Are Stanley Tape measures still king???

[Downwindtracker 2]

I haven't bought a new tape in 30 years. The last one was a 1 1/4" Stanley when they first came out. I don't do enough carpentry projects to wear it out, it will be in my estate. For cabinetry projects I prefer rules, and Starrett's and Mitutoyo cost serious money. At work the company supplied Lufkins, so that's what I used.

 

[Rinspeed]

Own both and prefer Milwaukee over Stanley.

 

[JJ13]

Stanley Leverlocks are my favorite. I bought a 12' in 2003 or earlier. Around 2008 I had a temper tantrum with a failed project and threw it as hard as I could onto the driveway. It cracked a bit and seeing that upset me more for having damaged it...so I threw it another two times. It survived and I use it to this day. The plastic case is still cracked and the edges are slightly worn/rusted but it still retracts almost like new.

Not only are they tough but having total control as they retract is nice, they seem to be the most ergonomic design. I have another 16' plastic body as well as a metal, normal locking 25'.

 

[mowkep]

Komelon. I use the round ones at work. Have a nicer one at home. Still have a couple Craftsman...not the best quality. Also have the reliable Stanley. Whatever is closest is the one I use.

 

[ForrestT]

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.

That’s why I like the lever locks. As a lefty, this is a great feature.


Sent from my iPhone using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[jgromada]

I have two favorite tape measures. One is the Lever Lock Stanley and the other is a Starrett

 

[PugetDude]

I have two favorite tape measures. One is the Lever Lock Stanley and the other is a Starrett

LOL- those are the exact two tape measures I can't stand to use. The Leverlock is counterintuitive to me and the locking mechanism on the 25' Starrett tape I tried was so unreliable I finally gave up and threw it in the garbage.

 

[PugetDude]

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

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/p...29HfiheoNalH7XD0oRxWM6Un7-z7fg-BoCLDEQAvD_BwE


https://www.homedepot.com/p/DEWALT-...y42T_wASjtzXt8imfkRoCnW0QAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds