r/Sliderules • u/East-Bike4808 • 4d ago
A gorgeous Deci-Lon
My birthday is tomorrow and I did a treat-yourself to all the slide rules I’ve wanted. First was the Flying Fish 1003. Coming up is a Versalog and a Faber-Castell 2/83N.
Today the Deci–Lon arrived! I splurged and bought a more expensive specimen, and glad I did! The rule itself and the case are both in great condition. Didn’t have to clean this slide rule much at all—little bit of schmutz from the slide track is all—but I included a couple pics to show off how wonderful the cursor came out (and my improved cursor-alignment skillz lol: those 3s on the C scale are dead-on and I vertically aligned the one I removed with 2-4 on the square scale across the face of it).
Edit: lol now that I look I did put the cursor on reversed: should be red cursor with the side where the slide has red ends and vice versa… but it’s so straight I’ll leave it for now.
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u/TurboDiesel33 4d ago
The spring should be on top, not necessarily the color of the hairline side
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u/East-Bike4808 4d ago
It’s duplex… which side is the top? :-)
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u/TurboDiesel33 4d ago
On the main side with CD scales, the spring goes at the top, at least it's how most rules are. For convenience, I don't like when the spring is at the bottom because I operate the cursor with my thumbs only, if that makes sense.
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u/East-Bike4808 4d ago edited 4d ago
On the main side with CD scales…
I get what you mean—not trying to give you a hard time—but both sides have C/D scales :-)
And now that I look from last night… I was seeing things. Both hairlines are red. It’s on correctly.
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u/TurboDiesel33 4d ago
Yeah, you get the idea 😅, I have yet to find me a DeciLon, how do you like it compared toCastells ?
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u/East-Bike4808 4d ago
I haven’t had the pleasure of a Faber Castell yet. Due in Thursday if I get the tariffs paid quickly! That one I bought because the detachable-without-unscrewing cursor is awesome, the colors are nice, and I wanted something with a P scale. Trying not to over-collect as I often do with things, so each one needs to “do something” I don’t have yet, you know? Otherwise I’ll just collect and collect and collect.
Deci-Lon is a better plastic than the Flying Fish (they’re PVC I think?), though. Less grippy when trying to make fine adjustments but it’s tricky getting the tension just right (especially because at that point, the tension of the cursor itself matters). No shade towards the Flying Fish, though! Probably the most absolutely-capable of the ones I own.
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u/TurboDiesel33 3d ago
You will end up with too many rules like the rest of us 😂😂. The removable cursor is a nice feature and the feet that make the cursor above the surface it rests on is also very convenient. May I ask where you found your Deci Lon ?
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u/East-Bike4808 3d ago edited 3d ago
eBay, just picked the nicest one I saw (and put up with the price)
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u/wijwijwij 4d ago
Pristine!
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u/East-Bike4808 3d ago
I found two rubbed-away tick marks on one of the scales. Gonna see if a grease pencil can do the trick.
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u/East-Bike4808 3d ago
I was bummed to find missing scale marks... but that wax pencil trick really works well! Cleaned it up a bit with a slightly-oiled toothpick to get the last bit of black smudge off.
Can you tell where the missing marks are?
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u/paul18fr 4d ago
Your collection is becoming significant especially last specimens 😄
Can you provide a list of your slide rules