Help me create your favorite TAPE MEASURE!

[Spudland_Dave]

id love a metric on one edge and fractional on the other (I'm constantly telling the blokes at work its 42" and whatever the line is above 3/4) and double sided

Plenty of those already...actually picked up a Powerlock 8m/26' this past weekend at HD cause I needed it...Most MFG's make a dual tape like you mention.

Is there any real craft in the states that actually uses metric measurements as their standard? I can't think of anything...

Yes, a lot actually, I'd probably say Most...As I mentioned above, I had to run out and buy a MM/CM tape last weekend. Picked up a small fab job for a local plant and all dimensions/sketches/information was supplied in Metric. In my travels, MM is SOOO much more prevalent, I'm actually tired of the mixed world, it would be nice to just officially adopt Metric and be done with it.
To answer your question tho...while every major MFG in the country uses Metric, the ONLY craft/consumer/whatever you want to call it that works solely in Inch/etc is the US Government...

To answer the OP...you couldn't design a tape measure which I'd want/buy unless you bought the Stanley Black & Decker line.. Not any specific model either, I just like the font/color/style/markings/reading of the Stanley line of tapes...be it a FatMax or good ol fashioned PowerLock.
I bought a Milwaukee Tape when they were on Christmas promo at HD a couple years ago cause I'm a Milwaukee guy...I never use that tape cause its just not a Stanley tape...

 

[GiantCranium]

Plenty of those already...actually picked up a Powerlock 8m/26' this past weekend at HD cause I needed it...Most MFG's make a dual tape like you mention.







Yes, a lot actually, I'd probably say Most...As I mentioned above, I had to run out and buy a MM/CM tape last weekend. Picked up a small fab job for a local plant and all dimensions/sketches/information was supplied in Metric. In my travels, MM is SOOO much more prevalent, I'm actually tired of the mixed world, it would be nice to just officially adopt Metric and be done with it.

To answer your question tho...while every major MFG in the country uses Metric, the ONLY craft/consumer/whatever you want to call it that works solely in Inch/etc is the US Government...



To answer the OP...you couldn't design a tape measure which I'd want/buy unless you bought the Stanley Black & Decker line.. Not any specific model either, I just like the font/color/style/markings/reading of the Stanley line of tapes...be it a FatMax or good ol fashioned PowerLock.

I bought a Milwaukee Tape when they were on Christmas promo at HD a couple years ago cause I'm a Milwaukee guy...I never use that tape cause its just not a Stanley tape...

I have a dual one. The one I can't find is one that has 1/16 1/8 3/16 and so on

 

[timbitca]

I HATE the new tape measures that are 3" wide and weigh 5 pounds. Give me an old Lufkin any day of the week and I'm a very happy camper.

Admittedly I'm not a professional of any sort, but I use vintage Lufkin's for almost everything. I buy all I can at garage sales and couldn't be any happier with them.

I prefer tape measures I can have in my pocket/belt clip and not be constantly reminded it's there because of the bulk and it making me lean to a side because of it.

Off hand, I have about 10 tapes in my toolbox in the garage, one in each car, kitchen drawer, office drawer at work (used surprisingly more than you'd think in an office environment).

The Keuffel & Esser attached is probably my favorite tape measure. It's only 10' but it's tiny and fits in a pocket without even knowing it's there most of the time. No clue where my Grandfather bought it, but he had it in his pocket everyday for as long as I can remember.

 

[R.Anderson]

This tape is what I believe is one of the best. I have 6 to 8 of em. Very rugged drop em off roofs so many times and they still work. Never had to replace one yet and use em daily. Only problem is it falls of my belt quite often.

 

[WhiskeyRanger]

I HATE the new tape measures that are 3" wide and weigh 5 pounds. Give me an old Lufkin any day of the week and I'm a very happy camper.

Admittedly I'm not a professional of any sort, but I use vintage Lufkin's for almost everything. I buy all I can at garage sales and couldn't be any happier with them.

I prefer tape measures I can have in my pocket/belt clip and not be constantly reminded it's there because of the bulk and it making me lean to a side because of it.

Off hand, I have about 10 tapes in my toolbox in the garage, one in each car, kitchen drawer, office drawer at work (used surprisingly more than you'd think in an office environment).

The Keuffel & Esser attached is probably my favorite tape measure. It's only 10' but it's tiny and fits in a pocket without even knowing it's there most of the time. No clue where my Grandfather bought it, but he had it in his pocket everyday for as long as I can remember.

I think a lot of the size is driven by the requirements for long standout distances. Those tiny tapes flop over too much for a lot of trades. Anything under about 10' is out of the question for me.

Obviously if you don't need standout the bulk isn't worth it, but for the construction trades they're great.

 

[MushCreek]

In building my house, I was constantly measuring over head. A tape measure will only stand out a good distance facing up, so it's hard (impossible) to read over your head. Maybe they already make them, but I want one with measurements on the under side as well.

 

[bczygan]

Hi everyone, i'm an Industrial Design Student who is currently doing primary research in the redesign of the Tape Measure. This is only a class project, but the experience is necessary for the growth of myself as a designer. Since you've all been sharing your opinions here, I'd love for you to bring them onto my short survey (link posted below). Thanks for your time everyone!

https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/QM7SZFP

What is your school?

 

[rlitman]

In building my house, I was constantly measuring over head. A tape measure will only stand out a good distance facing up, so it's hard (impossible) to read over your head. Maybe they already make them, but I want one with measurements on the under side as well.

About 1/3 of my tape measures have markings on the underside. All the ones that do, have the lettering oriented sideways to the lettering on the top, and most seem to be marked on the underside in inches only.

I've got a tape that has metric on the underside, but that tends to be annoying...

 

[maxpower_hd]

For me finding one with both standard and metric was the deciding factor. Much easier to divide metric than fractions. Plus a lot of automotive is now given in metric IE wheel base

I have found the opposite actually. I would rather two different tape measures if I needed metric. Simply because a lot of what I do is in inches and I need to see the measurements on both sides of the tape. So having one in metric might be useful on occasion but having both sides read the same units is critical to me.

 

[Roberts210]

I keep 4-5 Stanley foot/inch-only tapes around, in my truck and at the jobsites and in my barn and in my house. I have no use for the metric tapes and won't buy one with both metric and inches. I use the 25 foot variety except when I'm dong some exacting and precise woodwork and then I'll use my old Stanley 8 footer.

 

[bcradio]

OP? Still alive or did you just get what you needed and feel that was good enough?

 

[davewo]

I need a tape measure that can bend down to a 1/32" radius for getting into corners. Other than that I'll continue to use the most simple tapes available, like Stanley's Powerloc.

 

[the gypsy]

I don't believe you can design a tape measure to satisfy everybody. So my advice is to use one yourself and see which issues that are talked about in this forum, bug you the most. Then solve that problem.

I once had a tape measure with a window on the top (under a clear plastic) to see the measurements between to points but I lost it or it walked away independently or with the help of someones pocket. All of this to say, I don't see any on display in any big box stores.

 

[Engine]

In building my house, I was constantly measuring over head. A tape measure will only stand out a good distance facing up, so it's hard (impossible) to read over your head. Maybe they already make them, but I want one with measurements on the under side as well.

Milwaukee makes several that have markings on both sides. They stand out very well and seem durable enough. The larger than average hook has strong magnets. It works great for measuring round stock. Link

 

[R.Anderson]

OP? Still alive or did you just get what you needed and feel that was good enough?

Guessing we we were just used and now used up. OP must of moved on, last activity was day after joining GJ. Just advertising the survey here where tool addicts are.

 

[neilc]

You might post on festoolownersgroup.com, journal of light construction.com and sawmillcreek.com for more reach on your audience.

 

[catalytic]

There are 2 things you need to make a great tape measure:

1. make it so that it doesn't break. The tape should be thick and resistant to snapping.

2. Make it so that when it gets dropped (it will) and lands on the metal tip at 0" at the end of the tape (its favorite place to land) it does not bend the tip, resulting in all of your measurements showing 3/32" shorter than true (ask me how I know this).

My dad and I have gone through probably 20 tape measures in the last 15 years. Very few are made to last long if you are actually building stuff/around construction sites.

 

[TMcCay]

I took your survey. I'm not sure about the incorrect measurement option on the one question. I was always taught that you use the same tape to measure with to cut with (cabinet and trim carpenter) for accuracy. I have seen different brands of tapes that measured differently.
Currently I use a variety of tapes (engineers at work with metric on top and tenths of inch on bottom) and the standard at home.
In the shop there are probably a dozen different tapes out there in various locations and sometimes are hard to find. I have a couple of the magnetic tip tapes for metal work and one with a top and bottom hook that I use when I'm framing. I didn't think that I would use it much but it's one of those things when you get use to it, it really comes in handy.
So redesigning a tape I think you may want to look at the type of work you are designing it for. Different needs and uses for different trades.

 

[welder4956]

Took the survey, but it is too focused. You need a block at the end of each question and the end of the survey for additional comments.

I like to have a tape measure that is locked and must press a button on the side to unlock. The button location on the end is difficult to operate and putting it on the side would be better. I do a lot of metal measuring and like the Milwaukee tapes with a magnet on the end. Would be nice to have a built in angle gauge and bubble level to make it multipurpose.