The most basic type has a C, D, A, B, CI, CIF, etc. And that's pretty much it. Some rules have hyperbolic scales on top of all that. The basic rule will usually be one-sided. Almost ALL log-log rules are duplex with 20 or more scales.
Wood is certainly the nicest aesthetically but worst for aging.
But generally, plastic is a good practical material. Multiply Well, you see, um, usually a girl slide rule and a boy slide rule find a quiet desk drawer. Slide rules, as the name suggests, are rules that slide. The rules measure distances using logarithmic scales. The base can be any number.