Stanley 45-101 24-Inch MaxStick Straight Edge

List Price: $11.98 Discount Price: $7.33

Features:

• Straight edge for marking edges precisely, providing accurate measurements, and for use as a saw guide
• Conveniently marked with standard heights for light switches, dead bolts, door locks and electrical outlets
• Strong and lightweight aluminum construction; center gripping wall protects your fingers
• Easy-to-read scale on both the front and back
• Length: 24 inches; backed by lifetime limited warranty

Customer Reviews:

This is a very handy tool to keep in the shop!  [Posted on 2004-08-27]
I picked one of these up cheap at a local hardware store and I find that I use it all the time. Not only is it a good straightedge and ruler, but the center 'wall' makes it ideal as a guide to cutting with a utility knife (by protecting your fingers). Although this tool is made of aluminum, it is very heavy duty aluminum that does not bend, twist, or flex significantly. I have used mine in a pinch as a clamping aid when gluing up two or more boards into a panel. I simply use clamps to pull the panel's joints tight against this ruler, thus producing a pretty flat surface!

It is inexpensive and you will find all kinds of uses for it - I highly recommend it!

Fantastic and Versatile [Posted on 2006-07-16]
I have both the 24" and 48" models. There is much that you can do with them that you cannot do easily, or at all, with other measuring tools. When measuring wood or PVC for cutting, I lay the stock on the tool, rather than put the measure on the stock. No big deal for straight-sided items, but what a difference for round stock! Hold it against the center rail and you can mark precisely in a second.

It also works wonderfully in vertical applications because of its solidity and because the center rail makes it easy to hold, and hold in place. It's especially helpful for measuring out shelf spacing on units with pegs or bracket clips.

Moreover, the bottom is also ruled. Since the center rail on top is at a perfect right angle to the top side, you can turn the stick over and fit it over a corner edge, whether on a door frame or a 2x4, and measure with the bottom rulers. "Rulers" plural, because Stanley very thoughtfully has the rulers on the left and right side running in opposite directions, so that whether you are measuring from the bottom up or the top down you can have your chosen direction whether the corner you are using is on the left of the measure or the right.

The top measure is black and red numbers on a Stanley yellow background really easy to read for my old eyes. The bottom is not quite so easy, but still very good.

Of course, great as a cutting edge or a saw guide. The edges are thick enough so that stock won't "jump the curb" and clamps can hold it solidly in place.

It would be cool if it had a centering scale, but you can't have everything.

Great addition to my shop [Posted on 2007-10-01]
I use this thing far more often than I thought I would. We just remodeled our house and I was extremely useful in far more situations than listed in the product description. It has help up very well throughout the construction process. I am considering purchasing a longer one as well.

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