Tape measures...how many is too many?

[Moze]

I have about six tape measures I keep on the truck for various installations. A small Komelon 12' self-locking tape that I use for small, up-close jobs, a 16' Milwaukee for slightly larger jobs, a 25' DeWalt for larger interior jobs, a 25' FatMax for exterior work, a 25' self-centering Lufkin for jobs requiring repetitive centering of signs, a 25' Harbor Freight 'freebie' tape that I use when digging/measuring piers or any install where it's going to get beat up, a Fastcap FlatBack tape for layout, and now this:

This is the German-made BMI 3m/10ft tape.

Depress the lever and the tape extends outward on its own. If the tape is supported (ie, the tape is on a horizontal panel or sign face), it will extend out the entire 10'. Pretty cool. If it's unsupported (ie, if you just hold it in the air and press the lever), it will extend out about 5' and then fold due to the weight of the blade.

The dimensions are on what would normally be the back of a regular tape measure blade - the convex side. This places the dimension lines directly on the work surface rather that curled up and away from it like a standard tape measure blade. Much easier to mark dimensions on your work piece.

Depress the lever and manually push the blade in by hand to retract it.

Includes a handy belt clip which works really well. The tape clips on and off very easily.

It isn't perfect for every measuring job, but will be really nice for hanging vinyl on doors, etc.

 

[HDvinyl]

I don't use a tape measure, I just eye it

 

[Jillbeans]

You can never have enough.
And I can eyeball and then measure, and it's almost always straight.
My fave is a regular wooden yardstick, but I have steel rulers and about 4 tape measures.
Love.....jill

 

[SignosaurusRex]

Too many is not enough. You never know when you'll find yourself working up high or over water in frigid conditions that make it tough to hang onto a tape measure. Sometimes the real cheap ones come in very handy.

 

[skarekrow]

I have a calibrated eyeball. (and 3 tape measures to insure it's accuracy!)

 

[James Burke]

My son works for a rather chubby boss who runs a small lumber sawing business. A few months ago, my son was sweeping the sawdust from the shop and found a total of twelve tape measures scattered about the floor...beneath the dust. "Ben Dover" definitely doesn't work there.

JB

 

[gabagoo]

They seem to vanish almost as frequently as blue stabiles. I always look out for sales on them and grab a bunch. I now look for the versions with very large type for older guys who can't see to well

 

[Z SIGNS]

You can never have enough.Somewhere out in the universe there is a big black hole that's filled with tape measures,stabilos,x-acto handles and nutdrivers that belong to me

 

[ColoPrinthead]

42

 

[petepaz]

42...yup that seems about right
not too many but just enough...haha

i have 2 in my install tool box, 1 in my work car, 1 in the shop van and 1 in my vette that seems to work for me

 

[brush1]

I'm a women.
I need more then you guys.
I have one in any single handbag what I own. I'm glad they are big handbags in the fashion.
This is the only place when I'm sure I can find at list one :Big Laugh

 

[HIGHSPEEDGRAPHIX]

Never to many......my wife says I have a tape measure fetish. LOL!

 

[Moze]

Here's a quick video I did of how the tape works. Like I said, not a substitute for every tape measure, but it would definitely come in handy for when you only have one hand free, etc.

[video=youtube;WQ-L8eTHe54]https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WQ-L8eTHe54[/video]