4 ms·

Does anyone have recommendations for what to look for when buying a slide rule? Are there certain features or materials that make it easier to use?

jacquesm 3y ago
That it wasn't used daily by an engineer in anger, you want one that isn't worn to the point where the accuracy suffers. A slide rule is a precision instrument, the cursor and the scales should be free of scratches, the cursor should slide freely but without play across the outside ways and the slides themselves should slide with some friction but never so much that you need to apply force. Low quality ones may have discolored to the point that using them is harder, the better quality ones came in a cover and should have been stored there. I'd probably avoid wood as the base material, it's too unpredictable. Dirt is fine, damage is not and slop is to be avoided. In Europe Aristo made nice and affordable ones that sold in a hard plastic casing, if you can find one of those in the original sleeve it should be fine even if it has been sitting for three decades or more. Other good brands: Faber-Castell, Ahrend, Hemmi. You can find them for $10 or less if you look around for a bit. In the USA 'Pickett sliderule' on ebay, from $5 to $300 for NIB...
kurthr 3y ago
I am no damn expert, but I've used them. If you're actually going to use it: Choose a size that you can read and fits in your hands Choose a smooth sliding Indicator (some have magnifiers) and Slider without slop Choose scales you'll use (typ 2 linear and 2 log, some have trig roots etc) Choose one with the precision you think you'll need I think most of them are plastic, but some feel better in the hands. There are of course metal, wood, and I think ivory. There are cylindrical ones, and all sorts of historical examples. If you're going to carry it around you'll want a case (or a pocket protector) to put it in.

jacquesm 3y ago

That it wasn't used daily by an engineer in anger, you want one that isn't worn to the point where the accuracy suffers. A slide rule is a precision instrument, the cursor and the scales should be free of scratches, the cursor should slide freely but without play across the outside ways and the slides themselves should slide with some friction but never so much that you need to apply force. Low quality ones may have discolored to the point that using them is harder, the better quality ones came in a cover and should have been stored there. I'd probably avoid wood as the base material, it's too unpredictable. Dirt is fine, damage is not and slop is to be avoided. In Europe Aristo made nice and affordable ones that sold in a hard plastic casing, if you can find one of those in the original sleeve it should be fine even if it has been sitting for three decades or more. Other good brands: Faber-Castell, Ahrend, Hemmi. You can find them for $10 or less if you look around for a bit. In the USA 'Pickett sliderule' on ebay, from $5 to $300 for NIB...

kurthr 3y ago

I am no damn expert, but I've used them. If you're actually going to use it: Choose a size that you can read and fits in your hands Choose a smooth sliding Indicator (some have magnifiers) and Slider without slop Choose scales you'll use (typ 2 linear and 2 log, some have trig roots etc) Choose one with the precision you think you'll need I think most of them are plastic, but some feel better in the hands. There are of course metal, wood, and I think ivory. There are cylindrical ones, and all sorts of historical examples. If you're going to carry it around you'll want a case (or a pocket protector) to put it in.