Desk Accessories
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Iris, Stria and Lazlo: Three Precision Tools from Makers Cabinet
A short look at three precision tools from Makers Cabinet: the Iris circle tool, the Stria folding ruler and the Lazlo magnetic pen. What they do, what they cost, and who they’re for.
Makers Cabinet sent me three of their tools to try: the Iris, the Stria and the Lazlo. This isn’t a sponsored post, and all opinions are my own.
Makers Cabinet is a small studio that designs precision tools in London. Everything here is solid metal, and you feel it the moment you pick them up.
Iris: a circle tool with a moving aperture
The Iris is a brass ring with stainless steel leaves inside, like a camera aperture. You set the opening to the size you want, then trace around the inside edge. It draws circles from 3 to 70 mm, and you can do single, concentric or even shaded circles.
There are two ways to use it. On the desk, the non-slip rubber underneath holds it in place, so you press down and turn the top to open and close it. In your hand, there are two rings: you hold the outer one still and turn the inner one with your fingers. It’s really satisfying to use.
It comes with a walnut centring tool to place your circle on a given point, which also works as a stand to display it.
I’m not a designer, so I don’t really have a use for it. But if you’re a designer, an architect or an engineer, this is a tool made for you. If you need bigger circles, there’s also the Iris Large Format, which goes from 5 to 120 mm.
Price: $209 (Large Format: $475).
Stria: a folding brass ruler
The Stria is a folding ruler in solid brass with a brushed finish, metric on one side and imperial on the other. Unfold it all the way and you get a ruler twice as long as it is when folded. That’s the whole idea, and it saves a lot of space.
It’s heavy, and the brass feels really high quality. It also clicks every 45°, but the click is subtle: I didn’t even notice it until I drew the graphic below. Good to know, though. Inside the box there’s a small tool to adjust how soft or stiff the hinge feels.
I’d use it for my own projects, for longer cuts or for marking things out.
Price: $175.
Lazlo: a pen with a magnetic click
The Lazlo comes in polished brass or anodised aluminium. Mine is aluminium, with a stainless steel clip.
Honestly, it’s one of the best pens I’ve ever tried, maybe the best. It writes really smoothly, and the ink flows so well it barely feels like a ballpoint. It feels solid, with a nice weight in the hand.
The click is the best part. It works with neodymium magnets, and it’s really satisfying, almost like an anti-stress toy. Unlike most pens, you can keep turning it in the same direction and it keeps opening and closing.
It takes most Eurostyle refills (they recommend the Schmidt MegaLine) and comes with a cork drop stand. This is the one I’d use every day, although I don’t write much: most of my notes go into Notion.
Price: $130.
The downsides
The main one is the price. These are premium, niche tools that not everyone can or will buy. Unless you’re an engineer or an architect, or you just love objects like these, I don’t think I’d buy them myself. For the quality, though, they’re worth every bit of what you pay.
The other one is personal. Iris and Stria have a gold brass finish, and my setup leans towards silver and stainless steel. The aluminium Lazlo is the one that fits best. I’d love stainless steel versions of the other two, but as far as I know there aren’t any right now.
Where they live
Right now they’re in my Grovemade drawer, but I’d like to find a way to display them. On top of being great tools, they’re beautifully designed.
You can find all three on the Makers Cabinet website.
Prices in USD, November 2026.
