Japanese V-Ruler/Angle Ruler or
Measure
Original collected site information
see current info for more
explicit info and use instructions
Several references have been made in
on this
site and it is something
that you
will see in most Japanese Temari books - about a device used in Japan
to
divide wrapped balls into the complex 10/pentagon division. It is
commonly
called a V-ruler. While not available outside of Japan, an image is
provided
here along with instructions. In reality the gadget is made of thin,
flexible plastic. The inner angle is the standard 72 degrees, that of
the pentagon angle. Each arm from the center back center measures about
9.5 cm long and 1 cm wide. The markings are in millimeter increments
beginning at the apex of the angle on the interior. In reality it would
not be difficult to create one yourself, out of light weight cardboard
or paper that is then heat laminated. Should it become worn you can
always make another.
These instructions are
from
Sarah R -
|
| To use to mark
a complex 10/pentagon ball: measure the circumference of the ball in
centimeters.
Place the north pole pin anywhere on the ball. Position the measure on
the
ball with the north pole pin (pin A) inside the "V" of the measure.
Using
the table below, determne how many units (mm)
from pin A to place pins B and C. Then swivel the measure so that pin A
is
till inside the V and pin C is stil against the measure as the second
reference point. Place pin D at the same distance from pin A. All of
these pins are equidistant from each other. Continue in this manner to
place the pins around the ball and then use the standard methods of
wrapping the marking threads. |
  |
| In reality
most balls are not perfectly round. If you are having difficulty having
the pins come out equally spaced from each other, start over by placing
pin A in a different place on the ball. This often works (even if you
have to make several attempts). It is important to note that it's
almost impossible to get this divison
totally accurate even when using this method and millimeters.... most
of
the time the closest you can get it will work. |
Table of ball
circumference and pin distances:
| Circum (cm) |
Pin Distance |
Circum (cm) |
Pin Distance |
Circum (cm) |
Pin Distance |
Circum (cm) |
Pin Distance |
| 25 |
4.4 |
28.5 |
5.04 |
31.5 |
5.56 |
34.5 |
6.09 |
| 25.5 |
4.5 |
29 |
5.12 |
32 |
5.65 |
35 |
6.18 |
| 26 |
4.55 |
29.5 |
5.20 |
32.5 |
5.74 |
36 |
6.36 |
| 27 |
4.67 |
30 |
5.3 |
33 |
5.83 |
37 |
6.53 |
| 27.5 |
4.85 |
30.5 |
5.47 |
33.5 |
5.92 |
38 |
6.71 |
| 28 |
4.94 |
31 |
5.47 |
34 |
6.00 |
|
|
(With much thanks to Sarah Robinson)
=============
Hints from Martine:
I have tried all methods and stick to the V ruler. To me it is the
fastest especially if you use an already calculated division table. If
you don’t have the table (I got mine at a temari gathering) measure the
circumference, divide by 6 and make a note of that number. Next divide
the same circumference measurement by 100. Add this answer to the first
answer. This is the number (length of pentagon side) that you will use
to place your marker pins.
As for the actual pin placement-the directions should be on the site
somewhere. The trick with the V ruler is how you smooth the leg down
–don’t touch the point of the ruler behind the pin-make sure it is not
lying flat on the ball-then proceed to smooth the leg down and place
pin at appropriate number. This is SO fast as it does not require
dividing ball into tens, moving pins etc…….. Martine in Alabama
=============
Sue Hayashi also offers her
thoughts
on using the V-ruler and it might be a little more clear this way:
Download PDF file
with
accurate
angle ruler image - be sure to print at 100 percent image size - do
not use the fit to page option.
To use the V tool: Start by finding your N & S poles. Divide your
ball into 10
divisions.
You can either mark them outright, or just leave the pins at the
equator
distance from each other. When you allow the inner angle of the V ruler
to straddle one of the
pole
pins, you will find that the legs of the ruler line up with two of the
10-divide
lines. (note these lines are not adjacent they will have one line
in-between). Hold down the tips of the legs (near the equator).
Allow the
outer
edge of the Angle part to ride up the pole pin, but not the inner
angle. Use your "magic" number (Circumference divided by 6 plus 1/100)
in
millimeters...
count that number from the pole down each of the legs, and move every
other
pin accordingly. Once all your pins are moved to their proper positions
from their
respective
poles, it becomes very easy with the V ruler to check that each pin is
the
same "magic number" distance from any other pin by allowing the ruler
to
straddle a pin, and gently holding down the legs toward two other pins.
I hope all of the above makes sense.
Please do not hesitate to ask further questions if you are having
difficulty using the Angle tool. I will be the first to admit
that it is not necessarily the first thing I grab for when making a
C-10, but it is definitely handy when one is trying to make sure all
the pins are the same distance.
==============
Hint from Jan -
Sue H. was kind enough to send me a copy of her scanned V-ruler.
After some tweaking, I was finally able to maintain the 72 degree angle
and an equal
length in the legs of both sides. The measurements gradually
increase to a total of one additional mm in length, than what their
true measurement should be. As I played with the printer on this
and re-measured the
markings on each, it occurred to me that a plastic coated tape measure
with
metric markings could be cut into two 9.5 cm lengths. These
lengths
could then be joined (stitched through their overlap at the top or
glued
onto a piece of cardboard or a piece of plastic, say from the clear
report
covers available at office supply stores) at a 72 degree angle.
This
way, the mm markings will be quite accurate and possibly an inexpensive
alternative to the Japanese V-rulers.
Jan
Click to
enter Temarikai.com
Last updated 9/04 © From 1998 inclusive
G.Thompson,
Sarah Robinson and Sue Hayashi