Shopsmith Forums

Rather than high jack Ed's thread, I am starting this one.

All I typically use (though I do have a couple others) are Stanley so what I have to say is pure opinion. Take it for what it is worth.

If you are going to have more than one tape measure available in the shop, do yourself a favor and compare all of them to one another to make sure they are equally accurate - for their full length.

When doing this, check for both internal and external measurements. The hook on the end can throw a measurement off more than you might think (especially as the tape gets older).

I have two 30' Stanleys and they are still working fine. It seems like they have been in the tool inventory forever.

forrestb: I am curious! What is there that you find unacceptable with the Stanley tapes? Has quality been degraded on new units or is this a generic evaluation of all Stanley tapes.

PS: I decided that I better check my tape measures. I am often enticed by this forum to double check in my own shop. Often I am thankful that I did so. This is one of those cases.

I checked my two Stanleys against one another and found that they differed by more than 1/32". A couple of the following photos tell why.

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Maybe it is time for me to consider retiring these. I can probably straighten the hook on the one and put it in the truck to use when I am out and around. Other than that, I guess I need to get them out of the shop.

A couple other brand names have been mentioned in this thread. I have one that I am unable to identify. Maybe you guys can help.

I picked up two of these at an association meeting for a local group of architects. They were free so the price was right but I have never integrated them into my shop.

Can anyone tell me from the photos what brand they are. They feel comfortable and seem to work well and they are not bent.

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Hi Dusty,

In general I have found almost all tape measures to be good for general measurements like going to the wood pile and getting a 2 x 4 that is at least say 32" for a project that needs to be 31" long.

Some say 8 or so years ago I recall posting to I think it was the Router Forums about the issue of tapes being off by what can be a lot more then 1/32". I had if I recall 3 tapes all pulled some distance then shot a photo of the distance, yes they did show the point that the length is relative to the tape measure.

The concluding I set forth is that you need to use the same tape for a project. I have failed to do this on some occasions and had some unpredictable results. I recall getting lucky one such time. I was doing some measurements for trim inside then going outside to do the cutting. One tape outside and another inside. When I had to bring the first cut piece back out to re-cut because it was too long well that wasn't to bad. However after every piece was too long I knew something was up. When I compared tapes they were more then a 1/16" different at the lengths I was cutting. If the pieces were coming out 1/16" short, well that would have been another story.

The true length doesn't often matter but just like a story stick you want the same length for measuring and for cutting, so if you use just one tape you get that, two tapes, hey maybe you get lucky, maybe not.

Ed

I find tape measures are great for measuring 2x4s for whacking when building the porch. Not so great when building fine cabinetry or finely detailed parts. If I'm trying to measure to the 32nd of an inch, I don't find a tape measure to be up to the job normally. That's what my steel rulers are for.

My tape measure hooks get battered in life, and do benefit from the occassional re-hammering back into shape. More than once I've found my hook to be bent way off.

I like this one.
Story Tape

Gene Howe wrote:I like this one.
Story Tape

I REALLY like the price line(s)!:D

Dusty
While I have many tapes I do not switch them in between jobs. I get one and stick with it.
I have switched tapes in the past and there are differences that will mess you up.

For critical work I usually use a metal rule or story stick.

Ed in Tampa wrote:Dusty
While I have many tapes I do not switch them in between jobs. I get one and stick with it.
I have switched tapes in the past and there are differences that will mess you up.

For critical work I usually use a metal rule or story stick.

I have (and use) more than one tape measure during a project because I constantly loose the one I am using. This goes for knives, screw drivers, pencils (especially pencils) and a lot of others tools.

If I stop to find it, I'll never get done.

Now I know that I am the only one who has that problem but I've learned to deal. Be thankful you have not been so inflicted.

dusty wrote:I have (and use) more than one tape measure during a project because I constantly loose the one I am using. This goes for knives, screw drivers, pencils (especially pencils) and a lot of others tools.

If I stop to find it, I'll never get done.

Now I know that I am the only one who has that problem but I've learned to deal. Be thankful you have not been so inflicted.

I do not know how many steel tapes I have. I can account for two of them tonight, but tomorrow I may lose track of one or both of them, and maybe 'discover' one(or more) of the rest!:D

My tape cases are either yellow or silver.
When I look for one, I realize how many OTHER yellow or silver items there are in the shop.
I am always losing pencils, too. They seem to show up regularly in the wash!
The darned things weren't in my pocket when I was hunting them!