FREE DIY Rulers for SAKs + BONUS Tricks! (Part 1)

[@Cetok01]

I've been a fan, and have been wearing your 1 minute paracord bracelet since you first come out with it. If you use bank line, however (I used No. 36), you can add more footage for the same bulk. Good to see you back on YT, Mike!

[@grumpyuncle.]

Some ideas: You might consider printing your tape measures on polyester paper. It is remarkably resilient if cut with smooth edge scissor or a cutting board. Also, I sometimes use thin braided kevlar string for measuring up to 10ft. Most often I use 6ft strings, marked in feet and half-foot increments. I use Kevlar string because it doesn't seem to stretch too much. This allows me to quickly measure out rough distances for placing equipment. The string can be marked out with knots or colored thread. Double knots for feet: single knots for half-foot. If I am feeling fancy, I sew red thread into the braid for feet, and blue thread at the half-foot marks.

[@wpribble]

get cloth sewing measuring tape and apply a section to the inside of your belt, about 12 - 16 in on the non-buckle end If you really need to measure something you are all set. I read this as an old school Boy Scout hack

[@MeZillch]

Good tip, thanks.

[@enriquediaz7547]

I carry a 13” sewing roller in my wallet. Also, using a USA currency as a “rough measure” also works.

[@areyousatin]

Big fan of your videos! Super creative stuff. I have a great way to carry an accurate ruler: I have a white string that I mark with black marks for inches and red marks for feet. I can get quite a good length of measuring string in a compact manner. I put loops on both sides so I can make accurate measurements. This string can be wrapped around most things.

[@RobertFireLionBlueHawkWinkler]

I carry, in my kit, a 3' cloth ruler. These are available in the sewing dept. of most large stores. These cloth rulers roll up really small and are very lightweight.

[@dracamon]

Lots of good ideas! I carry a two-foot length of cloth sewing measuring tape folded up in a small pocket tool kit. Inches on one side, centimeters on the other. Also, in a pinch, US paper money is just over 6" long.

[@iaincraig4871]

MeZillch, I’ve been watching your videos with interest for years now but it’s this video that has come to make me realise, you have waaaay too much spare time on your hands my friend! 😳

[@edwardfletcher7790]

I think he's just got OCPD like me. Constantly searching for the perfect solutions to little problems.

[@Zmit]

I immediately thought I would make a inverted tape bobbin as a hub for the rule, and tape it on with a loop of tape "the right side in". I will definitely try to laser print a rule on a clear sheet overlay and see how long a strip can be coiled up on a bit driver. Also I like the idea of a "printed" rule right on the scale so much I am befuddled that it is not already an aftermarket upgrade. For a less precise (finely granulated) measure, you can make markings (every 10 mm) with a permanent fine liner on a string of dental floss. You'll be surprised how little space a meter of floss take up when spooled on a thin core. As always great content and a nice calm presentation. Super nice video.

[@MeZillch]

Thanks. There's lots of dental floss stuff in part two, coming very soon, by the way.

[@danishskiwarehouse]

G’day MeZillch. Fantastic ideas. Just letting you know, when you go into an IKEA (certainly the ones in Australia) there’s one metre length paper rulers at various spots throughout the store (alongside the little pencils). The paper is stronger than “normal” paper. It has centimetres on one side and inches on the other. The width is around 1 inch, both 0 marks are at the same end, so you’d easily be able to cut it down to 12”/30cm. For the record, your pouch from years ago gave me the idea of carrying one around in my wallet, so if this ens up being useful to you, I feel the idea has come back full circle!

[@MeZillch]

I know we have IKEA stores here but oddly I've never seen one. If I ever do, I'll be sure to snag one of those rulers you speak of. Thanks!

[@edwardfletcher7790]

@@MeZillch IKEA is strangely one of the cheapest places to get cheap quality NiMh AA batteries too 👍 Also in Australia...

[@susang4507]

Lol! “Snort powders that are legal”🤣 you are so funny!

[@amyduro1967]

I laughed at the uses for a small straw! And I like a lot of your mods, but for this, I go with a pen that has a ruler on the barrel, and also a bubble level, mini-screwdrivers (flat and Phillips head) and a touch screen stylus at the back end. Most hardware stores have them for around $10, or you can get cheap ones straight from China for about $2. I like the tape dispenser a lot.

[@DIYTinkerer]

Some nice ideas here, I particularly like the tape idea. I have the CyberLite and pretty much gave up with the light as it kept turning on in my pocket so the battery is always dead. Just one other comment, On the Cyberlite you can add a 7cm rule on the back of it between the springs for the pliers and magnifying glass. There is also a little cavity near the hinge of the cybertool that could hold a very thin rolled up paper ruler.

[@jabrow7135]

You can use an engraving tool to mark from the end of one tool, across the body of the multi tool and down a tool on t the other side; so from tip to tip you would have something near 9”. You can stick the paper ruler in a money clip, in a key ring or in a wallet. IKEA gives away paper rulers that are bigger BTW. But I recommend getting a fabric measuring ruler as they are made of a waterproof material that burns like gasoline. You can also buy a micro sized or keychain take measure.

[@RR4711]

I’ve used a micro engraver to add a ruler and I know of someone else who’s used a lazed engraver.

[@edwardfletcher7790]

It you could go full Adam Savage and get a ruler tattoo 👍😆

[@oakesiii3412]

I miss these videos

[@carielswick8892]

And I'll be waiting for that notification for your next video. I think you are Genius at what you do and I really look forward to watching them and getting really great ideas that you have for EDC kits. And even though I don't carry a lot of things in my pocket I do carry things on my keychain and in my backpack that I take with me everywhere so I always had something ready to go at any time. Thanks.

[@MeZillch]

Thanks. The next video is part 2 of this video. The fire kit will likely be the one after that, just so you know.

[@britainreynolds7365]

Zillch, we love your videos

[@edrosales1520]

Considered using Tyvek for either backing these rulers or if you have the right printer, printing directly on them? If I had a laser printer to risk, I'd cut up a US Postal Service 1st class envelope (the 'fabric' ones) into a 8.5"x11" page and see if it works

[@MeZillch]

I'd be scared to jam my junky printer on Tyvek "paper", but that does sound like a good idea, thanks. Heck, just plain paper seems to be mess up my printer, some days!

[@Whoozerdaddy]

You might be able to reinforce the end of the paper ruler by saturating that short section with super glue. It is brittle when cured, on its own, but used as a reinforcing agent, it should effectively fill in the interstices in the paper to make it more fray resistant.

[@MeZillch]

Interesting. Thanks.

[@HorstMichel-mh7gv]

Cool to see you still active.

[@伊井大]

いつも素晴らしいアイデアを提供してくれてありがとう。

[@MeZillch]

Arigato

[@_Amy]

Do you know if your prototype works with transparency sheets(for old school overhead projectors) instead of paper

[@MeZillch]

Sorry, I have no idea and have no such material on hand to test. The material needs to be thin and very flexible. Saran wrap (cling wrap) would probably work but stiff plastic won't. Even a brand new dollar bill, that's still stiff , folded in half, is hard to fit on. More things will be shown in part 2, coming very soon.

[@karikovacs3824]

Glad you're back!

[@Project_Tribe]

What if you attached the paper ruler to a straw that was just barely larger in diameter than the tool it was housed on. That way, the ruler could be pulled out and the straw would spin, deploying the ruler in a similar fashion as a tape measure. You could then fit a slightly larger straw (or sleeve, maybe shrink tubing?) over the straw and ruler combo to protect it. Edit: commented before I saw the tape dispenser in the video. Same concept!

[@MeZillch]

I show something quite like that in part 2, coming very soon. I call the inner straw that rotates freely around the shaft of the Cybertool a "bobbin". The only bad thing is you loose the "self retraction" aspect when you are done with the thing you dispensed.

[@gianfrancopetitti]

Welcome back!!! 💪🏼💪🏼💪🏼

[@edwardfletcher7790]

Really missed your videos, so glad you're back 👍 IKEA have paper rulers too. You SURE you have enough Cybertools ? LoL I actually like the electrical tape dispenser even more than the ruler mod 👍 Is that an old black Champion ? I've got one too 😆

[@MeZillch]

Yes the black one is a very old Champion.

[@edwardfletcher7790]

@@MeZillch I wonder if my Champion is older.? I bought it secondhand it doesn't have a pen slot. I just read on another channel that SAK's with MKM on them are special orders, does that mean your MBM is a special order too ?

[@Traderjoe]

It would be nice to have a low profile sleeve that sticks to the scale of the knife and the ruler can be slid (folded or unfolded?) into the sleeve for protection and if the sleeve is clear, you could view the ruler through the sleeve without even needing to deploy it on some occasions. Now we need to find such a sleeve!

[@MeZillch]

Traderjoes, you could fashion just such a sleeve (great idea by the way) out of a cut up, Trader Joes's, clear plastic, pineapple chunks (cubes) carton lid and some clear tape, which are the exact same materials I used to make the slide out portion of my Tic Tac, micro bit kit here:kzbin.info/www/bejne/hpDLeouel9GKr7M I might play around with the idea and of course I will credit you with the idea if it ever comes to fruitition, I mean, fruition. I love that pineapple by the way!

[@brucermarino]

Wonderful again! I just slip my ruler in my wallet.

[@fredg916]

why not double sided print standard on one side and metric on the other side and have the zeros on the same ends? Then u just flip it over.

[@guiolivier1234]

Hello MeZillch! Nice to see a new video here!

[@scottmcintosh2988]

My Swiss Tool has a ruler inches and metric both and it is the best plyer tool ever made !!!

[@nishanthshetty3615]

Wow amazing video i was missing your videos thank you and i am awating your new video

[@TinyIslandMaine]

The vendian paper ruler link prints out a different ruler style than shown on this vid. Their scales are opposite each other vs all starting at 0 on left and then progressing/ going left to right like yours. Is there another link or did they delete the one you have?

[@MeZillch]

Sorry, I'm not sure what they currently have available but the other site I use is : ruler-online.net/printable.html Vendian has several styles listed here: www.vendian.org/mncharity/dir3/paper_rulers/ If I'm not mistaken this has the two scales with 0 aligned at the left: www.vendian.org/mncharity/dir3/paper_rulers/UnstableURL/rulers_cm_in_decimal.pdf

[@TinyIslandMaine]

@@MeZillch many thanks. The 3rd link w/ the zeros both at the left works great. Subbed earlier as well.

[@GMTD11]

Drinking straw are greatest trick what i see, thank you for sharing it. Also i can recommend sewing ruler, if you need carry up to 1,5-2m measuring. It fits anywhere like fat coin.

[@mauricioruiz9021]

I really wanna see that fire kit!

[@MeZillch]

It won't be the next video (which is part 2 of this video) but probably the one after that.

[@edwardfletcher7790]

I'm guessing cotton balls and Vaseline.

[@CleaveMountaineering]

I just carry a 6" steel ruler trimmed to fit in my wallet. Then its a scraper or shim tool too.

[@rmsg7504]

Great video!!!! Thank you

[@mhsvz6735]

Excellent, thank you!

[@mac11380]

Someone could laser etch a ruler into the scale and maybe continue onto a knife blade so you can open it and measure larger items.

[@RR4711]

I’ve used a micro engraver to mark from the tip of the long blade - across the body - to the tip of the short blade. This was cheap and easy though I do know of someone who has used a proper laser engraver to do the same.

[@mac11380]

@@RR4711 Someone could make some money doing laser engraving for this, people like to modify their knives.

[@hakon5873]

Lovely video.

[@Brain_Sync]

Silly Q, what diameter should be the plastic straw?

[@MeZillch]

Not a silly Q but sadly I don't have a good answer because the straws I used weren't labelled. I just measured the yellowish/green one though with calipers and it seems around 7.3mm outer diameter.

[@Brain_Sync]

@@MeZillch Thank you for the detailed answer.

[@sallymonaeh]

I have always carried an IKEA ruler in my wallet

[@54114142]

I want to etch in some marks in my knife, having 0 at the very tip. Could be cm on one side and inches on the other side.

[@MeZillch]

Someone should market a red cellidor scale that has this already; you snap off the old original one and then snap on the new one. Done.

[@carielswick8892]

Very, very cool!!

[@worm_vaquero]

How do you get a 12" ruler on a US letter sized sheet? 8.5x11

[@MeZillch]

You print it diagonally. See the image in the pdf in the link in the notes: ruler-online.net/pdf/ruler-12in-30cm-USLetter.pdf

[@OutsideTheTargetDemographic]

While I agree measure devices are handy, I just got a cloth 2"diameter retractable "sewing tape measure", which has metric and standard on either side, is cloth to measure curved items, waterproof, and retractable. 🍻

[@edwardfletcher7790]

I've got the same one they're really handy for DIY. 👍

[@FreedomFox1]

Watch out, “MBM” might come looking for his TSA-confiscated SAK 😂

[@MeZillch]

The TSA will insist they aren't "confiscated"; they are "voluntarily surrendered" by passengers in order to board their flight. LOL

[@RandysWSG]

Cool!!

[@dougmuse7050]

It is entirely possible that you might want a ruler longer than just 12" imperial. Of course, this would be some sort of accurate "tape measure". How to accomplish this? Take a long length of dental floss (10 feet?) and wrap it around a yardstick (or meter stick) and mark off your preferred increments (1 ft, 3 in., 6 in, 5 cm, 10 cm, etc) with a fine point sharpie or fine point ink pen (for accuracy). If you divide your dental floss "tape measure" into 6-inch segments, if you are measuring something that is, say, 5 foot 2 1/2 inches, then you will measure out 10 tape measure increments and then use your accurate paper ruler to add to your dental floss measurement to come to a very exact measurement. In addition, dental floss can have both metric and imperial increments in different colors (i.e., red for imperial and black for metric).

[@sylla2]

I liked the video before even watching it - I just knew it would be good 😊 And I'm not even a fan of Swizz Army knifes 😎

[@MrDDiRusso]

Did you know that they are not making yard sticks any longer?

[@MeZillch]

If they made them any longer then they'd be a 2-yard stick! LOL [Mine is actually about 3" too long, actually, so it doubles as a meter stick]: www.dickblick.com/products/westcott-aluminum-yardmeter-stick/?clickTracking=true&wmcp=pla&wmcid=items&wmckw=55706-1139&campaign=Blick+Shopping+-+6&adgroup=Shopping+6&keyword=&matchtype=e&msclkid=867a6c31c986143d31e008621b780e12

[@naka-YAYA-plaza]

Just a small suggestion. When measuring with the app, keep the phone flat and follow the ruler. The phone was way crooked and didn’t evenly follow the ruler. Just measured my tape measure AND ruler exactly at 12 inches. Definitely not worthless sir 👎

[@bplus2625]

Nice video. I prefer a 12 inch paracord tied into an easy pull apart lanyard. It can be folded to measure anything smaller than a foot. If you want to get fancy use your wife's nail polish to mark inches in it.

[@matttydontpanic]

yaaaaaay

[@latetodagame1892]

IKEA has free paper meters!

[@MeZillch]

Yes, good point. I wish there was one near me.

[@unfi6798]

Cowabunga mate.!

[@parthkhatri6591]

1:19 I'm sure it has nice personality :')

[@enriquediaz7547]

Here’s an idea: paracord marked with measuring marks….

[@MeZillch]

Paracord stretches.

[@enriquediaz7547]

true ‘dat. Perhaps some bankline? #38? Great ideas… binging your vid’s again. Have the “older” toolkits changed? (the maxpedition pouches).

[@MeZillch]

@@enriquediaz7547 I have a new style of pocket tool kit coming soon to a vid. Instead of being a pre-configured kit you buy, or an empty bag like a Maxpedition pocket organizer you fill, it is a hybrid design which borrows a bit from both . . . (actually a hundred bits. Get it? Like screwdiver bits?) Stay tuned. [That joke will make more sense once you've seen the kit and its ~100 driver bits.]

[@enriquediaz7547]

@@MeZillch nice! Byte, bits, nibbles…. Lots of room for jokes :)

[@dominicking1530]

Free paper tape measures in ikea get a butt load next time

[@serphvarna4154]

1:07 its not very big? :(

[@gotcharamsys]

OMG ..by