Sawmill Tape Measure

hacknchop · March 21, 2019, 04:02:55 PM

One of the tools that never get used to the point of wearing out at least not by me I 've pulled them apart cut them tied to measure 26' with a 16 ' tape . Now that's not the case with everyone I had an older machinist who took me under his wing and tried to teach me how to do stuff he was 74 I was 23 anyway he would send me outside to look for some 3/8" PLATE or something with his tape measure which was warn blank from about 1 1/2 " on and I would tell his tape was no good had no marks on it, he'd measure with it and be right on then he'd tell me that he knew were the marks used to be.

doc henderson · March 21, 2019, 06:23:18 PM

:D :D :D

beav · March 21, 2019, 07:02:20 PM

Hacknchop that was hilarious!!!

Crossroads · March 21, 2019, 10:08:20 PM

Any tape that will return on its own is my favorite one

richhiway · March 21, 2019, 10:38:41 PM

these tapes have a large floating hook,
Swanson Tool SVGL25M1 25-Feet Magnetic Savage Grip Line Tape Measure - - Amazon.com

newoodguy78 · March 21, 2019, 11:11:40 PM

Like Beavertooth said if you can get by with a 16' tape the fatmax is really good I prefer them. The recoil spring in them is incredible will retract when it gets wet and with some dirt on it. If it's clean lookout, the end is coming at you fast

Kwill · March 25, 2019, 04:36:19 PM

I like these. Been using them for quite some time. Just bought a new one today

kczbest · March 25, 2019, 10:56:27 PM

Two of the things in this world that are hard to beat are Stanley Fat Max tape measures and Garlic Cheese Grits!

firefighter ontheside · March 25, 2019, 11:01:08 PM

I brought my trailer to the firehouse with me this week so my buddy could take it and load some logs on it for me. I got some very nice white oak and oak walnut. I used a firehouse tape measure to measure the logs and guess what......it was very nice for measuring the logs with the big hook.

Magicman · March 26, 2019, 08:34:08 AM

And that is the tape measure that is no longer available. Been replaced/upgraded?? with a new and improved model with a completely unusable belt clip. :-\ Yup, that big hook is what started this topic. ;D

doc henderson · July 09, 2019, 10:26:00 PM

got one of these and this is what happened the first time i pulled it to 14 feet.

at lowes I found this with high vis. i have not pulled it out over 4 feet so we will see.

Magicman · July 10, 2019, 08:33:50 AM

That appears to be a very good tape and with a 360° hook on the end. Yours is black and I see that they also offer it in the traditional yellow: Lufkin Tape It's nice to see that someone is filling the void that was created when Stanley/Bostitch "improved" theirs.

Brad_bb · July 10, 2019, 05:14:34 PM

As someone who once worked for a large tool company, it's true. Something like a tape like that, they can't just sell the same thing for 10 years. They need a "new" product to sell to the retailers. So they keep changing the look and minor things, which really aren't any noticeable improvement. It's perceived as new or a way to attract the retailer, and the end customer. As an end user, the changes are wasted on me- i'm all about function and if it ain't broke, don't fix it. To a lot of consumers who compare looks of the various tapes and what catches their eye it does make a difference in sales, unfortunately.

doc henderson · July 10, 2019, 05:18:19 PM

yes brad, and the tip is "diamond coated" too. you are right. now the tape is rough and dull instead of slick and glossy. @Brad_bb

Peter Drouin · July 10, 2019, 06:25:48 PM

I buy what on sale, then buy all of them. Tapes around here don't last long. ;D

scsmith42 · August 09, 2019, 08:50:31 PM

My problem with tape measures is not that they walk off - it's that my employees kill them! This is an almost new Keson (I may have used it a dozen times) that an employee used today. For some reason my guys manage to put a tear in the end of the tape about six inches from the end. It causes them to hang up, cut your hand, and eventually break off. >:(

Every nice tape that I've bought for myself ends up getting destroyed by someone else. I'll bet that I've bought fifteen tape measures in the last 12 months.

Grrr......

Southside · August 09, 2019, 09:05:41 PM

I saw a whole basket of those new fangled black and green ones at Tractor Supply the other day - all in the clearance basket, which is where I usually buy my tapes given the rough life they lead - can't say I was all that impressed with that color combination, left them there.

doc henderson · August 09, 2019, 09:30:03 PM

a tape is like a hammer, you can buy the first one for an employee and put their name on it. If it is lost or broken, they buy their own or it can be furnished and the cost taken out of pay. they will try a lot harder to not tear them up. i read a good book called "tools of the trade" and tools are like your wife, you do not lend them out, even to your best friends. tools i will let friends use, but most of my friends return things better than they found them. My family not so much. That is why i do not lend my wife, she is too good already! :D :D :D In this book the old German master tells his apprentice, " my framing square is the most dangerous tool you can borrow. for if you drop it and knock it out of square, it will be my sad duty to kill you!"

LAZERDAN · August 09, 2019, 10:59:11 PM

Who is the author of the book, can t seem to find it.

Lazerdan

doc henderson · August 10, 2019, 07:03:22 AM

Not sure it is still in print. I bought it at a restoration hardware years ago, and went back and got 4 more copies. I will add info later. written by the apprentice. It is not fiction but great stories.

doc henderson · August 10, 2019, 07:31:10 AM

here it is. I bought extra copies to give to friends that I used to do projects with.

doc henderson · August 10, 2019, 07:43:47 AM

found it used and new on amazon. have been looking for additional copies for years. I actually lost these in our move years ago. very funny and insightful short chapters. imparts the wisdom from the point of view of the young apprentice, who at the time of writing is a master carpenter. the cover is different.