Ping Robert

The magnetic end:

The Klein 16' looks interesting as well:

This seems like much ado about little, to me.

It's clear that someone manufacturing tape measures will design one that will satisfy the most customers, and one may assume they've done the market research to justify inclusion of 1/32 marks on the tape - which is the opposite of 'damn dumb'.

Personally, I use an icra or starrett rule for all my woodworking and leave the tape measures (four 25' stanleys) for construction or general measurement usage.

"Useless 1/32 crap" is a value judgement that is not universal when applied to measurement devices.

I bought the combo pack of those Milwaukees when they first came out and I don't like them. While the magnetic tip is nice (strong!) it can be a PITA when you *don't* need it.

The hook bends too easily and the two "bat ear" ones can end up being one forward and one back which can really screw up measurements depending on how the tape is oriented for each measurement. It's been relegated to being my "go to" metal object receiver when I drop a nut or screw and it bounces down under the bench or table saw. :-)

One thing I don't like about all these new tapes, overall, is how fat they are getting with all the superfluous trim on them. It's like they're trying to make monster trucks out of tape measures. I can't find a one that will slip in and out of the tape holster on my tool belt.

Exactly, I do not like the fat cases and as I mentioned in another post, that is all to do with stand off. The tape has to be wider to accept enough bend to extend 16+feet with out support. If you want a narrow tape measure you have to look at 12' and under, typically.

Personally, I like my Stanley short tapes the best, for overall feel and

Except that Fastcap seems to be in the market of making many different, specialty tapes for people with different, quirky needs. They seem to like satisfying the most customers by producing the most, different tape measures.

It's also rhetorical hyperbole which is perfectly acceptable in casual conversation between like-minded people sharing their opinions on different subjects.... which is exactly what we're doing here.

Pretty soon you'll need two hands to hold the thing. :-)

I need two hands to hold my thing now. ;~0

Oh, no he di'in't!

-MIKE- wrote in news:oigt98$lfp$ snipped-for-privacy@dont-email.me:

Sometimes I need more stickout when going to measure something. Would popping one of those "purple pills" into the tape measure help?

Puckdropper

IMO it's the 'Hitachi Effect' (when they started making power tools that resemebled Transformers several years ago.)

Hell it's spilled over into toothbrush marketing, vintage holders are obsolete.

LOL That's another good description of how Hitachi looked back then, I thought they looked like one of the fancy tennis shoes.

I don't know why everybody calls it the "purple pill". The _purple_ pill is an antacid, the one that makes things woody is _blue_.

I'll take your word for it. ;-)

LOL. You would think people posting pictures of a product would take pictures that show off the product. This goes for the above tape, but also the FastCap tape you mentioned that has a blurry photo of the tape you recommended to me.

Yes, one of several reasons I prefer short tapes in my shop, one of course is smaller tape to lug around and handle, but also the longer the tape, the more curve so the tape doesn't buckle when extended. Handy for outside carpenters building houses and sheds, just a nuisance in my cabinet shop.

Sweet. I'm definitely going for the Klien with 1/8th inch markings. I was going to say I'd like that, but considering the trouble I had (you didn't) finding one without 1/32nd markings I'm thrilled. (Tingle running up my leg, just like a liberal) Mike said he can easily judge halfway between 1/16th marks, I think I can do it between 1/8th inch marks. I could swear I looked at Kliens before with no luck, guess I didn't.

Also liked the Milwaukee with the 1/16th markings...

Thanks, you da man, and made an old man happy (tingly)

That's just a value judgement by you, certainly not a universal one.

Wrong again. Walt found two manufacturers that make the tapes I want, albiet in 16' lengths rather than 10 or 12, so you can assume they did the market research to justify elimination of the useless 1/32 marks.

Personally I don't, but soon will be using a Klien with 1/8th in markings.

Never once said it was "universal". It is _my_ value judgement based on _my_ 60 years of experience. You are entitled to your own value judgements, and you can be certain your value judgments are not universal if that's what you're claiming.

Anyway, turns out my "value judgements" are popular enough that at least two manufacturers make what I want, probably more.

And, they always seem to have 1/32 markings in the first foot. My 16 footers are ok, but a bit too big for my tastes. Seems all the tapes mentioned here with no 1/32 markings are 16 footers. I think I'm going with the Klien with 1/8th inch markings. Don't build much anymore, but think I'll buy one just to reward them for knowing what cabinet makers need.

BTW, you mentioned you only use tapes to check your measurements, or something like that. What do you initially measure with if not a tape?

Damn, wish I would have said that.

Wish I could say that...

Thanks Mike, good to know. I've almost given up on finding anything I drop on the floor. I once dropped a 10mm socket and after minutes, hours, weeks and months of looking EVERYWHERE, it is gone. I kept looking EVERYWHERE because it is impossible for something to disappear, or so I thought. I figured it would eventually show up, but 2 years later and so far, nada. Didn't fall into piles of rubble either, clean, concrete floor.