Comments on: Secrets of the Tape Measure

By: GD

GD — Fri, 01 Jul 2016 14:38:48 +0000

How about very long measurements where the tape sags? I'm guessing that commercial tapes all assume the tape is supported (no sag) like measuring along a baseboard. How can we get an accurate measurement across a long ceiling?

By: Roger

Roger — Mon, 22 Dec 2014 23:05:32 +0000

Why are tape measures up side down? I'm right handed as most are. I start the with end on the right side so I don't have to put the tape down to mark my board. The numbers are upside down. Doesn't make sense to me. Thanks

By: Jordan

Jordan — Wed, 19 Nov 2014 16:01:51 +0000

Its just to keep people reminded that the inches are within the 1FT, so they can read it as 1' 4", or 1'5", 1'6", as if it were in the 2FT, it would be read as 2'3", 2'4", etc.

By: Doug Christiansen

Doug Christiansen — Thu, 06 Nov 2014 18:12:46 +0000

Great information in this article. It addresses many issues our customers ask about like movement of the end hook. In a production setting calibration of tape measures can be critical and ISO inspectors may require that you have a procedure in place for this. Lixer Tools offers tape measure calibration tools that allow you to compare tape measures for accuracy and also have a slot that allows for adjusting bent end hooks. It works much better than pliers and you can be sure all your tape measures read the same at the 10cm or 6" marks. They are NIST (National Institute of Standards and Technology) traceable so you know 6" is really 6". You are not just comparing one tape measure to another, neither of which may truly be accurate. You can also purchase tape measures from Lixer Tools.

By: Randy Schultz

Randy Schultz — Thu, 24 Apr 2014 14:45:42 +0000

I found the greatest “add-on” invention for a tape measure. It’s called the Tape-Ease Rubber Grip, and it fits onto the end hook of any standard one-inch-wide tape measure. The Tape-Ease has a rubber end that grips whatever you’re measuring and doesn’t slip off. Brilliant! Check it out at http://www.tape-ease.com.

By: Victor

Victor — Thu, 26 Dec 2013 17:06:25 +0000

What is the meaning of the 1F1 after the 1 foot measurement? the letters are at the half inch mark after the 1 foot. Then they go every inch and labeled 1f2,1f3,1f3....etc.

By: Jim

Jim — Sun, 27 Oct 2013 11:46:40 +0000

For inside measuring I have a Stanley Galaxie II 30-855 tape.. which is specifically designed for this purpose.... it has a viewing window to read the measurement on top,.

I bought it around 2003 in France.. but as far as I know no longer made..

By: ron45

ron45 — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 15:06:53 +0000

Pretty good article but..... Calibrating your tape measure will do zero good if you are not consistent with your cuts. For instance: when making your cut do you leave the line or cut it. When two or more are measuring and cutting do you each do the same. Cut a board to length and have each person measure with their own tape. One may have to leave the line and another may have to cut it. Fact.... Why calibrate your tape unless it is crucial ( like a troy ounce) for another person sometime in the future. If your using your own tape all measurements will coin inside each providing you establish your cut line.

By: Thomas Roussell

Thomas Roussell — Sat, 22 Sep 2012 00:43:26 +0000

To measure into a corner, I cut a block of wood 10in long. Stick it into one corner, measure from the other corner to end of the block of wood and add 10in. It is better than using the length of my tape measure which happens to be 3 and 5/8 inches long.

By: Al Kupchella

Al Kupchella — Wed, 18 Jul 2012 12:39:30 +0000

Nice article. But regarding size (the width of the tape measure), it depends – for smaller indoor and finish work, I find a quality narrow tape much more convenient than a fat one, and you don’t want a wide 100ft tape either. Also, regarding reading upside down, I read the tape upside down probably 99% of the time (since I hold my pencil in my right hand and the tape measure in my left – this is even the case when measuring the distance between the blade and the rip fence on a table saw.) I have been reading it upside down for so long I would be confused as heck if I had a left-handed tape measure!