How Long Does Your Tape Measure Last?

PrecisionFloors

Same here. Oddly enough the tape I use for measures is pristine and has been in my organizer thingamajig for over a year now.....tapes I actually work with might last 3 months

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Forry

Stanly 30' don't like the fat max.... too chunky. Have 1/2 dozen or so with the sticky pad on for taking notes. sometimes I'll get upset 'cause the cutter seems to be missing every time, then remember that the tip sometimes spread, and we'll stop and "synchronize" tapes... hook 'em on a square cut chunk of lumber and take dykes or pliers to the tip to adjust the one that's off (never mine lol). Also, the tip gets jammed with mortar or mud sometimes and needs to get scraped out so it'll slip right.

WNYcarpenter

FatMax all the way. I'm so used to the outstretch I get annoyed when someone's tape folds....Mine usually start to split. Painful as hell when retracting one slices your finger! 3 Mos...If I start a finish job, I'll get a new one and try to only use the older one for dirt and rain work.

hrscammisa

Fat max warranty comes with the tape all the stores should know this good for one year at store and through stanley its life I always take it back to were i got it and grab a new one and the warranty is on the package for them to see

laybrick

If the sand, mortar, or mud don't get it , a laborer usually puts them in the back of the truck instead of the tool box. so they don't last that long

JohnJ0906

Me too (30' fat max)

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John from Baltimore
"One Day at a Time"
All replies based on the 2008 NEC

vwovw

i like using the tape measures that have the measuremnets marked with numbers not those line thingys. i've never gots skooled

vwovw

fat max all sizes. i usually go thru one or two a month. i got four in a box in my truck ready to ship to stanley for replacement

JPhelps

Use the shiney stanley type, I'm about like alot of other people here, it useto last as long as I can remember where I left it basically---this use to necessitate me leaving jobsite to get a new one, but, I've stumbled on some of the 'lost' ones( err maybe they were other peoples lost tapes lol) and now I have sort of a collection. So I keep a couple in my truck, a couple in my trailer, and leave the rest in the shop.

drywallet

I take about one big step. Thats about 3 feet. usually use the stanley 25 ft. They seem to be all right. Not to pricey either

jiggyjack

Stanley 25'.

I burn em up at the rate of maybe 1 a month.
Weather and wear take a serious toll.

The worst is when 1 of my helpers runs out more than 4' of glue on a truss or joist.

I had one kid working for me that I made buy me a new tape after telling him at least a dozen time not to go so far.

ron schenker

Mine break after about a day, but I buy 100 at a time at the dollar store so no biggie.

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Don't worry, the baseboard will hide it!

In_Mexifornia

Stanley 30'. Replaced about every 3 months. Fat Max is too fat.

Toothpick

Stanely 25, don't care for the fat max's either. They feel to big and clunky as other have said. I generaly don't care for any fat max tools for that same matter.

WNYcarpenter

My tape broke once a few years back and I didn't have a spare...I went to the closest hardware and bought a new one. After ruining a few boards I looked at my tape and noticed one side was in inches the other centimeters!

JohnJ0906

The reason I love the Fat Max is, as an electrician, I am always measuring lights acoss the ceiling, and a tape that extends 10'-12' is just the ticket!

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John from Baltimore
"One Day at a Time"
All replies based on the 2008 NEC

Mud Master

Stanley 16' for most work cause it is lighter and MUCH more workable . Stanley 25' for layouts.


I keep 2 or 3 good ones, but I tend to stock up on cheaper ones for everyday work, not such a big deal when they go.

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vwovw

i have big hands so it doesn't bother me

brichards

seams like every time I do a building project the only tape I can find is the cheap on what happens to the fat boys

brichards

what tape do you recomend or has anyone had good luck with the laser tapes