New tape measure

[tarbellb]

It's been hard to find what I want. Even Advent has class 1 tapes being made in China. It's hard finding a class 1 Fisco/ Hultafors or Tajima with imperial markings. I'm still looking with the added stipulations of made in Japan as a possibility and a class 1. Eventually I'll find it

Just be sure doesn't have one of those loose hooks that moves around on ya!

 

[whateg01]

Just be sure doesn't have one of those loose hooks that moves around on ya!

Can't tell if this is sarcasm or not.

 

[neophyte]

Can't tell if this is sarcasm or not.

Talmeter tape measures from Hultafors are solidly riveted, because they use a different system for inside measurements.

 

[guitarbutt]

Talmeter tape measures from Hultafors are solidly riveted, because they use a different system for inside measurements.

I'd like one of those but as far as I can find, they're only metric

 

[MichaelP]

I wasn't going to say anything because it's probably not "cool" but I'm loving my milwaukee tapes. The magnet is really useful for the work I do, the shape of the little hook/catch on the end that allows you to hook it on to the side, top, and bottom is incredibly useful, the hole in the bottom so you can slow or stop the tape without smashing your finger is genius, and the wire clip is a dream. I love wire clips on knives and it's even better on a tape because it's going in and out of my pocket like 1000 times during a project. I've totally extended the life of my jeans by switching to a wire clip. Also, having the numbers printed on the bottom of the tape is something I didn't know I needed until I had it.

If you like the fatmax, the Milwaukee "wide" version is similar, or if you prefer a little simmer but still stiffer than a powerlock, the standard one is what you're looking for.

No idea where it's made it it's probably not in the USA.

What model of the "non-wide" variety do you prefer?
Thank you.

 

[GeoBruin]

What model of the "non-wide" variety do you prefer?
Thank you.

I'm not positive what the model number is, though there is a number on the back: 48-22-0316. The number on the wide blade model is 48-22-0216M.

It was interesting for me to look at the numbers. There's less than a quarter inch difference in the overall width but it sure feels like more than that in your pocket or in your hand. In my particular case it also allows the tape to fit in my Occidental holder with the clip still on which is nice. But it could be mitigated by just keeping a dedicated tape without a clip for use with the holder.

The trade-off of course is blade width, which may or may not matter to you. I can get about 12 feet of stick out with the wide model and only about 9 with the narrower model. Those numbers don't mean much by themselves but they correlate to the relative stiffness of the blade at shorter stick out lengths, which is important.

The one downside I should note is that the inclusion of the finger hole on the bottom means they are slightly longer than the equivalent FatMax. So the overall length is 3 and 1/8" versus 3". That makes the math more complicated when you're measuring to the **** end of the tape, but again, that may not be something you do very often.

 

[neophyte]

I'd like one of those but as far as I can find, they're only metric

Yeah, I think only metric nowadays.
I believe the older models might have had inch variants, or inch/metric variants, but those seem long since sold out, and no longer available.

 

[Beerhippie]

I'm not positive what the model number is, though there is a number on the back: 48-22-0316. The number on the wide blade model is 48-22-0216M.

It was interesting for me to look at the numbers. There's less than a quarter inch difference in the overall width but it sure feels like more than that in your pocket or in your hand. In my particular case it also allows the tape to fit in my Occidental holder with the clip still on which is nice. But it could be mitigated by just keeping a dedicated tape without a clip for use with the holder.

The trade-off of course is blade width, which may or may not matter to you. I can get about 12 feet of stick out with the wide model and only about 9 with the narrower model. Those numbers don't mean much by themselves but they correlate to the relative stiffness of the blade at shorter stick out lengths, which is important.

The one downside I should note is that the inclusion of the finger hole on the bottom means they are slightly longer than the equivalent FatMax. So the overall length is 3 and 1/8" versus 3". That makes the math more complicated when you're measuring to the **** end of the tape, but again, that may not be something you do very often.

That looks like a really nice tape measure. I particularly like the wire pocket hook, as it won't wear through the top edge of my pocket like the strap ones do.

 

[MichaelP]

Thank you for the detailed explanations and photos, GeoBruin!