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Woodpeckers SERX, 24” Straight Edge RulerHigh-end accuracy, shop-friendly priceText & photos by Tom Hintz Posted – 8-20-2004 If you strive for accuracy in woodworking, you appreciate high accuracy measuring tools. The Woodpeckers SERX, 24” Straight Edge Ruler will certainly pique your interest. Designed and manufactured in Woodpeckers state of the art, CNC (computer numerically controlled) laden shop, the SERX exudes precision. The nearly non-existent manufacturing tolerances Woodpeckers self-imposes on crafting the SERX are nothing short of remarkable - especially at this price point. Materials & Base MachiningThe SERX is crafted to its final 2 ½”-wide by ¼”-thick dimensions from slab of high-end aluminum using Woodpeckers super-accurate CNC centers. Both long edges are precision milled to be perfectly parallel to one another and accurate to +/- 0.005” over the full length of the 48”-long model. Just to be sure, those edges are checked on a certified granite surface plate. Numeric ScaleWoodpeckers mills the scale edge at a 30-degree angle so the markings run almost down to the material the SERX is laid on. Getting the markings that close to the material virtually eliminates errors caused by the distortion of parallax and allows making very precise layout marks. Protective CaseIf the thought of tossing such a high-precision tool into a drawer gives you a hollow feeling in the gut, never fear. Woodpeckers packs each SERX in a CNC machined MDF plaque that both protects and displays it. Pre-drilled holes allow hanging the plaque on a wall, retaining the SERX with a sliding catch. They even throw in a little laser lettering on the case. In The ShopEarly in my woodworking life I realized that what looks flat usually isn’t. Knowing how and where something is uneven is the only way to correct the problem. The SERX is perfect for those kinds of checks and many others in any woodworking shop or even around the home. The more I use the SERX, the more I find uses for it. Being able to quickly see if a project assembly is really flat or where it needs massaging makes projects turn out better. For machine setup or checking, the SERX is invaluable. Want to know if your table saw wings are aligned perfectly? Or, need a dead-on accurate visual gauge when installing them? The SERX is the right tool. For many other checks, setups and adjustments on machinery the SERX is just as valuable. The accuracy of Woodpeckers manufacturing instills confidence that whatever error I see when checking a surface is in the surface, not the SERX. That lets me get on with needed adjustments or repairs rather than double checking the findings. The super-precise numeric scale and its slanted position makes the SERX simple to use for layouts whether connecting points or extending lines. I also find myself using the SERX more and more for checking cut lengths and project piece dimensions because it is so easy to read even with my 50-something eyes. ConclusionsIf accuracy is important in your shop, the Woodpeckers SERX should be part of your tool arsenal. The prices of $44.95 for the 24”, (SERX-24) and $89.95 for the 48”, (SERX-48) (8-17-2006) make it easy to have the most accurate straight edge rule on the market in your shop. In addition, both SERX models come with the wall-mountable protective display case that lets everyone that comes in you shop know that when it comes to accuracy, you aren’t just fooling around! See or buy the SERX on the Woodpeckers site - Click Here! Have a comment on this review? - Email Me!
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