Tape Measure Preferance??

TempestV

the last tape I replaced was in 2005.
http://www.stanleyproto.com/xhtml/LI...ICY_T20604.PDF

TBFGhost

I don't think I am ever going back to Stanley....the more I have been using the Tajimas the more I like them. I find it even easier to read the tape. I had to use my old powerlock the other day and that is when I knew I liked the Tajimas alot more.

2ndGen

Well, you know what they say...

"Once you go Jap...you never go back!"

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JLTrim

Thanks to your glowing review I got a red 25' Tajima to try for myself... I like it but I've been using Stanley's for over a decade now so it takes some getting used to. The Tajima just feels too small and round, I'm always having to look down and flip it around a couple times to see which side the tape comes out, the Stanley I could just grab and throw the tape out without looking. I guess that will go away with more use.

One thing I really don't like is how the blade doesn't extend out past the case when it's retracted, you have to use two hands to pull it out. I'm used to hooking the Stanley blade on whatever's handy to extend the tape when I only have one hand free, can't do that with the Tajima.

Other than that I'm happy with it, thanks again for the recommendation.

TBFGhost

I just went out and got another 16' 3/4" tape b/c I found my self using that tape so much that one day, when it breaks...b/c all tapes break, I will have a spare ready to go so I won't have to miss it. Got the Tajima caulk to see if it as good as they claim and I also ordered a Tajima Ultra fine chalk box from my local store as they were out of stock. Uh-oh...I think I have a problem...lol

wheeler

25' fatmax and hilti lazar.

Willie T

When Stanley went to the 30' ProLock, our local lumber store had the 25 footers on sale for 2 or 3 bucks. I bought somewhere around thirty of them. This was how many years ago? 20? 25? I dunno.

I've given many out to my crews, and have broken a few. But it has only been in the past five years that I've bought any more. 30 footers. I think I still have a one or two of those 25 footers on a shelf somewhere out in the garage.

Only thing I never liked about those ProLocks was that they broke the center pivot pin (spring attachment) about 50% of the time when they hit the concrete from 10' or more.

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KennMacMoragh

I used a folding rule as an inspector, I used to think they were a joke. But they work pretty cool for checking hard to reach spots. It all depends on what I'm doing. For framing, the 35' fatmax is good because you can sqaure up most your walls without having to pull out the 100' tape. If I'm working inside, I usually use a 25 or 30 foot fatmax. Drywallers like to use Craftsmen, they are flimsy, but drywallers don't care, and you can just keep returning them to Sears for a new one whenever they break.

rojigga

Is there something that drywallers care about? I'm not ragging on the guys that actually take it seriously just the fly-by-nighters. Tool-belt and you're a drywall pro, no?

I use fatmax-25... but wow with the curve they give to them to get that stand out only makes you break them quicker... I'll give it to Stanley, they've found the tool most tradesmen long for, and a tape with crazy stand out is one of them!

If I could start over I'd be getting used to powerlocks; cheap and always accessible.

TBFGhost

I found that in most applications where I would pull out a folding rule with the brass extension I now don't have to with that little 3/4" blade Tajima tape...I can fold it so tightly into the corner that I can get a pretty accurate reading....

eddieapoc

Stanley 30' powerlock.

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The Red

Same Stanley 30' powerlock.

ribuilder

cant believe this post is still going!! Guess we all feel pretty strong about our tapes!!

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Brandito

35' fat max.

every time it breaks i take it to Menards here in chicagoland (local home improvement store like lowes or home depot) and they give me a brand new one no questions asked.

sometimes i pick the broken ones up around the job and bring those in too, can't have too many spare fat max tapes.

this trick works at most Menards if you're local to chicago.

there's plenty of guys who tell me 35' is too much, those same guys are always asking to borrow my tape when they're 25' or 30' isn't enough

hughjazz

That's lame. Your a grown man right? Pay for the damn tape.

or instead of going to the work of collecting broken tapes around the jobsite, why not just steal them off the shelf? It would be easier.


On another note,
the 35' is a good size, I justfind it too big for most things.

Brandito

it's their policy actually to take them back. it's only stanley tapes, and i think they limit it to fatmax. i don't ask why they do it, i just know they do.

i wasn't the first to discover it, it's a well known practice to take your broken fatmax to menards. i haven't bought a new tape in a couple years.

trust me, these guys aren't hurting for money, Mr Menard is supposed to be one of the richest men in the world currently.

holding this against me would be akin to be angry at anyone who has ever returned a craftsman tool to sears.

as a side note, i hate the extremes! maybe i've had bad luck, but the couple i've owned were terrible. one turned 90 degrees in the first 3 inches making it near impossible to hook on anything or use at all for that matter. plus i don't like that they're so much bigger than the regular fatmax's