User Panel
Posted: 4/18/2021 12:53:36 PM EDT
Best "Tape Measure" Brand? Milwaukee, DeWalt, Stanley, Craftsman, Klein Tools |
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Bought a Fat Max and it is total shit. It folds long before their claim and I curse it every time I use it
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View Quote This is the answer. Everyone else is wrong |
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Ive never found a single brand or model that could stand up to real use on a Construction site. They are consumables and need to replaced on a periodic basis. For use at home or light indoor workshop use, any top brand will do the job. In the real world, subject to weather, dirt, sand, mud, concrete, drops, impact, etc they all break down.
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Just went out to check my 30' Stanley powerlock that I used when I was a professional tilesetter, it's at least 15 years old, still doesn't break until it's extended past 7' and still retracts just fine. What more do you want?
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Stanley Power Lock
Dropped mine onto concrete from 10’ or so as recently as this past Wednesday and it didn’t die; not it’s first flight. |
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Quoted: Or use your Iphone measure tool ? https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ar-measure-iphone-ruler-1.gif View Quote Black magic! Cool but impractical for shop work. I'll stick with whatever inexpensive made in the USA tapes I get on sale when I need more. No matter what I buy I end up using it to the failure point in a year or two. It's almost always more expensive to repair with a replacement tape than it is to just buy another so I keep a half dozen tapes around at any time. |
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Quoted: Black magic! Cool but impractical for shop work. I'll stick with whatever inexpensive made in the USA tapes I get on sale when I need more. No matter what I buy I end up using it to the failure point in a year or two. It's almost always more expensive to repair with a replacement tape than it is to just buy another so I keep a half dozen tapes around at any time. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Or use your Iphone measure tool ? https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ar-measure-iphone-ruler-1.gif Black magic! Cool but impractical for shop work. I'll stick with whatever inexpensive made in the USA tapes I get on sale when I need more. No matter what I buy I end up using it to the failure point in a year or two. It's almost always more expensive to repair with a replacement tape than it is to just buy another so I keep a half dozen tapes around at any time. I haven’t found a replacement tape in years. Stanley powerlok used to have them. |
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I just like them cheap, don’t really care about quality. I am more likely to lose one than break one. Measure something, set it down, and poof, it’s gone.
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Tape measures are like toothbrushes. If you use them daily, you’ll need to replace them regularly, no matter which brand you own.
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Quoted: Tape measures are like toothbrushes. If you use them daily, you’ll need to replace them regularly, no matter which brand you own. View Quote I lose them fast enough so it's not an issue. Seriously, where the fuck to tape measures go? I think we go through 6 or more a year. I try to always have 2-3 in the truck and it seems like after a few jobs we are down to one so I have to restock. |
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My favorite is the Stanley lever lock. Bought the first one on accident and really liked it.
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My guys lose them before they break them.
The cheapest thing home depot or lowes has is what my guys get. |
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View Quote I was given a 30 ft komelon years ago when they first came on the market, it has been my go to tape ever since especially for metal fabbing..I absolutely love mine...Best tape I have ever owned by far... Like this one except red and silver body.. Attached File |
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My DeWalt 16' is the perfect size to wear on your belt and is sturdy and has a decent standout length.
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i buy the cheap shit at harbor freight because it's gonna get broken/lost/stolen/dropped down a hole/run over by a truck/accidentally left somewhere eventually.
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Quoted: I haven’t found a replacement tape in years. Stanley powerlok used to have them. View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: Quoted: Or use your Iphone measure tool ? https://mymodernmet.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/ar-measure-iphone-ruler-1.gif Black magic! Cool but impractical for shop work. I'll stick with whatever inexpensive made in the USA tapes I get on sale when I need more. No matter what I buy I end up using it to the failure point in a year or two. It's almost always more expensive to repair with a replacement tape than it is to just buy another so I keep a half dozen tapes around at any time. I haven’t found a replacement tape in years. Stanley powerlok used to have them. Goes to show you how long ago I gave up on fixing them I guess. Stanley replacement tapes are still available but they're $10+ each. I buy the tapes on sale for $4.99. Why would I ever fix them? |
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Quoted: Ive used these for 45 years. https://www.ar15.com/media/mediaFiles/41835/SNY_33-425_jpg-1909536.JPG View Quote Best I've yet found. Could use a larger hook on the end and the standout isn't great, but it works and fits my hands. Be nice if they printed the numbers for use in the left hand, the way most people use it. |
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Quoted: i buy the cheap shit at harbor freight because it's gonna get broken/lost/stolen/dropped down a hole/run over by a truck/accidentally left somewhere eventually. View Quote Less than 20 bucks...delivered.... https://www.amazon.com/Komelon-7130-Monster-Measuring-Magnetic/dp/B000GAX9GG?th=1 |
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Quoted: Ive never found a single brand or model that could stand up to real use on a Construction site. They are consumables and need to replaced on a periodic basis. For use at home or light indoor workshop use, any top brand will do the job. In the real world, subject to weather, dirt, sand, mud, concrete, drops, impact, etc they all break down. View Quote On the idea that any brand is good for home use, I've only bought one 25' tape that could actually be extended to 25' without breaking and it was a $9 chrome craftsman from Lowe's about a year ago. Literally every other 25' tape broke the retract spring the first time I tried to measure over about 22', I went through 6 or 8 in a year - all "big name" tapes. Now I have a bunch of the $9 chrome craftsman/Lowe's and they all work great. |
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Quoted: Less than 20 bucks...delivered.... https://www.amazon.com/Komelon-7130-Monster-Measuring-Magnetic/dp/B000GAX9GG?th=1 View Quote View All Quotes View All Quotes Quoted: Quoted: i buy the cheap shit at harbor freight because it's gonna get broken/lost/stolen/dropped down a hole/run over by a truck/accidentally left somewhere eventually. Less than 20 bucks...delivered.... https://www.amazon.com/Komelon-7130-Monster-Measuring-Magnetic/dp/B000GAX9GG?th=1 Why bother? Hardware stores put the 25' traditional Stanley tapes on sale for $5 regularly. |
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My favorite is whichever I can find when I need one. I swear I have 20 of them and never can find one when I need one. The $3 Komelons I got on close out at Walmart have been my favorites.
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Quoted: Less than 20 bucks...delivered.... https://www.amazon.com/Komelon-7130-Monster-Measuring-Magnetic/dp/B000GAX9GG?th=1 View Quote |
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Make me one that will extend more than about 87mm upside down so I can measure stuff on the ceiling. :/
“Hey, let’s put a magnet, an extra wide hook the size of a framing hammer and curve the blade a bunch so we can advertise 87’ standout!! Yessss!!! It’ll end up the size of a roll of duct tape but who cares am I right?!?” I miss my old Stanley Lever Lock 16’, did 90% of what I needed, light and simple. I have a decent selection of tapes now, they all seem to suck one way or another. |
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