So tonight I was cutting some pieces at my recently built miter saw station. It's got a stop block with a Starrett adhesive measuring tape. Made a cut at 13 1/4" and since this was the first time using the station for precise cuts I decided to check it with my tape. Off by a 16th. Hrm. Double checked the stop block, 13 1/4". Hrm. Check with my tape again. Off again. Then I grabbed another tape. Still off. Then I laid one of the tapes down on the adhesive tape. First inch, everything checks, second inch, everything checks out, third inch, everything che...wait a minute, just a smidge off. Looked down to about 1 foot and it's off almost a 16th of an inch. Grabbed the other tape, off the same amount. Grabbed a ruler, off. Measured to the left of where I started and out about a foot and it was dead on. It's starts to get inaccuracies at about a foot and a half from the blade and in.
Do you have to handle these things delicately? They are metal so I assumed you'd have to be pretty rough with them to stretch them. Starrett seems like a pretty legit outfit (new to woodworking so not sure of all the premier brands). Anyone have an issue like this? Any recommendations on another tape?
Thanks