• Unbreakable and elastic at the same time.
• All wooden edges of the same quality.• Resistant coating.
• Environment-friendly colour.
• High-quality finish folding rule head

2 Joints

• Resistant and at the same time smooth.
• Corrosion-resistant.
• Precise locking.
• Strong hold of the joints in the wood.

3 Scale

• Easily readable even under bad light conditions.
• Scaling according to requirement.
• EC type approval.
• EC accuracy class.

The wood material

• For wooden rules, the most important factor for optimum unbreakability is to use choice, well stored, highly elastic woods as the primary material.
• The sections are made from select beech wood.
• Before processing, all wooden edges are tested thoroughly as to their quality.

The plastic material

• For plastic rules, glass fibre-reinforced plastic provides the greatest durability.
• Extremely durable joints with steel spring pins. Joints can be locked in right angle.
• Unfolded joints give a straight edge throughout.
• STABILA plastic folding ruler Series 1000 ideal for working in damp rooms.

1 Deeply impressed graduation scale.
2 Glass fibre reinforcement

The joints

• STABILA predominantly uses joints made from hardened spring steel, which ensure precise engagement and good spring action long-term.
• Catches and end cams provide strong retention, guaranteeing accuracy.
• Its special construction makes the joint operate smoothly over a long period.
• Highly durable glass fibre-reinforced polyamide joints are used on some models.

The four types of joints

1 Joint plates made of high-strength steel plate, laterally visible joint seat with inserted, hardened steel springs and concealed rivet. For use in the STABILA series 600. Locks well.

2 Joint plates made of hardened steel plate with integrated spring. Good locking behaviour, close joint position and equally broad edges throughout.

3 Joint plates made of plastic reinforced by glass-fibre with locking cams for maintenance-free use. For use in the STABILA series 700. Close joint position and equally broad edges throughout, lubrication-free joints.

4 Joint plates made of steel plate with laterally visible joint seating and visible rivet. For use in STABILA series 900.

• A good quality rule can be recognised from the printing on its initial section.
• Look for three important points: the rule’s accuracy classification, which is printed in Roman numerals, the EU pattern approval, which confirms its origin and construction, and not least the manufacturer’s name, i.e. the brand.
• As the most important component the graduation scale must be printed clearly, showing a clear distinction between units and tens.
• A double millimetre scale (on the upper and lower edge) increases the rule’s practicality.

1 One-sided scale AO.
2 Two-sided separated scale AM.
3 Two-sided scale standard throughout.
4 Inch and cm scale

The coating on the wooden rules

• The coating must be able to handle every adversity.
• They are protected against damp, sun and mechanical abrasion. This is the only way to ensure the scale’s good, long-term legibility.
• The environmentally-friendly lacquer provides unsurpassed weather and abrasion resistance.

The three final hardness tests:

1 Water resistance test: the finish must be able to survive a two-hour water bath without the colour or finish flaking.

2 Anti-scratch test: test for mechanical abrasion-resistance of finishing.

3 Solvent-resistance test: the finishing has to be resistant against acetone (nail polish remover) and an aggressive mixture made of up of benzene and methylated spirits.