The importance of maintaining the tape measure hook - GIF

[Altair]

The importance of maintaining the tape measure hook by Tom Silva.




Previously:

How to divide any Imperial length in half - GIF
Metric vs. other measurement systems - chart
How pirates stole the metric system from America - photos
English/metric measurement error in the Mars Climate Orbiter
Converting decimal inches to the nearest fraction

[hemmjo]

I like Tommy, BUT, you need to be careful when you "Let it slam on your finger". If you allow you finger to come in contact with the EDGE of the blade as it slides in, it can slice you open!!!

[Floradawg]

Ain't no big secret about the reason for the movement. Will letting it slam home eventually make it significantly inaccurate. Maybe if you use it all the time. I don't worry about mine.

[hemmjo]

Depends on the quality of the tape and how far you let it retract without restraint. I have seen them break the spring when allowed to slam shut. Has never happened to be as I do not let mine slam shut. Mine always wear out when the plastic coating wears off the backside of the blade.

[Hoosiersmoker]

So if my house is all built with a 1/32" tolerance instead of a 1/16" tolerance because I let my tape "slam" shut... Who cares?

[hemmjo]

So if my house is all built with a 1/32" tolerance instead of a 1/16" tolerance because I let my tape "slam" shut... Who cares?

You can certainly work to whatever tolerance you choose. Different applications require different tolerances.

As mentioned earlier, letting the tape slam shut can also break the tape. Some tape measures have a rubber bumper to absorb the shock if allowed to slam shut.

[Hoosiersmoker]

You can certainly work to whatever tolerance you choose. Different applications require different tolerances.

As mentioned earlier, letting the tape slam shut can also break the tape. Some tape measures have a rubber bumper to absorb the shock if allowed to slam shut.

But if I'm working to a close tolerance, my tool of choice is not going to be an el cheapo Stanley retractable tape measure and my reference was to building a house.

[tlnixon]

It is getting difficult to buy a decent tape measure that will stay straight any distance without buckling and snapping.
They are all made in China and other foreign sweatshops etc. Even Lufkin etc.

[Toolmaker51]

re *1st post and related comments. There is a short sales video online, demonstrating the inside/ outside feature WE understand.
It portrays it as a detriment, showing the controlled movement as if it were a defect.........in a weak effort promoting their tool.

[Philip Davies]

I only use a tape for an approximation. I use a 2m. zigzag rule more often. Best of all, is a simple lath with a knife cut. I just have to remember what I am supposed to be measuring. I think my mind is going: last week, I got confused marking out a simple frame, using half laps. You can hardly imagine a simpler construction. I did however get the half laps the right way round. This time.