Are Stanley Tape measures still king???

[Iowafox]

This is something i've been thinking about alot recently.
So a few weekends back I was helping my inlaws put siding up on there house. I had one of my tape measures a Milwaukee 25ft nothing special it's the one that rides in the toolbox of my mobile toolkit.
I have a few tape measures most being Stanley's due to being raised around being told there king and the best you can get. But reading Amazon reviews about the current production Stanley tapes and talking around it doesn't seem to be the case anymore.

My father inlaw had a beaten Stanley lever lock
(I can't stand that model or any self locking tapes) and his dad had a Dewalt tape.
I remember growing up seeing the Stanley Powerlocks all over and seeing the same tapes last for years on end and always true and reliable and I actually have one of the old 1988 models be it she is used randomly in home and is in retirement now for the most part.
.
I asked my other father inlaw who's in construction and he uses mainly Stanley Fatmax's and say's he goes threw them pretty quick these days and he takes a hammer to them when they stop working and goes to Home depot and gets a new one and is on is way.
He does use Milwaukee's as well but prefers Stanley Fatmax tapes is what I understand.

The maintenance guys here at my job use a mix of Stanley Leverlocks and the Milwaukee Stud tapes as well as a slew of cheap different named tapes.
I find it interesting and want to know what everyone thinks.

 

[Jersey Drew]

I believe so but the new version that is king is probably the fatmax not the regular one

 

[ForrestT]

Stanley lever locks from the early 1990’s are my favorite. Not sure why some guys don’t like them. Wish you could still find them. My dad always used the power locks. Last one I got him seemed cheaper than the ones I’ve bought him over the years.


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[NUTTSGT]

I got a few Lukins last years for Christmas. The one I've been using, the lock no longer holds the tape out.

Not happy about that.

 

[driz]

Most of mine all failed in just one way regardless of make. The return spring seemed to rust and it got sticky . It was always downhill after that fairly fast[emoji3064]


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[Lassen Forge]

Still rely on my fatmax for pretty much everything... some people tell me gloom and doom stories about them, but I've yet to feel the unlove.

 

[Iowafox]

Most of mine all failed in just one way regardless of make. The return spring seemed to rust and it got sticky . It was always downhill after that fairly fast[emoji3064]


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One thing I do is spray wd40 in my tapes at least once every 6 months then wipe off the blade of it after spraying leaving a light film helps them last longer I have found. And it being wd40 it dries up and doesn't collect dust.

 

[Iowafox]

Stanley lever locks from the early 1990’s are my favorite. Not sure why some guys don’t like them. Wish you could still find them. My dad always used the power locks. Last one I got him seemed cheaper than the ones I’ve bought him over the years.


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That is what I find just looking at the new powerlocks in the stores they feel alot more clunky and cheap.

 

[cjarvis]

Still a fan of the Power Lock version myself. I've never liked any other tape.

 

[Iowafox]

Still rely on my fatmax for pretty much everything... some people tell me gloom and doom stories about them, but I've yet to feel the unlove.

I just found one last night here at work. Noone claimed it so it's mine now lol. I gave it a WD40 bath cleaned the body up and got the blade all nice and lubed and rust prevented and now I have my first Fatmax and I like it so far! I might have to get a new one lol I really want the Fatmax extreme! But whoo there pricey!

 

[Iowafox]

I got a few Lukins last years for Christmas. The one I've been using, the lock no longer holds the tape out.

Not happy about that.

I have used lufkins before but never wanted one they just feel like they aren't ment for real use.

 

[Iowafox]

Still a fan of the Power Lock version myself. I've never liked any other tape.

I like the look of them still very much. I actually still really like the small keychain sized ones the 3ft models. But the big 25ft the new ones just feel cheap to me it's sad.

 

[dwcon1431]

That is what I find just looking at the new powerlocks in the stores they feel alot more clunky and cheap.

Like every thing else now days, companies give awards to the employee who has ideas that will save the company money. For example; angle stops with nylon parts!

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[Iowafox]

Like every thing else now days, companies give awards to the employee who has ideas that will save the company money. For example; angle stops with nylon parts!

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Yeah I agree and I actually work for Stanley Black and Decker but not making the tapes just screws and bolts lol

 

[Old Steamer]

I'm still using the Stanley Power Lock 2 I bought in 1992. It's beat up looking but still works without fail. That's king to me.

 

[Iowafox]

I'm still using the Stanley Power Lock 2 I bought in 1992. It's beat up looking but still works without fail. That's king to me.

I want to find a new old stock Powerlock and buy a few of them. The older ones are truly best.

 

[LeonardY]

I got a few Lukins last years for Christmas. The one I've been using, the lock no longer holds the tape out.

Not happy about that.

I was good friends with the grand daughter of Lufkin. She was treated like **** by the family because she was a woman. She was a really sweet person. I won't buy a Lufkin tool because of that.
To some that may not be a good reason.

 

[matt_i]

Still a fan of the Power Lock version myself. I've never liked any other tape.

The Powerlock is King in my shop!

I keep quite a few in stock since I set them down absentmindedly and then after some cleanup sessions they all start coming back to the "home position" again.

 

[DFB]

Always been a 25ft Stanley PowerLock for me. Think may have been thru 3 over the past 20 years. Fits in my tool pouch pocket just right where the bigger FatMax does not.

Also have a 30' and a 35' Stanley tape both with metal case. Were gifts from the local lumber yard owner to me each on different occasion a few years ago.


Tried the new Milwaukee's 2 different ones...meh.

 

[Iowafox]

I was good friends with the grand daughter of Lufkin. She was treated like **** by the family because she was a woman. She was a really sweet person. I won't buy a Lufkin tool because of that.
To some that may not be a good reason.

I think that is a great reason to not support that brand. Just because she's a woman doesn't mean she deserves to be treated differently.

 

[sk farmer]

I was good friends with the grand daughter of Lufkin. She was treated like **** by the family because she was a woman. She was a really sweet person. I won't buy a Lufkin tool because of that.
To some that may not be a good reason.

i knew a guy who knew a guy who knew a guy........

i am not saying what you said is untrue but at best it is hearsay. that said, lufkin ain't what it used to be. i doubt i will own one as they just feel junky. i have always had best luck with stanley, no matter what style.

 

[designer485]

My favorite are Komelon self locking. I have them in 3 sizes and use them every day. I have been using the same 12ft for the last 10 years and have gotten rid of any other tape. The 16ft and 25ft are also great.

 

[Iowafox]

My favorite are Komelon self locking. I have them in 3 sizes and use them every day. I have been using the same 12ft for the last 10 years and have gotten rid of any other tape. The 16ft and 25ft are also great.

I have 1 of there 25ft professional takes. The one thing I really like about it is the green color of the blade. Besides that for me it is spare that if someone needs a tape they get that one. I got it from a co worker in a box of tools. to me the blade of the tape bends to easy.
I do however like how they tried to get a powerlock look to the outer shell of it! For in a pinch or a quick measurement it does work good just not my first choice.

Found a link for the one I got.
https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn...MIg5ia8_e_7QIV3eKGCh3u_Qa8EAQYDiABEgKqKPD_BwE

 

[dnschmidt]

I like Fisco out of England and several of the tapes made by Fastcap. Haven't used a Stanley in a long time and I doubt that I ever will.

 

[designer485]

I have 1 of there 25ft professional takes. The one thing I really like about it is the green color of the blade. Besides that for me it is spare that if someone needs a tape they get that one. I got it from a co worker in a box of tools. to me the blade of the tape bends to easy.
I do however like how they tried to get a powerlock look to the outer shell of it! For in a pinch or a quick measurement it does work good just not my first choice.

Found a link for the one I got.
https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/tn...MIg5ia8_e_7QIV3eKGCh3u_Qa8EAQYDiABEgKqKPD_BwE

I have never tried that one, I like these:

https://www.amazon.com/dp/B000BQKDGY/?tag=atomicindus08-20

 

[PugetDude]

Used Stanley Power Locks for years; still have a couple of 25+ year old ones that are getting really tired, they've been used and abused for decades, the newer ones just aren't the same quality. Prefer the new 25' Dewalt these days, found my first one on the <$10 table at Tractor Supply, have bought a couple more since.

The (discontinued) Kobalt 16' tapes were great; they were marked on top and bottom so you could read them upside down. A great feature when you were trying to measure against a corner on a ladder on doing a contortionist act inside a cabinet.

 

[Iowafox]

Used Stanley Power Locks for years; still have a couple of 25+ year old ones that are getting really tired, they've been used and abused for decades, the newer ones just aren't the same quality. Prefer the new 25' Dewalt these days, found my first one on the <$10 table at Tractor Supply, have bought a couple more since.

The (discontinued) Kobalt 16' tapes were great; they were marked on top and bottom so you could read them upside down. A great feature when you were trying to measure against a corner on a ladder on doing a contortionist act inside a cabinet.

Can you link the new Dewalt one you mentioned? It has me curious.

 

[Dumber than lumber]

I too like the Komelon tapes.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

To be honest I’ve never owned a Stanley tape measure growing up all we had around the house was Komeleon and Lufkin both which I have had good luck with. We can never find tape measures around our house LOL. I just bought a newer Craftsman one at the pawn shop just to keep it in my work box if I ever need it, it seems like it is good. I’ve looked at the new USA Craftsman ones and they don’t seem bad either but haven’t tried them in person.


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[The Cobbler]

I always preferred Lufkin over Stanley. I have about a dozen NOS lufkin 25' blades. turns the cheap **** we get now into a good usable tape

 

[Iowafox]

To be honest I’ve never owned a Stanley tape measure growing up all we had around the house was Komeleon and Lufkin both which I have had good luck with. We can never find tape measures around our house LOL. I just bought a newer Craftsman one at the pawn shop just to keep it in my work box if I ever need it, it seems like it is good. I’ve looked at the new USA Craftsman ones and they don’t seem bad either but haven’t tried them in person.


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Honestly the new craftsman and Dewalt ones are pretty much just a Stanley tape measure. I am pretty sure they come from the same plants just look different. I say that because Stanley owns all these brands. I can't say for sure but that is what my hunch is.

 

[anndel]

I have FastCap lefty, Stanley Fat Max, pre-Fatmax Metric and 1990's Lufkins. My favorite are the Stanleys and old Lufkins as they seem more durable than the Fast Caps and today's Milwaukees.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

Honestly the new craftsman and Dewalt ones are pretty much just a Stanley tape measure. I am pretty sure they come from the same plants just look different. I say that because Stanley owns all these brands. I can't say for sure but that is what my hunch is.

Yeah I figured they did. My friend is a construction worker and him and his coworkers use Craftsman and strictly Craftsman tape measures he said they love them and if they break then Lowe’s gives them warranty with no issue so I guess they aren’t too bad.


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[Iowafox]

Yeah I figured they did. My friend is a construction worker and him and his coworkers use Craftsman and strictly Craftsman tape measures he said they love them and if they break then Lowe’s gives them warranty with no issue so I guess they aren’t too bad.


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That is like my father inlaw with his fatmax and Milwaukee tapes he breaks them walks into home depot and gets a new one. Makes me kinda want to try this lol.

 

[BlakeTheCarGuy]

That is like my father inlaw with his fatmax and Milwaukee tapes he breaks them walks into home depot and gets a new one. Makes me kinda want to try this lol.

Lol yeah I mean they say lifetime warranty I think so it probably would work.


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[slowtwitch73]

I bought a Fatmax because I thought it would be the endall, and it's a total pos. Doesn't lock, flops around like a wet noodle. I just replaced it spur of the moment with a Lufkin.. I'm sure it will fail too, but for now it works great. One thing I like about it is you can pinch the tape with your finger through a cutout on the bottom when pulling out the tape.

Previous to the Fatcrap I had a Starrett which was pfft.

 

[KnurledNut]

Having a variety of tapes for different uses works best for me.
Ive used the heck out of Fatmax’s over the years. Still my go to for hard use. But Stanley has cheapened the first gen tape quality, putting the premium blade in the second gen.
Stabila is nice for less abusive work where a long standout isnt needed. I like the small Powerlocks for small more precise measurements or close quarters.

 

[Spacey_G]

I use the Power locks. 12' in the woodshop, 16' and 25' elsewhere. I can't stand chunky tape measures so the Fatmax and many of the other brands are non-starters for me.

 

[Black300zx]

I bought a 2pk of silver Stanley 25' tape measures from Home Depot on Black Friday 2019. They were junk. Both have twists/deformation in the first inch which makes the tip always pop off of what you're measuring. The tape slowly retracts when it's "locked".

 

[Robinson1]

Over the last 15 years I've went from getting 2 or 3 years of almost daily use out of a Power Lock to lucky to get 6 months. They are still my favorite tape of all time and for whatever its worth the 30 footers seem to last longer than the 25s.

I bought some Lufkins to try last year after finding them in the Tractor Supply clearance bin for $2. They feel and operate like the Power Locks but are built even cheaper. Not impressed.

Now days I keep a half dozen tapes scattered out between work truck, shop, and different tool bags. And still kill atleast one tape a year.