QUADTOOL Frequently Asked Questions

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$15.00! I can download and print any one of a dozen grid tools from the Internet for FREE.
Yeah, we tried that too. We haven't seen any tool that does everything we need in a single, compact form like the QUADTOOL. And then the printed output was lame. It was hard to get it perfectly scaled. Paper was too flimsy, cardstock got wet, the printing rubbed off the acetate, and the laminations de-laminated. We needed a quality, dependable tool, so we had a bunch professionally made to our specifications.

Why is the Longitude scale used at an odd angle?
Since longitude lines converge at the poles, longitude lines on a map vary in their distance apart, depending on latitude. The Longitude tool is used to evenly divide the 2.5 minute span between longitude lines into smaller, equal, and more useful increments. See The Proportion Method.

I have a topo map stored in my GPS, why would I need your QUADTOOL?
GPS is wonderful technology, but some day, maybe when you really need it, it will fail. A printed map and compass and the skill to use them are still essential tools to any outdoorsman. The 7.5' series USGS paper topo map has 17 times more detail than the best consumer grade GPS maps, and gives a MUCH broader range of view than the dinky GPS screen.

Why doesn't the QUADTOOL's length quite match the latitude spacing on my map?
OK, you caught us. We said that the latitude spacing doesn't change. We should say that the latitude spacing doesn't significantly change. We set the length to match the spacing where we live and play. Designer's privlege. The large majority of the lower 48 states will fall within 10 meters of this length, less than the typical GPS error, even with selective availability off. If your spacing is less than our's, you can tilt the tool in a manner similar to the longitude method to maintain maximum accuracy.

We prefer our lat/long's expressed in degrees, minutes and seconds. Can you make a tool for us with these units?
TCSAR can make any reasonable customizations. Minimum order is 1000 tools plus an $85 setup fee. E-mail us (tcsar at onewest dot net) with your request and we'll tell you if we can accommodate you.

We Like it! Our group wants to buy a large quantity. Can we get a discount?
We give substantial discounts to professional and government affiliated groups for purchases of 50 or more. Send us a request for quotation on your group's letterhead to:
QUADTOOL
PO Box 101
Wilson WY 83014

I don't see my question here, and I need an answer!
Try looking at our verbose instructions. If that doesn't answer your question, e-mail your question to tcsar at onewest dot net