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Tape measures and ergonomics

4

400m

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Jun 29, 2014
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11
Yesterday I had a chance to try several tape measures as my DeWalt just took a dump on me a few days ago.

I grabbed the new Komelon LED 25’ tape sort of laughing at the thought of a plug in tape.

I have never felt a tape that felt better in my hand. It was like putting on your favorite pair of leather gloves.

I have medium to large hands, you guys that can palm basketballs might have a different opinion but what does everyone think of Komelon tapes?
 
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redwrench60

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Sep 10, 2011
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Komlons are probably the best cheaper tape out there. They wear out or break quickly with hard use and demanding environments.

If you want the world champion of pro tapes it’s Stanley FatMax.

Durable

Long lasting

Quality

Affordable

Available everywhere
 
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HannibalLecter

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Aug 26, 2023
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Sola, made in the UK, not available everywhere 😂, but I really like the shape and functionality
 
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Beerhippie

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Far NE Oregon
It all depends on what you 're using it for. I really like my little 16' Tajima. It's a simple, no bells nor whistles tape measure with an easily read scale--black on white, and crisp graduations. The lock works as well as any I've used.

My Stanley Fat Max 30' is now reserved for personal defense use. That thing is a weapon.
 
K

Kscardsfan

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Apr 28, 2020
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The Little Apple
When I was working for a living all I ran was Stanley Fat Max tapes. They're far and away the best on a job site. When I was in the oilfield I had to measure stuff in decimal as well as fractional so I had to find an engineers tape, in addition to a couple of other measuring tools, I want to say my engineer tape was made by Lufkin and my diameter tape was a Starrett.
 
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redwrench60

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East Tennessee
Beerhippie said:
My Stanley Fat Max 30' is now reserved for personal defense use. That thing is a weapon.
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Yup. And if you launch it like Tom Brady at a coworker who needs a tape up on the 3rd story scaffolding and he misses the catch, it won’t be plummeting to it’s doom on the concrete below. You just pick it up and try again.
 
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AEAdam

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I really like the 16' Komelon. I have never tried Tajima. That's next.

IMG_8902.jpeg

Fatmax are tapes for rough carpentry. Look at the size difference between it and the 25' Komelon.

I was rolling new joists in my old barn and needed to measure every single one. Bought the Fatmax for its stick out. But never use it for anything else. It's like having a lunchbox on your belt. And the retracts ****.

They are terrible tapes except for one thing. They have the best stick out. But they **** in pretty much every other way. Readability is terrible, the ends ****, mine are 2 pc, the cup on the tape is excessive and hard to use for short measurements. I think mine have no back markings? The Komelon all have vertical back marks. And the ends are nice.
 
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redwrench60

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AEAdam said:
I really like the 16' Komelon. I have never tried Tajima. That's next.

IMG_8902.jpeg

Fatmax are tapes for rough carpentry. Look at the size difference between it and the 25' Komelon.

I was rolling new joists in my old barn and needed to measure every single one. Bought the Fatmax for its stick out. But never use it for anything else. It's like having a lunchbox on your belt. And the retracts ****.

They are terrible tapes except for one thing. They have the best stick out. But they **** in pretty much every other way. Readability is terrible, the ends ****, mine are 2 pc, the cup on the tape is excessive and hard to use for short measurements. I think mine have no back markings? The Komelon all have vertical back marks. And the ends are nice.
Click to expand...
That FatMax is an auto lock which adds a significant amount of bulk and weight over a regular FatMax. I don’t like the retraction on them either. I bet you a standard FatMax and that Komlon are about the same size.
 
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72Anthony

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May 22, 2010
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Houston, TX
natas2000 said:
Does anyone like FastCap?
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I have the fastcap with English and metric. It's pretty nice. It has the dots every 32mm for euro style cabinet building, very handy.

It lives in the shop for fine woodworking. Don't think it would hold up to rough work like framing/building decks, etc.
 
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natas2000

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Jan 18, 2011
Messages
257
BTL-A4 said:
I like the Stanley Leverlock tapes. I think measuring tapes are really personal, so find what work for you and your needs.
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Yeah I've started looking around and I'm going to grab some different types like the 16' Fatmax, Klein, and maybe the Komelon and try them out.
I had a lot of different Milwaukee types over the years given to me at work, and they are OK.
 
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Sumboodie

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AK
I had a Komolenon( what it is) but chucked it. The spring loded tape holder was hot trash. After the 20th time trying to get it to stay, never mind. I don't deal with garbage tools.
 
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