,8 was what I wanted to do. I will also have a fixed tape so I have height from bed and a movable tape for anything custom I need to do. I will definitely post pics of it when its done.
Trapper, thanks for the info I know I can get something from woodmizer but was never able to find it. also concerned it would fad over time and be unreadable. plus I have a mill so why not make a custom one to my own specs :) Thinking with the satin black face and then machine the grooves in they will end up being silver. Should be a real nice contrast and easy to read.
Well, here is what I came up with over the weekend. I will make a pointer than will slide left to right so when I cam cutting at one scale I can center on that scale. Hopefully keep me from jumping lines and cutting wrong sizes. It still needs paint but I think this will work nicely.
(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/45059/IMG_20181028_172941983.jpg?easyrotate_cache=1540816980)