Elementary carpentry question

Yes, but the holes in the ruler get elongated by repeated snap closings. ===========================================

Ouch! Who in the world with at least half a brain would let a tape snap? Anyone who abuses a tape measure, doesn't deserve to have such a tool.

Excuse me, but the metal hook is designed to measure inside AND outside. The rivets holding the hook to the blade are intentionally loose to permit the hook slide back and forth in the slots the amount equal to the thickness of the hook. Therefore, the hook can automatically compensate for it's thickness.

Not only that, but you will achieve accurate measurements if you are INSIDE your garage or OUTSIDE at your neighbors. :-)

Since my vision never was that great in dark small spaces, and reading the inside of a curved tape is a skill I never quite mastered anyway, I usually just cheated by making a witness mark on the wall at some nice round number, say 50 inches off the floor, and then measuring up from the mark. Just add 50 to whatever number you get from the top down, and there ya go.

In the bad old days, I'd use my trusty Stanley Power-Lock and just extend it floor to ceiling, read off the distance and add the case offset. In the good new days I just use my Stanley laser measure and point and shoot.

Um, won't that blow a hole through the wall? :-)

TDD

Gotta use the LOW power setting.

measurements.http://www.listoftools.com/images/measuring_inside_dimensions_with_a_... Agreed. Folding rule for any inside measurements (closets, drawers, etc.) Doug D

I didn't know the things had a stun setting. ^_^

TDD

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bump your tape into one corner or the other and measure out 10 inches and make a mark, then measure from the other corner to the mark and add 10 inches. There you go no more trying to read the roll of the tape.

On 3/4/2011 6:59 PM woodworker plans spake thus:

I think we got essentially the same answer about 10 replies up there. Which you would have known had you read this on Usenet, which is where I posted it, instead of the god-damned Homeowner's Hub web-scraping service. (Wonder if they'll post this reply there?)

So why are you trying to measure it that accurately? Carpenters know the bottom is going to be covered by baseboard. and molding. It could be a couple of inches short and not matter. On the other hand if you really need this kind of accuracy get a folding measure. They have a little extension that slides out for measuring that last little bit.

Jimmie

Use a GOOD tape measure andput the end of the tape case against one surgace, and the end of the tape against the other surface. Take measurement, ading the perscribed amount for the tape case.

Then put the "tab" of the tape over the end of the stock to be measured and mark the stock at the total length. It will be accurate because of the way the "tab" or "shoe" at the end of the tape is slotted - it moves EXACTLY the thickness of the "shoe" or "tab".

Gotta love my "accuratape" - add 4 inched to the measured distance - which has a lighted and magnified hairline like on a precision slierule allowing very accurate measurement, even in restricted light with old eyes.. It also has both a retractable "pin prick" marker and a socket for a pencil for accurate marking of length on the stock to be cut.