Tape Measures: Your go-to?

[Beowulf]

Ok, there are tons of new tapes on the market. Stanley, Dewalt, Komelon, Lufkin, Milwaukee. Plus, all that get's talked about are 25' + tapes with 10' + standoff. Those are good and all, but I find myself using a tape that is 25' about once in 50 uses. Normally I am under 12'. Honestly, 90% of the time is under 5'. As such I use an old Stanley 12' lever lock that must have a case under 3/4" wide. It is great to have on the belt or pocket because I never notice it is there. All these new ones are practically square cubes. I love the new Milwaukee tapes, but even the 16' is twice as wide as the little Stanley Lever lock I've been using.

Anyways, just wondered if anyone else had similar habits and what their go to tape is for most of their measuring. Maybe I just need to start a "Best 12'/3.5M tape thread.

 

[dlenkewich]

Re: Tape Measures: Your go to?

My go to is a big thick cant remember the name 30'.

I like the size and heft, even if I'm only measuring a few feet. I hate using small tapes now.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Tape Measures: Your go to?

My favorite was my yellow 25' Craftsman till the lock failed. It was traded in for a 25' Stanley which is what I use most of the time. Actually I have two of them, one on each side of the garage, one for metal work and the other for wood.

I have a Stanley Fat Max, which didn't get much use because it doesn't fit in my tool belt. For as little use as it got, I wasn't impressed when the blade split the other day.


I guess I've always been a fan of Stanley tapes.

 

[ishiboo]

Re: Tape Measures: Your go to?

I like the Komelon auto-lockers. I haven't tried a ton of brands but they have been trouble-free, I find myself REALLY liking the auto-locking feature 99.99% of the time, and none have failed me.

I don't have a workshop but many project areas, and I misplace stuff all the time, so I have a bunch of them.

 

[SMKS]

Re: Tape Measures: Your go to?

Harry Epstein's tapes are my go-to. They are basically the only tapes you can get that are made in the USA. They're affordable, basic tapes that have worked well for me and seem to be good quality.

Full review here:
http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=117667

 

[Falcon67]

Re: Tape Measures: Your go to?

I have some small ones but the the two (one in the house, one in the shop) I use ALL the time are 25' Stanley 1" units. I had a 30' unit but it failed pretty quick. It was a wide tape supposedly with a lot more stick out but in practice I didn't see that.

I have a Stanley Fat Max, which didn't get much use because it doesn't fit in my tool belt. For as little use as it got, I wasn't impressed when the blade split the other day.

Yea that one. Mine's in the trash a while back.

 

[southalabama]

Re: Tape Measures: Your go to?

The one I can find. They seem to hide.

 

[Fizbin]

Re: Tape Measures: Your go to?

I've been using a Stanley 25' PowerLock for nearly 10 years now. I love the metal case, but the blade is starting to shed its protective coating and the weight/bulk is annoying at times.

I was at the local HD last week and saw a 12' Stanley PowerLock (with metal case) for about $7.00, so I figured I'd give it a shot... been loving it ever since!

 

[DanarchyCustoms]

Re: Tape Measures: Your go to?

I used to always use a 30' Fat Max for the longest time until my second started to show signs of its age. At that point I retired the 30' and bought a 16' Fat Max. The 16' covers about 90% of what I do at work and when I need a longer one I go to my two 30' FM back ups. My tapes at work are normally opened and closed atleast a hundred times a day, spend their life living in saw dust and metal shavings, and on a rare occasion act as a hammer. They are pretty tough little things as long as they don't get nipped by a saw blade.

 

[NUTTSGT]

Re: Tape Measures: Your go to?

Yea that one. Mine's in the trash a while back.

It's in my truck awaiting to go back to HD. When I asked the guy in the tool section about buying a new tape, he gave me a new one and just asked that I bring the old one back.

Store policy or product policy, I don't know but customer service, outstanding in my book.

 

[KnurledNut]

Re: Tape Measures: Your go to?

This. Love it.

I knew a guy that bought a 16' and a 25'.
He cut the 25' down to 17' with a dremel.
17' went in the 16' and the 16' went in the 25'.
The 25' went back to the store as broken...stuck at 16'.



He never had anymore trouble measuring those 16' boards.

 

[papabil]

Re: Tape Measures: Your go to?

hf freebees

 

[bad_idea]

Re: Tape Measures: Your go to?

stanley 25' fatmax for anything over 3' or so. Less than 3' I use an inside read stick rule. I carry the stick rule in my back pocket at work and forget it is there until I sit down for lunch. I use mine for fitting steel or pipe on-board ships.

 

[Scott H in Wheaton]

Re: Tape Measures: Your go to?

Everyday I use a 100' reel by Stanley. In 9 years I'm on my third one because the ends split and wear off them after about 3 years. Probably due for another one in the spring.

Inside I use a Bosch lazer. Supposedly accurate to 1/16" over 100 ft span. I only need it to be within a couple inches (measuring sq ft to order attic insulation).

For smaller than 25' I have a Stanley Fat Max and then a regular Stanley. I'm happy with all of them.

 

[gearhead9056]

Ive ures one of those Komelon tapes lately, not to bad if you ask me, otherwise I always use stanleys

 

[december45]

what ever is handy

 

[justin1795]

i have to be honest any tape i find is a good tape for me. i bet i have 10-12 and always am looking for one.

 

[Thumper68]

I like the Stanley 25' lever lock, I have 5 or 6 of them in the shop in the truck and at home.

 

[92GreenYJ]

Yeah I'm not brand picky. But I always make sure to buy what my buddy dubbed tape measures for dummies. The ones that have the smaller increments (8ths) clearly labeled and numbered as well as the 1/2 and 1/4" marks

 

[sxk122]

Another for the HF freebies. They have all the 1/8ths listed clearly which I like.

I keep meaning to do this to one of my tapes, as it would be usefull to me.....

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-to-Make-Precision-Tape-Measure/

 

[SlowAl]

Dewalt 35'. Supposedly 13' stand out but I never got it over 12'. Works just fine other than that one unforgivable flaw.

 

[01ss]

25' FatMax. Love it as I've always had cheap POS tapes before.

 

[Davefr]

When I want it long and stiff I pull out my Big Johnson.

 

[Old Steamer]

I've got an old Stanley 25' Lever Lock that's been my go to since 1992. I've also got several 16' and shorter Craftsman and Lowe's house brand tape measures that I use.

 

[Pumpman1968]

Another for the HF freebies. They have all the 1/8ths listed clearly which I like.

I keep meaning to do this to one of my tapes, as it would be usefull to me.....

http://www.instructables.com/id/Easy-to-Make-Precision-Tape-Measure/

SPECTACULAR idea!

 

[Riverside]

I rarely need to measure more than 10', so a 16' tape is good for me. I have 3 or 4 neon green HF tape measures around my workshop. There is usually one nearby, and if not, it is easy to spot one. If I drop or damage one I don't get upset.

 

[chrisa7164]

I have a Stanley 16 foot powerlock that I carry on my belt all the time. I've got several 25 foot powerlocks..A 25 foot from the welding supply I use with their logo on it. A 25 foot Matco brand Std/metric. A 50 foot Craftsman reel type. A 300 foot Johnson reel type. I have a 12, a 16, and a 25 foot Stanley leverlock. I liked those a lot. And I still have the first Stanley powerlock 20 footer I got when I was in the 6 th grade building chicken coops in the backyard. And a couple lufkin folding wood rules.

 

[BlindViper]

I carry a 16' fatmax as when wearing a 25' when I bend over I find pushes into my stomach. The 16' doesn't and I don't normally need more then 16' so the 25' is in my bag just in case

 

[admactanium]

Re: Tape Measures: Your go to?

I like the Komelon auto-lockers. I haven't tried a ton of brands but they have been trouble-free, I find myself REALLY liking the auto-locking feature 99.99% of the time, and none have failed me.

I don't have a workshop but many project areas, and I misplace stuff all the time, so I have a bunch of them.

Plus one to that. Hard to find a good replacement for the old lever lock style.

 

[Jere]

HF freebies also, they hold up better than the name brand ones I have bought over the years and have better markings. I do have a 3' stanley that gets a good amount of use also.

 

[darwyn]

For woodworking I prefer one that is flat: Flatback.

 

[crewchief888]

whatever is closest.

mainly 12ft

i rarely need anything longer, but i've got 25', 50' & 100' if i need one...

 

[ixlr8]

I picked up a 30' Stanley FatMax based on recommendations from folks on a woodworking site.. I HATE it and as soon as I can find a good replacement it is going in the garbage.

 

[Beowulf]

What do you NOT like about it? These are the items I wish to avoid in future purchases. I hate Buyers Regret.

 

[38Chevy454]

I agree, my 35 year old old Stanley 3/4 inch lever lock is my favorite. Replaced the tape twice already, but it is finally giving up in other areas. Lock plastic is near useless, the case broke so now it has a through bolt; which is hard on the hands with nut sticking out.

Most all of my measuring for car project work is less than 6 ft. For longer construction type stuff I have the 25 and 30 ft big tape measures. I just find the smaller ones easier to use for shorter stuff.

 

[ixlr8]

What do you NOT like about it? These are the items I wish to avoid in future purchases. I hate Buyers Regret.

The lock doesn't work well no matter how hard I push the button down to lock it. It doesn't extend out very far before it 'breaks' and falls down. I think it is suppose to go out 12-13', mine typically doesn't make it to 8'. If you lock it, the slightest tug on the tape releases it and then the tape retracts. Maybe mine is not built right, but I can't wait to trash it.

 

[Garage Dog]

The lock doesn't work well no matter how hard I push the button down to lock it. It doesn't extend out very far before it 'breaks' and falls down. I think it is suppose to go out 12-13', mine typically doesn't make it to 8'. If you lock it, the slightest tug on the tape releases it and then the tape retracts. Maybe mine is not built right, but I can't wait to trash it.

Don't trash it - send it to me and I'll make sure it is really defective for you!

 

[Bobdog]

 

[mtwaterguy]

When I was doing upholstery every day I used a Stanley 10' x 1/4". Hard to find anymore but was easily carried in my front pocket.

 

[f150skidoo]

Only will use Stanley fatmax the only one i can read the measurements because the 1.25" blade width