measuring tapes

3387 Views 10 Replies 6 Participants Last post by reds_21, Aug 11, 2005

reds_21

Discussion Starter · Aug 10, 2005

alright, i am in a mad hunt for a tape measure that the tip of the tape does not jiggle. every tape measure that i test, the little silver gripper at the end of it jiggles in and out, so it never gives me an acurate measurement. now i realize that i should measure from the one inch mark and go from there but do they not make a tape that the gripper does not move?

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NewMontanaWorkshop

· #2 · Aug 10, 2005 (Edited)

They are designed that way on purpose so you get correct measurements whether doing an outside or inside measurement -- otherwise you would have to compensate for the width of the tip. If you don't want a 'jiggling tip' you will probably need to go with a straight ruler (or measure from the 1" mark as your aleady doing).

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reds_21

Discussion Starter · #3 · Aug 10, 2005

i was hoping for an answer that was different but was afraid of the truth!!!!!

thanks snowshoe!!!!

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GoonMan

· #4 · Aug 11, 2005

reds_21 said:
i was hoping for an answer that was different but was afraid of the truth!!!!!

thanks snowshoe!!!!

Don't worrry reds it took me many years to ask the question why the end of a tape always moved. I asked my brother the question one day not too many years ago about the end of the tape. I told him it was broken and he told me it was designed that way. Talk about egg on my face.

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reible

· #5 · Aug 11, 2005

Sounds to me like you need to shop the McFeely's catalog. How does this sound:
A lay-flat tape measure, it has a 1/4" edge to use as a story stick, the hook is rigid.

It is on my "next order" list but you can get your's now at 18008477136 or www.mcfeelys.com
item #FSC-4024, it is on page 58 of catalog #05G1

It sells for $6.95 but to make the postage work out better you might want to add a few things...... I have FSC-4020 tape whick is my current favorite and the center point tape CP-1600 another really hand tape.

If someone want to shell out a finders fee you can order me the Bevel Boss item #BB-0100........

Ed

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Dewy

· #6 · Aug 11, 2005

Hi reds
That jiggly thing moves the exact width of the metal it is made from.
Constant retracting with the spring return wil eventually wear the slot making inaccurate readings.
This is why the tape doesn't usually retract all the way in but slows down towards the end to cause less wear.
Another thing to note about tapes is that the case they roll into has a known size when measuring between 2 internal sides.
This is generally 2 or 3 inches depending on the length the tape is.

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reible

· #7 · Aug 11, 2005

Here is another tip I learned early on. Use only one tape on a project. Of couse learning and doing are two different tasks.

I was doing some remodeling work where I ended up having a tape measure at the saw and one inside where I would measure. I'd go outside and measure and cut. Things were not coming our right.

As you might guess they would end up short so I was wasting wood. After having this happen several times I decided to put the two tape measures side by side. By the time the tape was out to 10 feet the two were a 1/4" different. I brought out my other half dozen and while they all close none matched right on but the one was still much longer then the rest. Now this is a name brand (starts with a L) and not one of the no name $.99 specials.

BTW the rest were in less then a 1/16" of each other....... which one is really 10 feet? Who knows but if you use just one then it's like a story stick so who cares.

If anyone wants to try this at home go ahead and report back how yours did.

Ed

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GoonMan

· #8 · Aug 11, 2005

reible said:
Here is another tip I learned early on. Use only one tape on a project. Of couse learning and doing are two different tasks.

I was doing some remodeling work where I ended up having a tape measure at the saw and one inside where I would measure. I'd go outside and measure and cut. Things were not coming our right.

As you might guess they would end up short so I was wasting wood. After having this happen several times I decided to put the two tape measures side by side. By the time the tape was out to 10 feet the two were a 1/4" different. I brought out my other half dozen and while they all close none matched right on but the one was still much longer then the rest. Now this is a name brand (starts with a L) and not one of the no name $.99 specials.

BTW the rest were in less then a 1/16" of each other....... which one is really 10 feet? Who knows but if you use just one then it's like a story stick so who cares.

If anyone wants to try this at home go ahead and report back how yours did.

Ed

Hello reible,

WOW Thanks for the tip sir, I had never thought about it but will give it a try between the 3 tapes I have and my straight edge.

I only use one tape for most of my measuring but have in the past swapped between my straight edge and tape before and noticed a difference in my cuts.

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Delaplante

· #9 · Aug 11, 2005

One further point of interest about tapes. Manufactures will balk at replacing broken tapes, where the end gripper is broken off. They are claiming that in their warranty literature they've stated that tapes are NOT to be allowed to rapidly retract into the housing. A broken end gripper to them got broke slaming into the end stop.

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reds_21

Discussion Starter · #10 · Aug 11, 2005

that definately sums up my first question. Thank You Guys!!!!

Shawn

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reds_21

Discussion Starter · #11 · Aug 11, 2005

reible

thanks!! i just bought the 4020 over mcfeelys site. thats pretty slick!!!! i like how it has the markings on either side no matter if your left or right handed!!!

i was looking at the 4024, i was debating over that just for the fact that it was a flat tape rather than the curved. i'll try this 4020 out and go from there!!

thanks again
shawn

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