How to Use an Architect Scale Ruler

Let’s jump right into a subject that is close to everyone: Designing a kitchen. The architect scale ruler is a very useful device to plan your new kitchen. It helps you to draw your room and appliances to scale, and to read the measurements later. It will tell you if there is enough room to place a refrigerator in a certain part of your space.

Designing Your Kitchen with an Architect Scale Ruler
Designing Your Kitchen with an Architect Scale Ruler

Now let’s get to the nitty gritty. Which scale should you use on the ruler? Your ruler may have some or all of these scales:

(1/8, ¼), (½, 1), (3/8, 3/4), (3, 1½)

If you use the “1” scale, that would mean that 1 inch on the scale equals one foot in real life. Let’s not use that one, because your 15 foot long kitchen would need a piece of paper at least 15 inches long. Let’s use the 1/4 scale, which means 1/4 inch on the scale (on the paper) represents  one foot in real life. This means that your 8 inch wide paper will represent 32 feet. Your kitchen will fit on that paper now.

From here on, you just measure your room and appliances, and draw them on your paper, to scale.

A quick designer tip: Draw your appliances to scale on colored paper, cut them out, and move them around on your drawing for the best arrangement. Also, do the same with any other cabinets or tables that you already have, and want to use them in your design.

Have fun designing your dream kitchen!

5 Myths About The Pipe Diameter Tape Measure

Myths About the pipe diameter tape measure
Myths About the pipe diameter tape measure

The history of the pipe diameter tape measure is probably darker than its future. Once these 5 myths are explained, this little tape measure will experience much success.

  1. Nobody needs a pipe diameter tape measure (OD tape).
  2. It is too hard to use. Only an expert can use it.
  3. It is probably too expensive.
  4. A regular tape measure can do the same job.
  5. My customers don’t want one with my company logo on it.

Here are my answers:

  1. The “outside diameter tape” is used by plumbers, pipeline workers, electricians, car and boat repairmen.
  2. All you do is wrap it around the pipe, and read off the diameter.
  3. It compares to the price of many other pocket tapes.
  4. Maybe so, but you would have to correct for the fact that you can’t readily see the zero mark. You would have to use the one inch or two inch mark, and subtract that from the total, then divide by pi. A pipe diameter tape measure has the zero conveniently located away from the end of the tape, to make it easy to line up.
  5. Your customers would love a gift with your corporate logo. It would be a symbol of your generosity.

Here is the most popular “pipe tape”:

Lufkin Y906PD pipe diameter tape measure, not Barlow W906PD Lufkin Diameter Tape

What Is A Diameter Tape Measure?

Diameter Tape Measure
Diameter Tape Measure

Good question, because most people don’t have any use for one. A diameter tape measure is a measuring tape whose scale is stretched out by a factor of pi. This allows you to wrap it around a round object, such as a pipeline or tree trunk, and read its diameter directly on the scale. You don’t need to divide by 3.14159.

Here are some other names that people call these tapes:

  • pi tapes
  • circumference tapes (a misnomer)
  • pipe tapes
  • Lufkin pi tapes
  • OD tapes
  • outside diameter tapes
  • pi-Cobra tapes
  • pie tapes

What If You Lose Your Tally Books?

When oilfield workers record data while they are drilling, they need to enter it in

Today's Oilfield Workers and Their Tally Books
Today’s Oilfield Workers and Their Tally Books

a safe place. They write it in a pipe tally book. What if they lose their tally books?

  • The workers would lose the number of feet of pipe they have put in the ground.
  • They would lose the number of pipe sections they used.
  • They would not be able to recall the times that they hooked up each section of pipe.
  • They would not be able to report on the amount of fluids that were used in the operation.

What a disaster! Prevent this catastrophe by purchasing oilfield pipe tally books that are:

  1. Bright in color, so you can’t misplace them.
  2. Water resistant, with a vinyl cover.
  3. Made of that new waterproof “paper” called “stone paper”. Not only is it waterproof, it is tear-resistant.
  4. Small enough to fit in the oilfield or gas field worker’s pocket.
  5. Made with an integral pen loop, so there’s always a pen with the book.
  6. Identified with your company logo and phone number on the front cover.

The Anatomy of a Great Architect Scale Ruler

Architect Scale Rulers
Architect Scale Rulers Help Convert Measurements

Not all rulers are created equal. Some are rigid, some are retractable tapes, some are in metric, some are in imperial. There is also a special kind of ruler used for converting the measurements on a scaled-down drawing or map: the architect scale ruler.

Here is the basic makeup of architect scale rulers:

  • They come in a variety of scales
  • Retractable tapes offer 2 different scales- one on each side of the tape
  • Bevel & triangular architect scale rulers offer 4-6 different scales
  • There are a variety of sizes- some can even fit in your pocket!

No matter what drawing you are measuring, there is a special architect scale ruler to help you out.

Hollow Triangular Architect 12" Scale
Hollow Triangular Architect 12″ Scale
Architects Scale Lufkin tape measure
Architects Scale Lufkin tape measure