Replies

1. 
   oldusty | Jul 01, 2008 05:29pm | #1

      I've always used Stanley also but the Wyfe got a tape with a magnetic end and it is really helpful around drywall corners .

      Imho more importantly than the brand of tape measure is the individuals ability to accurately read it . With QC in mind , have you ever asked a handful of folks to measure the same items ?

                         dusty

1. 
   quietude | Jul 01, 2008 05:47pm | #3

   I have. Never get the same answer. My favorite test is to ask them to mark the centerline of a board that is 13 and 3/8 inches long. Tells you a lot about the person measuring and marking. I provide a sharp pencil, a marker, a string, a ruler and a tape measure. Their method tells me a lot about how careful they are.

1. 
   AZMO | Jul 02, 2008 03:36pm | #7

   Quietude

   I have one of these for finding centerpoints, that and my 5mm pencil and I have not made a mistake!

   http://www.mcfeelys.com/product/CP-1600/16ft-CenterPoint-34quot-Wide-Tape

   My Favorite tape is a flat tape for the shop, The Fast Cap Cabinet Makers tape. It does not have metric verision that I am aware off. Lays down flat and the area below allows me to use it as a story pole also.

   I use my Stanleys for framing, and my job site projects when you need the support of a curved back tape.

   OK now give some stories. Someone used a marker instead of a pencil I am sure. But has anyone used the string instead of the ruler or tape? LOL.

   AZMO                  <!----><!----><!---->

   -----------_o

   ---------_'-,>

   -------(*)/ (*)   http://www.EarthArtLandscape.com

2. 
   saschafer | Jul 01, 2008 05:39pm | #2

   I like the "blindman's" tape measures from Lee Valley. Big numbers, and the tapered markings are easy to follow.

   -Steve

    

3. 
   forestgirl | Jul 01, 2008 06:51pm | #4

   Second vote for the Lee Valley Blindman's Tape.  Oops, not metric though.

   forestgirl -- you can take the girl out of the forest, but you can't take the forest out of the girl ;-) 
   
4. 
   Cincinnati | Jul 01, 2008 06:59pm | #5

   I like the fastcap I got a few months ago. They have several different rule designs.

   http://www.woodworkersshop.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPRODGROUP&ID=29

   Greg

   •••••••

   Exo 35:30-35

1. 
   scooter1 | Jul 01, 2008 09:03pm | #6

   Doesn't matter to me as long as all of them are the same.  Two different brands can be off by as much as a 332nd. 

   I happen to use Stanley.  Regards, Scooter"I may be drunk, but you're crazy, and I'll be sober tomorrow." WC Fields, "Its a Gift" 1934

5. 
   troys | Jul 02, 2008 10:37pm | #8

   My favorite is the one that I have not lost yet or the one the wife has not confiscated:)

   Troy

1. 
   nboucher | Jul 03, 2008 12:07am | #9

   "My favorite is the one that I have not lost yet or the one the wife has not confiscated:)"x2

6. 
   Frank Vucolo | Jul 03, 2008 02:15am | #10

   I like the Stanley in 16' size.

   I also bought a Flat Back from McFeely's (I think that's what it's called... the tape lays flat.) I like the concept, but the retract is so powerful the thing comes back like a whip and scares the heck out of me!

7. 
   bones | Jul 04, 2008 12:21am | #11

   As others have said the fast caps are nice. I have several.  I also have a starret metric that's nice as well. If you are going to use them a lot go get a craftsman 1".  I used to get them way back when I did construction in college.  It was inevitable that the spring mechanism will wear out.  I would simple stop by the local sears hand it to a salesman and walk out with a new one.  Good tapes. 

   Government's view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases:
   If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it.
   And if it stops moving, subsidize it.
   
8. 
   WillGeorge | Jul 04, 2008 04:00pm | #12

   Tape measure?

   Most anything you get you at least in the ball park... What about his/hers pencile with a VERY wide point to mark it?

9. 
   dgreen | Jul 04, 2008 04:33pm | #13

   I like the Komelon tapes, my favorite is the model 3516 1"X16'. Accurate, long lasting and good price.

   Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys to teenage boys.
   -- P.J. O'Rourke

10. 
    flairwoodworks | Jul 09, 2008 08:40am | #14

    My favourite tape is Stanley's 16' Lever Lock.  I like the auto lock feature.  However, the tape is a little big for small-scale work, so I often use a standard-locking 10-footer in the shop.  Too bad there's no 10' Lever Lock.  I picked up a Storystick tape measure at Summerfields but haven't used it much yet.  Personally, I find dual-scale tapes very confusing to read.  Clear is best.  I had a Lufkin 25' tape graduated in 32nds of an inch for the first 6 or 12".  That one was awful.

    Chris @ www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com

     - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   Dave45 | Jul 11, 2008 04:19pm | #24

   I'm also a Leverlock fan and have two 25 footers and a 12 footer.  For some reason, conventional tapes give me fits, but the Leverlocks seem more "natural".

   Since the hooks on tapes can cause some amount of variation in measurements, I use the same tape (usually the 12 footer) for all measurements on a project.  It may be slightly "off", but the error will be consistent.

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Jul 12, 2008 02:53am | #25

   Dave,

   So they make a 12-footer, eh?  I'll have to find me one!  I like the locking system much better.  It seems more convenient to use.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

1. 
   Dave45 | Jul 12, 2008 04:53am | #28

   Ask and ye shall receive, my son.

   http://www.stanleytools.com

   For some reason, they call them tape rules but it's the same thing. - lol

11. 
    Woodman41 | Jul 09, 2008 09:21am | #15

    for cabinet work it seems like pretty much any *good* tape measure will do the job providing they don't get beat up too much and they replace them every so often when the tip gets loose. Having said that, I like my trusty Stanley but am getting pretty partial to the fastcap flat tape for some jobs. I'm left handed so I also have one of the dual sided tapes that I use from time to time.

1. 
   KiddervilleAcres | Jul 09, 2008 03:50pm | #16

   Lufkin 16' tape for the woodshop and several 25' Lufkins for around the homestead.

   Regards,

   Bob @ Kidderville Acres

   A Woodworkers mind should be the sharpest tool in the shop!

   Edited 7/9/2008 8:50 am ET by KiddervilleAcres

1. 
   dkellernc | Jul 09, 2008 06:01pm | #17

   I'll put my vote in for the 16' Stanley Fat Max tape.  There's nothing more frustrating than trying to measure a long distance by yourself and have the tape refuse to stand-out more than 6'.  The Stanley Fat Max is designed to solve this problem - stand-out length is at least 12'.  And, they're cheap and at every home improvement store.

1. 
   Henley | Jul 10, 2008 06:01pm | #22

   I have been using the 16' Fatmax for a couple of years myself.
   Those darn wings on the end are starting to get very bothersome to me.
   They get in the way far more then they are useful.

12. 
    jquinn | Jul 09, 2008 06:12pm | #18

    I did this when I worked in the QA department of a steel mill.  Buy a 48" Starrett rule - or 72", depending on how long the biggest cuts will be made. 

    have each person, every day (and especially before they get a new tape), check their tapes against the rule at at least two points , say 15-1/2" and 45".  As long as the tapes check out OK.  If the tape is dropped, check it to make sure the hook isn't damaged.

    the tape should line up exactly to the measurement - if it doens't get rid of it.  it only takes a minute or two.

    the people I worked with weren't checking a setup however, just the width of the steel after rolling, etc.  By the rules of rounding, its pretty important sometimes, between determining whether the steel is OK as is, has to be referred, or reapplied.

     

    I had a bunch of starrett tapes bought for the workers in the place I work now. 

1. 
   quietude | Jul 10, 2008 02:38pm | #21

   I like this suggestion of a starrett 72" rule for checking our tapes. Our cabinet QC runs up to about 9 feet, but I suppose if it still reads well at 6 foot, not much will change at 9. Thanks for the help.

13. 
    1stwoodstone_man | Jul 10, 2008 04:19am | #19

    The best way to get acuracy is the guy that markes it is the guy who cuts it.

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Jul 10, 2008 08:20am | #20

   Some tools stores around here carry 24" vernier calipers.  Does anyone use these in the shop?Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

14. 
    WillGeorge | Jul 11, 2008 03:07pm | #23

    Sorry I HAD to.. I read your post..

    I had a VERY good laugh based on how my old brain thinks.

    'I'm looking to buy a dozen dual metric-english tape measures in the 4-5 meter size.'

    .. What? No Inches for me to look up appropriate length you want?.. Lets see.. a Meter is about 3 Foot long... How long a tape? I had no ideal exactly how long you wanted..

    Just funnin' you...  NO hate here.. I just see words as I read them..

    Just to let you know..

    Old US Army Artillery mechanic (Yes a 'GRUNT' but a skilled one)... That also had to learn how to shoot a 'BIG POPPER' gun (We called them) when necessary..  As in the gun crew were killed and the Gun still useable... AND we were expected to hit something?

    Inches, feet here.. However in the Artillery EVERYTHING was in Meters except... for our 5 inch and 8 inch guns? Smallest Gun we had were 155 mm. How strange the world is.. Especially the US Army!

    ALL Range calculations were Metric. Even in Basic training we had to hit a target a 300 Meters to pass as I recall?

    Or was it Yards? I forget!

    In other words, I hear your problem!  REALLY!

     

     

15. 
    9619 | Jul 12, 2008 04:05am | #26

    Q,
    I work part time at a Woodcraft. Two days ago, we got a new shipment from Festool. There were 25 tape measures. They retail for $25 apiece. They must really be good. I looked at one. I pulled the tape out to about two feet. Everything seems right. It starts out at 0 inches and goes to 1" etc. I didn't see any numbers left out.

    Then I took a board and I measured it from left to right, and then I measured it from right to left and got the exact same measurement, so it is consistent. :-)

    I am not sure what one has to do to run the price of a tape measure up to $25, but I'll bet those Festool tape measures sell out fast. Festoolians are very very loyal.

    Mel

    Measure your output in smiles per board foot. 

1. 
   flairwoodworks | Jul 12, 2008 04:13am | #27

   Mel,

   From Festool, I would expect a special locking system as well as a soft close so the hook doesn't snap against the body.  Did you notice if they are made by Festool or just branded for them?  The local lumber store, Dick's, has a whole wall (about 4' high, 24' wide) of tape measures.  They've got your run-of-the-mill tapes in every length, tapes with SS blades, tapes with measurements on the back with numbers running vertically to measure height - just about every tape under the sun.Chris @ http://www.flairwoodwork.spaces.live.com

    - Success is not the key to happines.  Happiness is the key to success.  If you love what you are doing, you will be successful. - Albert Schweitzer

16. 
    irontoys | Jul 13, 2008 07:46am | #29

    I like the starrett also. One of the main reason is most people have stanleys' and you can spot yours.