metric tape measures

[jd_1138]

I went to HD a week ago to get a metric tape measure. Out of 40 tapes, they only had 1 metric, and it was a combination metric/Imperial. It was a metal body Stanley.

I ended up getting a Starrett metric tape measure off ebay for $5 I think it was. Do yourself a favor and pick one up. They are easier to use -- no 1/16ths/fractions to mess around with. You just use centimeters and millimeters. And a metric tape is more accurate, since an MM is roughly 60% of the size of a 1/16th of an inch. However, MM's are kinda hard to see without reading glasses or a magnifying glass.

Also it's easier to subtract one measurement from another rather than having to subtract fractions. Though of course 1/16th of an inch is plenty accurate enough for carpentry applications and most automotive applications.

 

[bwringer]

I keep meaning to order one of these... thanks for the reminder!

 

[K-Dog]

I have a Snap-On one.
Yes metric is MUCH preferred.

 

[TNBurban]

Festool makes a nice one. Pricey, but high quality.

 

[firworks]

As another option I would reccomend you check out Fastcap:
http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/ProCarpenter-3p112.htm

View media item 69066
Select the True32 Metric Reverse. You should be pretty safe trying it out too since FastCap are absolute lunatics and run continuous 10$ off no minimum codes. The code as of this second is KOLBE17 You just have to cover the shipping which for me is ~7$. You could add on another cheap item even. If you sign up for their newsletter they email out a new code every other day it seems. I've picked up so much stuff from them lately thanks to the codes.

I have several other FastCap Pro Carpenter tapes and they're pretty nice.

 

[Hammer1963]

I have Snap-on, Starret, Milwaukee and a German made ???? tape. I loath the English measuring system. I have almost exclusively used metric measurements since my Toolmaker days. So much easier and extremely quick

 

[drink]

A lot of my tape measures are the old fashioned inch versions. They were used a lot to do stuff like carpentry, plumbing, electrical, and HVAC related stuff. Currently I cannot remember finding any lumber in the USA that is measured with metric measurements. A 2 x 4, 2 x 6, or 4 x 8 sheet of plywood are made that way. A tape you currently find in Home Depot is more likely to be designed to accomodate the construction trades rather than work on cars. I have seen some stuff on the internet about metric system measurements but they applied to work overseas. Some english/metric measuring tools are currently being sold in the USA but it might be because the mfg wanted to be able to sell in the global market with only one version of the tools.

Most of my tool boxes have a tape measure in them so I can not only take measurements but also be able to confirm sizes of SAE fasteners. I have a tape with metric on it and I am prepared to use it when the time comes.

 

[drink]

I have a bunch of tape measures with brand names like Craftsman, Lufkin, Milwaukee, and Stanley. A stanley tape is usually sold at a good price at places like Home Depot, Walmart, etc. and they will do a good job. The last time I picked up a 30 foot Stanley tape it lasted about a year while I was taking field measurements. Then I moved on to other things. The Stanley tape was beginning to wear out but it got the job done for about $10 at the time. I cut lumber all day long with a Craftsman tape for years and it is still working. It is in rough shape now and I think the tape would likely break soon.

Maybe Home Depot will begin selling metric tapes if, and when they begin selling Craftsman tools made by SBD. They might realize the demand exists with the homeowners that work on their own cars.

 

[pozidriv]

The talmeter doesn't get a lot of attention here, but it really is a great tool.
<iframe width="560" height="315" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/9ovuFoiVwr0" frameborder="0" allowfullscreen></iframe>

 

[gazza]

As a just turned 60 year old I can say that metric measurement is far easier to understand and use than any imperial system.
Up untill the early 1980's I only used imperial, even though by this stage Australia had gone all metric.
Started using computers as a signwriter it was so much easier to input the data as millimetres than inches and fractions of inches.
The problem I see now is people use centimetres as scale of measurement when for simplicity they should just use millimetres.
I have even had this discussion with two school principals and neither one could give me a good reason why centimetres are used.

Examples:
sizes of a standard door
32" 1/4" x 80"1/4"
820x2040mm
82x204cm

and another, area x rainfall = volume
60'x40'x24points = cubic feet x gallons +?=??
or
18mx12mx12mm=2592 litres

 

[EOC_Jason]

I have that dual stanley, and do use it occasionally for metric scale...

 

[cell_phone]

The metric system? Are you kidding me? What is this, communist Russia?

 

[laser3kw]

What is this, communist Russia?

oh no you dit'nt - you went and drug the "R" word into it.
ibtl

 

[racingtadpole]

I have Snap-on, Starret, Milwaukee and a German made ???? tape. I loath the English measuring system. I have almost exclusively used metric measurements since my Toolmaker days. So much easier and extremely quick

Meanwhile I live in a metric country, am not old enough to have known any other measuring system (metric predates my existence in this country) and have over the last few years spent a small fortune importing decent quality imperial metrology gear because both of my lathes have imperial screws..

 

[big_bake]

Try an engineer's scale. The feet are divided into tenths, then further into hundredths. Very easy to measure and do math with decimal feet. Keeps you on the imperial system without the hassle of fractions. I'm a land surveyor so we natively work in decimal feet. So do most other sitework contractors. Easier for them to do cut/fill without fractions.

 

[timbitca]

31 year old Canadian here. We use the metric system so I have a bunch of tapes of both kinds. Yet I still find myself using the imperial system when measuring things. I can't stop myself, I know it makes no sense and using the metric system is actually simpler, but I can't help it, must be because I grew up working with my Grandpa and mostly use with older guys who still prefer imperial.

 

[derosa]

I used to draw archeological town plans during and after excavation work for publication. Everything was in metric and it was so easy to use. Most plans for woodwork are in imperial, as are my chisels that metric isn't easy to use. Even though I plan on creating my next coffee table out of my head the mortises and tenons will have to be fractional to accommodate the mortiser and chisels.

 

[LeeG]

+1 on the Talmeter. I really like mine and use it way more than I thought I would.

 

[AntonLargiader]

We have a metric tape measure (the Starrett one) here in a motorcycle shop, and while everything we work on is metric, I find that everything we want a tape measure for is in inches.

I suppose if we used in in the actual repair work things would be different, but we always end up using it for planning workbenches, entering shipping dimensions and so forth.

 

[monkeyspanners]

Most tape measures here have both metric and imperial marks on them, I use whatever lines up, so today i had 1' x 96cm for a piece of ply I was cutting out.

 

[Hagatronics]

What do Liberia, Myanmar (a.k.a. Burma) and United States of America have in common?
a) the only three countries in the world to still use the imperial system,
b) are run by crazy dictators, or
c) all of the above?