Here is tool that as a seasoned (don’t call me old) utility estimator I can recommend should have in their estimator’s toolbox. Now I am going to assume that paper plans are still used especially in the field but I still see plenty of rolled-up plans in offices in my travels. This is a digital wheel that was an update to my non-electric model that has various scales and you can do custom ones too. If you are a estimator you know there are times that you just want to get some quick lengths without trying to do it on some computer-based takeoff system and this is what the Scale Master Plus does. There is a more advanced model that connects to a computer but why? Here is a Youtube video the company did on its use. LINK

$50 and it will pay itself many times over. LINK . Highly recommended.

Shown is architectural scale but it does engineering scales also