852759 LEGO Ruler

[Siegfried]

Believe it or not, this has been a dream part of mine for a while, and thus I bought one of these at my earliest opportunities. As it turns out that was about six months after release and by then it was half price. (It still is.) In any case, on with the review!

Here it is. The red colour is a good one as it allows the black printing to be easily readable.

The reverse side is a bit of a letdown. I think they should have found some use for it... but I must confess that I can't think of anything aside from technic ratio formulas.

Here it is compared to a mini-fig so you can get an idea of its size.

In use. It works well for measuring axels and beams of both varieties.

It's less effective when using it to measure height as you can't sit it flush with the bricks. (The leading edge should have been a half-stud-gap width.)

But the uses don't stop with LEGO; you can use it to measure anything you want!

In summary this is a great tool for measuring LEGO... but it really is at it's most useful when building technic models from PDF files. (Which is mostly why I wanted it.) In most other cases TLG either have 1:1 comparisons or have colour differences to avoid confusion. Thus I think this has very limited appeal.

[Rick]

As it turns out that was about six months after release and by then it was half price. (It still is.)

Sound like a successful product for TLG then...

Here it is compared to a mini-fig so you can get an idea of its size.

This one made me

It's less effective when using it to measure height as you can't sit it flush with the bricks. (The leading edge should have been a half-stud-gap width.)

That sounds like a major design flaw. It also looks like it could do with 'plate' markers in that direction (for when something is 8 bricks and 2 plates high, for example).

But the uses don't stop with LEGO; you can use it to measure anything you want!

Must... resist... making... silly... comments... here... But the key question is: does it work for scratching your back?

In summary this is a great tool for measuring LEGO... but it really is at it's most useful when building technic models from PDF files. (Which is mostly why I wanted it.)

Indeed, now that I read your review, I feel that it's probably most useful for Technic building. It isn't specifically marketed for Technic, is it?

[simonwillems]

Thanks for this review!

I have often wondered how to draw a straight line with this ruler, as the underside looks kind of not-so-straight. You have made me realise that the ruler is intended to measure Lego heights and lenghts. Something I can do without a ruler, after more than 20 years of collecting. So I I'll just leave it where it is: in the store at half price...

[Siegfried]

It also looks like it could do with 'plate' markers in that direction (for when something is 8 bricks and 2 plates high, for example).

I've thought the same but I also think that it's easy to judge.

But the key question is: does it work for scratching your back?

I've never tried. I tend to use a spare 8x16 baseplate.

It isn't specifically marketed for Technic, is it?

No, it's under "LEGO® Exclusives"

[samurai-turtle]

I think it is more useful when you are feeling lazy or do not want count something twice. The best use I figure out is when I am building a set I count the studs in the instruction page and use the ruler for the real brick. A shameless plug for my review.

[paul_delahaye]

I find it quite useful for measuring the studless beams, I often misjudge the length of them when building flagship sets, I can tell an axle length by eye after so many years of building

Paul

[prateek]

I like this ruler. It's good for Technic and counting the length, but instead of brick increments for height, it should be in plates.

[CP5670]

This is a good concept but not that well thought out. It would have been far more useful if it had Technic holes and let you measure diagonal distances, especially along triangle edges.

I like that "minifig" too.

[RileyC]

Seems to be a pretty nifty looking tool. The axle and beam ruler seems to be the most useful imo because counting bricks is pretty easy. I never knew this tool existed thanks Siegfried

[Chris Phipson]

But the uses don't stop with LEGO; you can use it to measure anything you want!

I can't think of a better way for measuring "studlyness"...

(groan) AHAHAHA

This is a really cool piece. I only wish they would have made it bigger... To measure longer things... I'M TALKING LEGO HERE PEOPLE! Get your mind outta there.

Nice plush minifig too! I should TOTALLY pick up one of those for my daughter just to tick my wife off.

Thanks for sharing! ~ Chris.

[Siegfried]

A shameless plug for my review.

Oddly Brickset class it as "Stationery"..

This is a good concept but not that well thought out. It would have been far more useful if it had Technic holes and let you measure diagonal distances, especially along triangle edges.

Good idea!

I like that "minifig" too.

I'll do a review soon.

[iamded]

What an interesting review, Siegfried. I can certainly see how this would be useful. Very neat product from Lego. (Better than ice cube trays... )

Oddly Brickset class it as "Stationery"..

Perhaps brick set thinks it measures in inches and centimetres?

~Peace

[Big Cam]

I never even knew this existed.

I really want one now.