Quote Originally Posted by hemmjo View Post
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.