Best Tape Measure??

[Rich Riddle]

I tend to use the old wooden folding ruler quite a bit. Folks laugh. My tape measures seem to break easily. Which tape measures do you folks use? What length do you recommend? I don't want one that is metric on half the tape.

[Daniel Rode]

I prefer 12' or 14' tapes for the shop. I'll use most any if it's accurate. However when accuracy really matters, I reach for a steel rule. I have 6", 12" and 36" that I trust.

[Andrew Pitonyak]

Hands down, this is my favorite:

http://www.amazon.com/FastCap-PSSR16-FastPad-Standard-Measuring/dp/B0001GUE3G

This describes it: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kHHCtt3Jd14

They have many tape styles for this: http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=112

What I like best about it is that it is very easy for me to see the 1/16th inch measurements. This is the clearest that I have seen on any tape measure (at least for my eyes). I also happen to like the "PSSR16" model. The 16 indicates the length of the tape. I am indicating the "lefty/righty" model, which reads the same on both sides, so, it does not matter which side I use to read from.

[Tony Zaffuto]

Stanley 12'.

[Malcolm McLeod]

I don't think manufacturer matters much. I can be really rough on tapes, so I consider them as somewhat disposable. (I too like the wooden rules - - not sure if they are just more durable or I use more caution/care with them.)

Also agree that 12'-14' are probably well suited for the shop.

As for accuracy, I read somewhere that 'measuring devices' in USA must be accurate to +/- 3/16in. over a 6ft. span when compared to NIST traceable standard to be legal (or some statement close to this) because they may be used in commerce. Stretch and temperature-induced changes in length are probably on the same scale as the legal tolerance standard? For me in the shop, it means nearly nothing - I just keep the temperature the same and use the same tape (or ruler) for a given project.

...And please don't let this reignite the precision/accuracy/repeatability holocaust.

[Brett Luna]

One of their few products that doesn't cost dearly...at least not like the squares: Starrett 16' pocket tape (http://www.amazon.com/Starrett-KTX34-16-N-Measuring-Graduation-0-0625mm/dp/B00ELMRW8G?ie=UTF8&psc=1&redirect=true&ref_=oh_aui_detailpage_o04_s02). I keep a couple in the shop. Out of the package, the first 18 inches of both were dead on with one of their 18" square rules.

[David Eisenhauer]

I can't stand it - I have to go ahead and say it. 6' Lufkin folding ruler. Use the newer, cleaner one without slop in the joints for bench work. I started out as a carpenter pre tape measure days and have stayed with the Lufkin unless I need to get critical and then use steel rulers of various lengths as required. I know, I know - you asked about tapes. I could not stand it.

[Dave Anderson NH]

I don't care about the brand. For real furniture I only use the tape for rough cuts and then only when I intend to cut the board 1-2" over my nominal needed length. I consider a tape to be a carpentry tool, not a furniture making tool. They are just too inaccurate for precision cutting. My measuring tool of choice is a story stick.

[jack duren]

I don't care about the brand. For real furniture I only use the tape for rough cuts and then only when I intend to cut the board 1-2" over my nominal needed length. I consider a tape to be a carpentry tool, not a furniture making tool. They are just too inaccurate for precision cutting. My measuring tool of choice is a story stick.

Only as inaccurate as it's user. A story stick has a line, which part of that line is accurate. A pencil lead has a thickness

[Dave Lehnert]

I have used a Lufkin tape like the one in the link for years. Lowe's use to sell them.
What I like about it, the measurements are sideways. When using to set your fence on a tablesaw you are not looking at it upside down.

http://www.lufkintool.com/tapes/tape-measures/lufkin-pqr1316-3-4-x-16-quikread-power-return-tape-measure.html

[Jim Koepke]

Interesting, I gave up using a tape measure for a folding rule and story sticks.

When I tried to measure everything down to the proverbial gnat's behind things didn't seem to fit together as well as when pieces were measured with a stick and a line.


A story stick has a line, which part of that line is accurate.

As long as the same side or center of the line is used, things will come out the same.

What part of the line on a tape measure is accurate?

jtk

[Kenneth Fisher]

I just picked up the Fast Cap Old Standby version. I love it, it matches my other rules and is beefy enough not to instantly lose when I set it down. It's also handy having an extra pencil sharpener.

[Allan Speers]

Whichever tape measure you decide on, buy if from a local store, and check it against a known reference for accuracy. I've seen them be off more than you'd ever expect, and even with the expensive ones. - And check them both when the end clip is pulled, and when it's pushed against.

[jack duren]

Interesting, I gave up using a tape measure for a folding rule and story sticks.

When I tried to measure everything down to the proverbial gnat's behind things didn't seem to fit together as well as when pieces were measured with a stick and a line.



As long as the same side or center of the line is used, things will come out the same.

What part of the line on a tape measure is accurate?

jtk

"What part of the line on a tape measure is accurate?"

My point exactly;)

[Stew Hagerty]

Hands Down, the Stanley Leverlock!!! The 12' model is perfect for woodworking. It stays out automatically without needing to lock it. Then to retract it, you just depress the lever under your fingertips. Boom!

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-30-810-LeverLock-Tape-Measure/dp/B00MHRVSF0?ie=UTF8&keywords=stanley%20leverlock&qid=1460416071&ref_=sr_1_7&sr=8-7

[Pat Barry]

Accuracy isn't really all that important in a tape measure unless you are talking about the relative accuracy of using it for inside and outside measurements. Of course if you are using multiple measuring devices interchangeably then you have really big problems to worry about

[Patrick Chase]

I tend to use the old wooden folding ruler quite a bit. Folks laugh. My tape measures seem to break easily. Which tape measures do you folks use? What length do you recommend? I don't want one that is metric on half the tape.

I use a folding ruler, too.

I have 12, 16, and 25 ft tape measures (a mix of Stanley and Lee Valley I think) for when I need something longer.

[Paul Follett]

16' Stanley is my go to right now, I like the form and it is pocketable in my weekend jeans.

[Jim Koepke]

There is a Lufkin 10' ,iirc, that has bee in my pocket since I found it in a Home Depot parking lot about 30 years ago. It comes in handy, but the first few inches have become unreadable.

jtk

[Malcolm Schweizer]

Dewalt and Milwaukee both make good ones that stand out straight for 8' or more. I use tape measures to rough guess room dimensions and other things where I always find myself extending it out, trying to reach something out of reach without bending it. I like a nice arched thick tape that will extend out straight when needed.

[John Kananis]

I have a few around here and there including a couple Stanley FatMax that hold up well over a distance but unless I'm doing rough work (and even them mostly) I use a folding ruler.

[Derek Cohen]

Tape measure do not rank high when it comes to building furniture, except for laying out the initial rough cuts of the boards. However an accurate tape measure - one you really trust - can do double duty when it comes to measuring and cutting long boards.

The important features for me in a tape measure are that it needs to be metric and imperial (I use both), the numbers must be easily read (black numbers on a white or yellow background), the blade must be stiff (3/4" wide is best) since they are more often required to measure up a wall, and the locking mechanism must be easy to use and reliable.

I favour the Tru-lock mechanisms of Starrett and use a 25'/8m as a general purpose tape measure.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/KGrHqMOKpYE5dUtZ0oWBOetPNB960_57_zps6uvv1pu9.jpg

For fun, I have just picked up a Festool tape ..

http://leading.snooder.com/other_images/31C8fHkpcdL.jpg

Regards from Perth

Derek

[Nicholas Lawrence]

I can't believe nobody has posted my favorite. The only tape measure I know that you can customize to your own requirements and preferences for accuracy.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=65359&cat=1,43513

[Patrick Chase]

I favour the Tru-lock mechanisms of Starrett and use a 25'/8m as a general purpose tape measure.

http://i13.photobucket.com/albums/a262/Derek50/KGrHqMOKpYE5dUtZ0oWBOetPNB960_57_zps6uvv1pu9.jpg


That's a great measure, though unfortunately it's no longer made in the US and a lot of recent reviews are negative. How much do you want for yours? :-)

[Derek Cohen]

How much do you want for yours? :-)

Patrick, I have used these for many years, but the one I have has the metal hook in a fixed position (a result of a repair). It is very accurate in this state as long as it is used from the outside of a board. It cannot be used for internal measurements. As a result of this thread, I just picked up another - NOS - on eBay. They are available, and for reasonable dollars - no more than a modern, lesser tape measure. The Festool tape was a fun purchase. It is smaller, just 5m in length, also metric/imperial, and gets good reviews (but is not cheap). It may make a great tape to use on my bench. I tried wooden rules over the years, and cannot get on with them. I have steel rules for measurements up to 1m.

Regards from Perth

Derek

[glenn bradley]

I use steel rules for up to 3' for measuring. In my small shop there is no need for a very long tape. I use the Lee Valley 10' models (http://www.leevalley.com/us/wood/page.aspx?p=32562&cat=1,43513) that read right to left as I am right handed. These tapes match my rules (where others will be off up to a 1/32" over 18" or more) so that's a plus. I don't think it really matters as long as the tape semi-matches reality as they are only for rough work in my shop anyway.

[lowell holmes]

I primarily use a 12' Stanley tape I bought at Lowes. It is small and light. However at the bench, I will use a broken end of a 72" folding rule or my antique 24"
no.68 Stanley folding boxwood rule. I often will take a length of scrap as a story stick.

[Jeff Ranck]

+1 on the FastCap. When I use a tape, this is the one I prefer.

[Chris Parks]

Try one of these

http://www.hultafors.com/about-our-products/tape-measures-with-precision/

Video here https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9ovuFoiVwr0

Measuring and marking without a pencil, circles drawn straight from the tape and more. I do like the Fastcap tapes though.

[Stew Hagerty]

I can't believe nobody has posted my favorite. The only tape measure I know that you can customize to your own requirements and preferences for accuracy.

http://www.leevalley.com/US/Wood/page.aspx?p=65359&cat=1,43513

+1 on this tape. Plus it is perfect if you are building an Ark as it comes not just in metric and imperial versions, but they even have a model with increments in Mesopotamia cubits.

[Bob Strawn]

At a workbench I don't use a tape much. When I go to a lumber yard or I am building things outdoors I want a tape measure. The tape measure I want is a Komelon Self-lock. Simple, rugged and cheap. The loose end on it for accurate measure push or pull is one of the best, and the measure has always been accurate.
The real reason I like the Komelon Self-lock? They did it right. When you pull out tape it is already locked. When you want to roll it back up, then you push the release. Simple and it makes your life easier.
The down side is that I have to open it up every now and then and clean the lock mechanism. If it gets oily, it doesn't lock so well. I have even gotten them new and had to clean them due to the oil they came with. Despite this issue, these tape measures are worth it. When you are working, it makes your life simpler.

Bob

[george wilson]

I don't use a tape measure,but when I was having my shop built,I bought one from a bin of tapes at the GROCERY STORE,of all places! I think it is a 12'(haven't used it lately). However,I did check it for accuracy,and it is right on,though the legal tolerance is 3/16" over 6'. I think I paid $3.00 for it. It still works fine several years later. No doubt Chinese made! I used it to make the 450' of shelving inside my building.

I carry a little key fob 3' tape in my pocket. A little larger than a 25 cent piece. Comes in handy when I'm in a junk yard,or lumber place. I really like having the little tape on me.

For work in the wood shop,I used lufkin and Starrett steel rules for a long time. I have them from 1' to 6'. However,their graduation lines are so THICK,I have been using PEC stainless steel rules for many years. They have very thin graduation lines,like a proper machinist's rule.

[Harry Hagan]

The "best" tape measure is one that you can find when you need it!

[Jon McElwain]

A tape measure is not the one size fits all measuring device for the shop. Neither is the folding rule. Neither is the steel ruler. There are times you need all three for a project. A tape is great for breaking down sheet goods. It is great for measuring quickly without having to fold out a folding ruler. It is longer than a steel ruler.

A tape can be very precise (I didn't say accurate here) for a variety of applications, especially if it is the only measuring device used. Say your tape is 3/16" long over 6' - not super accurate compared to the rest of the world. But, if you measure everything in your project with this inaccurate measuring device, then the project will be precise in relation to itself. The worst is when you have four or five tapes all over the shop because they are cheap and they tend to get lost. If they are not precisely the same, then each tape will measure differently. If you only use one, even if it is inaccurate, at least you will be able to duplicate your measurements.

I had a boat building teacher tell me that you should never use a tape for woodworking because they are inaccurate. I understood his point, but for the reasons I mentioned above, I continued using them in appropriate applications. I never had a problem until recently. I measured and cut a 3"x8"x6' teak beam using a trusted tape measure. At $34 a board foot, you can understand the need for accuracy. Well, when I grabbed a second tape and checked my cut, it was 1/8" short. I went and looked at the other tape - it must have been dropped directly on the end hook and bent it inward. Measure twice cut once didn't help here. It immediately went in the trash. That is not a likely problem with a folding rule, but my folding rules are 6' long and difficult to use at full length.

Will I use a tape again? Yes. Will I check the end hook every time? Yes. Is it the best measuring device for all applications? No.

I use a tape for long measurements, a folding rule for most stuff in the 2-3' range when some accuracy is needed, a steel rule for roughly 4"-18", and calipers for the small stuff.

[george wilson]

I agree with Jon. It doesn't matter what you use to measure with as long as you measure everything whit the same device. I've been doing that for many years.

[Stew Hagerty]

The tape measure I want is a Komelon Self-lock. Simple, rugged and cheap. The loose end on it for accurate measure push or pull is one of the best, and the measure has always been accurate.
The real reason I like the Komelon Self-lock? They did it right. When you pull out tape it is already locked. When you want to roll it back up, then you push the release. Simple and it makes your life easier.
The down side is that I have to open it up every now and then and clean the lock mechanism. If it gets oily, it doesn't lock so well. I have even gotten them new and had to clean them due to the oil they came with. Despite this issue, these tape measures are worth it. When you are working, it makes your life simpler.

Bob

The Stanley Leverlock automatically lock when you pull it out. There is a release lever on the bottom that you squeeze with your fingers to retract. It's almost identical to the Komelon in function, except for the location of the retract button. I have had my Stanley for years and I love it. It's also very accurate. It would be interesting to know which is the best tape.

http://www.amazon.com/Stanley-30-810-12-Foot-LeverLock-Tape/dp/B0002CX9CW

[Andrew Pitonyak]

If I want a story stick, I use a story stick tape measure (or a piece of scrap). Lee Valley sells one, and so does FastCap; well FastCap has a few with a built-in story stick.

At the end of the day, I choose the tape measure with features that work well for me. I don't know if it is just how my brain processes what I see, but I often find that I need to pay very careful attention to exactly what those lines on the ruler mean. A couple of the FastCap tape measures number the lines in 16ths using red letters, so I never need to guess; ever. I have had a few people covet my tape measures with this feature specifically because of this. Another guy was impressed by the number of rivets holding the end in place (since that is where his measures always fail).

I sometimes provide input for the Family Handyman as a field editor and I was out of town when the solicited feedback on tape measures. FastCap did not even make it into their list. I did provide information about them, which caused them to take another look, but by then the article was already completed. There were comments about revisiting the topic because of some of their nice features. If I remember correctly, I think that they liked the Stanley tape measure best from their list of measures. One of their key likes, at least from the perspective of a carpenter, was that the rule can be extended a fair number of feet and stay straight. This is one thing that I like about the FastCap; at least for the version that I use the most.

I have a bunch of unused tape measures, I still have not decided if I will donate them, let my girls play with them, or if I will tuck them in out of the way places where I don't really want my nice measures to live (damp environments, for example).

[Kevin Hampshire]

I mainly keep a tape around for choosing stock and rough sizing material. I literally have two dozen tapes around the shop because I don't want to carry one or look too hard for one.

First choice are bright orange Lufkins with centering scale. Orange color really stands out agianst the "frass and flotsam" of my shop. Centering scale is a cross-check of my math.

I also gravitate towards 25' because the don't droop when measuring 10' - 12' rough stock

[Derek Cohen]

Here is another tape measure that I came across. It gets rave reviews ...

http://www.bmi.de/videos/de/bmimeter.mp4

Regards from Perth

Derek

[David Bassett]

I grabbed the LV "Blindman's" tape (among other things) in their recent free shipping sale and I'm really liking it. I picked it because I wanted a tape I could read right-to-left. (I.e. tape in my left hand, mark or write with my right, with the numbers right side up.) Now that it's in hand I like all that, but I'm really liking the markings too. They are big, easy to read, *AND* the tic(?) marks are elongated diamonds that taper to points at the tape's edge for good accuracy when you want to look closely. For me, the only possible downside is the smooth plastic case may not be as sturdy as other models. But I won't really know how it holds up until it's been used a lot more.

[Doug Hepler]

Rich,
I'm very happy with my 12' x 3/4" Stanley Powerlock tape.

i use a dial caliper, 6" steel hook rule, 12' Stanley Powerlock, Stanley 6' folding ruler, and various steel rulers up to 6'. Precision (agreement between rulers) is much more important than accuracy and I have compared each of my rules to each other. I replace any rule that does not agree within 1/32" over 4'. As long as these all agree it does not matter if a 48" wide table is actually 48-1/8". If they all agree, they are very likely accurate also.

Whatever is best depends on your criteria. In your pocket you probably would prefer a shorter, narrower rule because it is smaller and lighter. Based on my limited experience Veritas tape measures tend to be lighter. How's your vision? Maybe you need a "blind man" rule --Veritas again. Are you left handed? Get a left handed rule. And so on. Just get one that agrees with your other rules.

Doug