It has a nice spring to it and the flare at the end makes it easy to blindly hook on a back pocket. A: Reading the tape measure is of course one of the most important skills to pick up when using these tools. For length, we only looked at 25-foot tapes. As stated earlier, the PowerLock has been around for over 50 years and the one thing that has changed over time is the case. Once locked, the tape didn’t budge as we bounced it on its own weight. The case is rubberized so it feels great and adds protection. If it can read the distance between you and the house and you and the second-story window (for example), it can tell you how high the window is off the ground. Rolson Tools 50569 may seem basic. The tape is covered with the same coating that encases the PowerLock, but it also has the additional “industrial thermoplastic” covering over the first 4½ inches. products! Better versions were found on the Starrett and Tajimas, but those tapes had other issues covered below. You get all that for less than 10 bucks too, very good value for money. The minimum width of tape will be around 1 inch and they can be up to 2 inches in width, sometimes more. “The blade of the tape measure almost always goes first.” —Mark Clement, Case durability is also important, but less so for a homeowner. A tape measure or measuring tape is a flexible ruler used to measure size or distance.. There’s nothing worse than a cheap tape measure. The PowerLock handled this repetitive bending and kinking with no problems, but we were surprised at how quickly this task worked over some of the tapes, like the Keson and the Tajimas, which quickly developed slight warps and wrinkles in the thin blades. The Tape Store is the UK's No.1 Retailer of Long Tape Measures stocking an incredible selection of steel and fibreglass tapes. As Clement said, “The blade of the tape measure almost always goes first.” That’s because over time, grit, dirt, and debris enter the tape through the mouth and grind against the blade as it gets extended and retracted over and over. The hook end is point 0. It’s not as loud as a power drill, it’s not as high tech as a laser guided table saw and it doesn’t come with multiple interchangeable parts like a multi-tool or a socket set and wrench set. If the tool is spring loaded (which it probably is) than a heat-treated spring can be a good feature to look for. In Clement’s review of it, he says, “No one will accuse me of having large hands and the PowerLock fits in my hand nicely.” He goes on, “The squatter, rounder topped tapes with wider (1¼ inch) blades feel too bulky. This video contains Paid links that gives me a 6% commission if you click and buy any product on that website . Wirecutter is reader-supported. Tape measures generally come in three different sizes. So what does that famous red branding and lighting bolt mean when it comes to tape measures? The PowerLock is a very basic tool and its pared-down simplicity makes it very light and easy to handle. Everyone thought that the 1¼-inch tapes were bulky and heavy. Clement used the term “headache” and DeBoer called them “unwieldy.” What happens is the tangs are so large that they catch on everything except what you actually want them to hook on—particularly the ones with top hooks that extend above the tape. And with all the use you will get out of it over the years, makes it a tool that will continue to help you over the long-term. When it came time to select the best tape measure to make our list, we decided to go for the Stanley 33-245 Powerlock. If the hook is placed over the edge of an item for an outside measurement, the hook will wriggle back on it’s rivet. The tape is also divided down the middle the long way with a mirror image of the printing on each side so that the numbers will be facing you regardless of which hand you’re using to extend the tape. It looks quite plain, but it actually a decent if somewhat basic plastic case. If (say) you’re planning an addition and want to mark out the proposed dimensions in the grass, or you’re measuring the perimeter of your property for a fencing project, the added length makes these much easier to use than incrementally measuring with a 25-foot tape. Again, this protects the inner workings whilst also making the tool comfortable in the hand. This model is a magnetic tape measure too, so no springs to worry about here. If you’re more concerned about the tool being comfortable to hold and use (rather than durability), we’d steer you back to our pick instead of this. The button is actually the release mechanism and once pressed, allows the measuring blade to retract into the tool body. Related Posts: Best Magnetic Tool Holders and Best Magnetic Wristbands. The two Tajima tapes, the G-25 and the GP-25 were nearly identical, despite the price difference. We curate, you discover! So it certainly doesn’t look as good as the Powerlock, but it is rugged and easy to hold. It is also right at the premium end of the price tag, and is the most expensive tape measure on the list today. This added level of processing makes for a spring that is tougher and longer lasting. The measuring blade itself follows the same template as the case. It’s one of the most inexpensive tapes that we looked at, as well as one of the best, combining quality and value. This jobsite standard has proven its durability on countless occasions, and its wider 1¼-inch blade not only stands out unsupported farther than our pick, it also has a tougher coating and a larger tang that can grip an object from more positions than our pick. Every tape has a slightly different tang, and both Clement and DeBoer warned against large ones. The Stanley PowerLock is the best tape measure for a number of reasons. A lame blade lock can be intensely frustrating. What is a graphite-marking tool? They were both comfortable to use, and our test group liked their size, but the blade durability was subpar, with both tapes showing wear and slight kinks after some standard use. A pretty standard construction there then, but one that should be nice and hardwearing. Over the years it has replaced the PowerLock as the standard on jobsites. One of the projects we used the tapes on was measuring for 20 custom storm windows, a task consisting of seven measurements per window. Whether you have a tape measure and want to get an extra one or you’re purchasing your first tape measure it’s suggested that you get the best one. FastCap tapes are available with a variety of marking styles, from the standard 1/16 scale to the Lefty/Righty explained above. That is also broadly reflective of the market as a whole, where almost all these tools have a 25-foot length as standard. For household uses, tape measures come in 12 or 25 feet. Some tapes, like the Lufkin Hi-Vis Control Series Tape, have angled nail slots on each side of the tang so you don’t need to twist the tape as you’re making the arc or hanging the tape. Again, this will help you use this tool on your own. Look for comfortable and ergonomic designs that employ materials like rubber and/or ABS plastic for protection. As this map shows, the US is one of the only countries that doesn’t use the metric system. Well, never say that we don’t listen to you all out there! Still, we like to see some innovation being deployed in the tools we review so well done Komelon. Tapes below $8 or $10 aren’t worth the cheap plastic they’re made of, and no tape measure is worth more than $20. The Best Laser Measuring Tools (Review & Buying Guide) in 2020, The Best Laser Levels (Review & Buying Guide) in 2020, The Best Digital Calipers (Review & Buying Guide) in 2020, The Best Measuring Wheels (Review) in 2020, The Best Bucket Caddies (Review & Buying Guide) in 2020, Help us to show you
After all, as we pointed out in the review of this product above, this design originated way back in 1963. Secondly, they attract all manner of metal shavings, filings, and debris, making them difficult to keep clean. Because the PowerLock has been the standard tape measure for so long (and the one that everyone’s dad owned) it seems to have become what people are comfortable and familiar with. As mentioned in the How we picked section, for the Popular Mechanics article, I tossed one from a height of 25 feet and as I wrote then, “the FatMax showed only scuff marks. We should point out that this tool does come with a premium price tag, and is in fact one of the most expensive on the list. Sense to just learn that little trick and then have the length and not have.... Is labeled as a shock absorber when the tang on the pricey side a! Also seems, on the bottom heck, sometimes more stand out,. Filings, and it certainly doesn ’ t much of a built in graphite-marking tool ( we got foot... 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