Tape Measures

[buck91]

Right now I have a cheapy from harbor freight which is functional, although it seems to have a little bit of play on the metal tip. Couple other el cheapos around the house too.

Is there a big difference between cheap tape measures and nicer ones? Price matters, as I am not willing to spend a ton of money on something so simple but I feel like I could use a nicer unit, especially with some of the home projects coming up.

 

[datech]

If you get a wider tape it won't wiggle around as much when you stretch it out to measure a long distance.
The end tip might be different, check a few at the store.

 

[Traction]

Hands down, Stanley lever lock is the only one I would ever buy. You can pull the tape out, and it stays out, and you can feed it back with control, instead of it slamming back like the ones with the thing you have to push down to get it to lock. They come in many different sizes.

 

[mrsilv04]

Good to have at least two. If you drop one in the middle of a project and the case busts open, then you'll be unhappy.

There's no reason to spend big money. I typically buy Lufkin... but my favorite is an Ace Hardware Contractor Series that says "Made in the USA".

 

[Sluggo0018]

My favorite is Stanley. I like the Leverlock model. It helps to keep the tape form slamming at the end of the retraction.

The end of the tape is supposed to have some play. That play allows it to accurately measure inside dimensions as well as the more common outside dimension.

You can never have too may tape measures.

 

[EA82]

I like fatmax tape measures made by Stanley but I lose them a lot so im not buying expensive tape measures anymore, I buy those orange ones at Home De Pot 3 for $10, they get the job done.

 

[expat]

"You can never have too may tape measures."

That's the bottom line!

A nice tape measure is nice, but a serviceable measure close at hand, is nicer than a high-end one you can't find or that has been damaged.

 

[dernp]

I've used Lufkin 25 x 1 for past 25 yrs. usually get a handful on sale for $5.

 

[BISCUT]

Originally Posted By: Traction
Hands down, Stanley lever lock is the only one I would ever buy. You can pull the tape out, and it stays out, and you can feed it back with control, instead of it slamming back like the ones with the thing you have to push down to get it to lock. They come in many different sizes.


When I was building my house and didn't have a Stanley in my pouch, I noticed it!! They are pretty darn good!

 

[TurboLuver]

Another vote for the Stanley Leverlock.

 

[buck91]

Just picked up a Stanley "chrome" 30ft tape. Very nice improvement in feel over the HF unit, plus it has a nice end piece with side flanges. Kinda would like the have a medic scale on it, but at least this way it doesn't matter which side lines up.

 

[Michael_P]

+1 on the FatMax.

 

[Pop_Rivit]

Originally Posted By: buck91
although it seems to have a little bit of play on the metal tip.


It's supposed to have some wiggle at the tip. It takes into account the hooks thickness when taking both inside and outside measurements.

 

[Trav]

I like the Stanley chrome ones, i have some that are as old as dirt and still work like new.

 

[stephen9666]

These aren't the fanciest tape measures, but Harry Epstein is just about the only source a truly USA-made tape measure these days. They're affordable, too.
http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/TapeMeasure/57213.html
http://store.harryepstein.com/cp/TapeMeasure/56907.html

I have a few of them and I'm happy with them for the price.

 

[demarpaint]

Originally Posted By: Michael_P
+1 on the FatMax.


+2 on the FatMax. I use them when hanging wallpaper and they take a beating. I also like the fact that they don't fold up easily when running them up a high wall to take a measurement.

 

[Tdbo]

I have Lufkin,Stanley,Craftsman(old one)and I generally use the one that I got free w/a mail in rebate from Menards (because it is the handiest one to get to.)

 

[Clevy]

I'm a journeyman carpenter. I use a tape measure at least 8 hours of every day.
The fat max is THE tape to buy,unless you want to keep buying tape measures. I get a few months out of them before the recoil has had it.
There are imitation fat max out there,with the wider tape,and they are junk. When it comes to hand tools buy quality once or keep buying junk.
And quality makes the job easier to do. Try standing out a regular tape measure 10 feet when measuring ceiling stuff.
Not possible.

 

[jcwit]

Originally Posted By: buck91
Right now I have a cheapy from harbor freight which is functional, although it seems to have a little bit of play on the metal tip. Couple other el cheapos around the house too.

Is there a big difference between cheap tape measures and nicer ones? Price matters, as I am not willing to spend a ton of money on something so simple but I feel like I could use a nicer unit, especially with some of the home projects coming up.


The play in the tip is ment to be there, it takes into account the thickness of the tip when measuring inside measurements versus outside measurements.

Of course outside measurements are far and away the most common.

BTW the Fat Max by Stanly is one of the best, bar none.

 

[paulo57509]

I have a Stanley, Lufkin and a Starett that I use most often. I found a really old 12' Disston under my folks house. It's a weird one that's graduated in 10ths instead of in fractions.

One of the most handy tapes I have is this one:

http://www.amazon.com/50035-1-Inch-25-Foot-CenterPoint-ProTape/dp/B0000CEZ8X

I bought 6 of them for $5 each at a Harbor Freight sidewalk sale.