The Dovetail Rule is an excellent tool to help diagnose potential issues with your Dovetails before they become gaps in your assembled Joint. The Sterling Dovetailing Rule and was inspired by pattern makers squares that have been around for decades. We designed our reduced size blade for woodworking and to fit commonly available squares. Sterling Tool Works was the first to make a reduced size blade longer for excellent diagnosing especially with “london” style dovetails where the pins meet to only a kerf. The length is 2-4 times longer than vintage tools for use with thicker stock or “gang cutting” 3/4″ and thinner panels. The Sterling Dovetail Rule, better by design and functionality.
The Sterling Dovetail rule is incredibly handy for checking the squareness of your dovetails to ensure excellent fit and “gap less” joints after assembly. The reduced size of one end of the un-graduated rule allows precise checking of squareness in even some of the tightest “London style” dovetails. Regular size rules simply cannot reach into the spaces the Sterling Dovetailing Rule can. The Dovetailing Rule is hardened, precision ground and finished with a satin Chrome finish.
UPDATE 2/11/2023 I have posted a Blog to help people choose the best DTR for their existing square, click HERE to get to the blog entry.
The Sterling Dovetail Rule (DTR-1):
For those that already own a 6″ Starrett Combination Square or other popular 4″ double squares you can purchase just the Dovetail Ruler (DTR-1) I cannot guarantee that the Dovetailing Ruler will fit ALL other makers squares but I have tried a handful of other makers 6” combination squares I had on hand such as Starrett, Goddell Pratt, Brown and Sharpe, Lee Valley, and the dovetailing rule clamped perfectly in both vintage and contemporary squares.
The dimensions of the Sterling Dovetail Rule are: 4″ long, by .330″ tall on the taller end, .090″ on the smaller end and .075″ thick!
PLEASE NOTE: 4″ Starret Squares will not accept the DTR-1 Dovetail Ruler.
Purchase the DTR-1 here.
UPDATE March 2017: We introducedthe DTR-2 unit that will fit Starrett 4″ Squares.
The dimensions of the DTR-2 for Starrett 4″ Double squares are: 4″ long by .300 tall on the taller end and .090 on the smaller end and.064″ thick. The DTR-2 along with your Starrett 4″ Double Square is an excellent alternative from purchasing a entire new square such as the 2.5″ Pattern Makers Square that costs $150-300 (The pattern makers squares are now called the Starrett 14D or 453E )
Purchase the DTR-2 here.
The DTR-2 also fits the dainty 4″ Starrett combination square, like this vintage one below.
UPDATE 10/6/2023 We have launched the DTR-5!
For those woodworkers without smaller squares we have now made the DTR-5 which is designed and made for popular 12″ cobination squares that most woodworkers have in thier toolkit. The DTR-5 is .089″ Thick and .445″ tall on the larger end and .090 on the smaller end. We have tested its fit on several vintage and modern 12″ Combination sqaures like Starrett, Brown and Sharpe, PEC and others. While we cant garuntee that it will fit ALL 12″ combination sqaures it should fit most.
You can purchase your DTR-5 Here
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