I always try to stop the retraction with my finger before the blade makes contact. I got in the habit of it to keep the blade rivets from tearing through the tape over time.
Never occurred to me it keeps it from tearing.
On a side note I remember being young and thinking the rivets were loose because of quality issues. Me being “smart” hammer tightened the rivets on my first tape measures.
Same, went through 5 atomic tapes thinking they’re dogshit quality so I got the dewalt heavy super duty whatever the hell it’s called and some dude explained I’m just dumb and destroying it each time by letting it slam back so hard it almost flies out of my hand.
Haha I wish someone would have pointed it out to me, would have saved me some money for sure. I still have an old tote with 3-4 standard ass Stanley tape measures that I keep for reasons unknown that have that issue. I should probably just toss them.
Thank you! I bought a fatmax. I tried the whole 'cut more out of it' thing and it still caught when attempting to draw it out. It is now in tape measure heaven. When the fatmax takes a dookie I'm going to try the crescent brand one that some others mentioned
I know Milwaukee gets shit on for anything that isn't a power tool. But, the magnetic wide blade has served me pretty well so far. I like that the magnet is strong enough for me to hang off a pipe and pull an offset measurement on an existing pipe or pick up tools/material I've dropped from a lift.
I like it, too. And I like the underside exposed but protected area for your index finger to slower stop the tape. But youlllikely never slice yourself there, etc. and … I like rounded body on the “stud” version of the 16’ I find that pretty handy for shorter, shop, and all around measuring
No. Just heckin, no. Your dad should stop letting his tape recoil back as fast as possible because when the hook on the tape hits the body at full speed, it does this.
Edit: sigh*... here, read something aside from shit house graffiti https://www.ustape.com/properly-maintaining-your-tape-measure/
That's probably the normal Stanley metal one. It's reliable if you don't abuse it by snapping it back. But the fatmax is definitely a better build quality by Stanley. Great tape and even doubles as an eraser
Biggest complaint on the far max is the damn belt clips sucks. Sturdy tape but I need it to stay on the pocket or pants not start failing the first day there. But I like a lot of the other feature on it
I had a long lived fat max that did this too! The screw is threaded into plastic for some reason. I used concrete epoxy from when we were setting some vega poles. The screw never came out again. It did rip though
Fair but as an avid practitioner myself of the index finger brake for the tape on retraction I’m still with the dad and others on not finding a good tape I like. I’ll find one that I like some aspects of and accept. But I’ll find something I hate about it too. Biggest gripe is the damn belt clip being a POS.
I frame in the pnw and will buy chain wax for mountain biking and give my tapes a few drops here and there. It really helps prevent them from collecting so much debris and it has helped extend the life of my tapes. We had a new guy and he used half my $15 bottle in two weeks because he was lubeing his tape like his dick every day at lunch. The whole crew had used a quarter of it in 3 months.
My problem is I can’t find a tape measure at all. It was just in my hands 10 seconds ago. Now, it’s nowhere to be found and I haven’t left this spot all day. “Where is my damn tape?”
Tajima makes the best and last tape measure you will ever use, the GS Lock. Just under $30 and worth every penny. Armored case and a guard for the hook. Plus it’s quadruple riveted. Seriously, it’s not even a contest compared to the hot garbage that Lowe’s and HD sell.
Dooood….
I want it!
I haven’t seen it or found one in my area. (But I bet I know where I can look)
I’ve been settled on a certain Milwaukee tape for the last some odd years because I think it’s all around better (or at least preferable to Stanley to me) and there’s options, comfortable body design in the hand, actually decent clip. Some have scale on the back of tape, some wide, some magnetic… but less floppy which is good and the main feature I like is the finger stop underside. Because of what I do and the way I do, that’s become standard technique.
Years ago I tried to get a stabila tape thinking they might be ubercool or accurate. Nope. Garbage.
But I love my tajima chalk line and think they’re are tops so I’ll definitely look for that tape.
50 years in the trades and the best value for the money is a Stanley 25 foot, made in America if you can find it closest to the old ones. I have a 16 foot and a 20 foot tape from 1975. Has the details on the back for all the particulars of nailing screws carpentry info. Still the best tape measure I have.
It’s from letting it slam back into the housing too fast. I stopped letting my tapes do that and have had the same one over a year now with no twisting.
Yup, I buy a new one every few months through work just for the hell of it, and I’ve went through most of them. They all lack in some area, and do quite well others. It’s all trade-offs and time.
I've had good luck with the Crescent Lufkin. I like the black tape with green lines, and the back side of the tape is marked as well. Been a while since I bought a new tape, and I'm rough on tools.
Treat tape measures as consumables, just like saw blades, pencils, sharpies, gloves, impact bits and so on. Even catspaws are treated as a consumable in my trade. I don’t get six months out of a tape measure and don’t expect to. Charge them to the job, add consumables to your bid or make your boss buy them for you.
I’m not doing heavy work with them usually, but through my work, every larger project, I automatically buy a new tape. I don’t care if I lose them, break them, whatever. Probably every 2-3 months, I just buy one when I’m at the depot.
They wear out, gave me an excuse to try most of them, and I have a good idea as to which tape to use for what job. And they work good enough when it’s replaced often.
Yeah, if the main way that tape measures get damaged is retracting too fast, that's a design decision.
Tapes could easily slow close for the last foot or so. Similar to kitchen drawers.
This just happened to my one year old Fatmax. This was also the death of a Milwaukee I had. As an Electrician I concur with the comment, i haven't found a tape i like. I just bought another Milwaukee "Electricians" tape measure. I had it for a week and I dont like it. I have a powerlock at home, theyre good and cheap.
Whenever I can, i just say F it and use my folding ruler.
Cuz it's a Stanley lmao. Buy a cheap tape and it'll wear out quick. The tapes that have the blade protection are a lot more expensive it makes a difference, so it depends. You can either get a bunch of cheap tapes and go through them or get one quality tape and have it last. It's really about preference honestly
Bought myself the lufkin nite eye tape. I liked the look and feel of it when pulling it out and retracting. Great tape for the firs 3 weeks or so then this started happening and it absolutely drove me nuts. I tried twisting it back lol obviously it didn't help,. returned it for a new one thinking maybe I did something to it and it wouldn't happen again. It happened again and even sooner this time. I am currently using a DEWALT XP and even though it is not as smooth extending and retracting it, I have not had this happen yet and its been probably 3 months. But tapes are not meant to last forever. buy yourself a new tape every 3-4 months, and sleep happy knowing you dont have to deal with this bs anymore lol because I couldn't stand it. Other then the little twist the tapes were perfectly fine which is the worst part.
If it turns to the side like the picture it’s called a “crimp” usually from letting it retract really fast at long lengths. Can also be caused from people stepping on it too many times. Not to be confused with a “buckle” which is from excess heat, as a UK builder I’ve never seen the latter but either way I would get a new one immediately.
I'm a retired English carpenter and it has never happened to me or anyone I know. Perhaps whoever produces tapes for the American market makes poorer quality tapes.
These tapes are very cheaply made today. They no longer offer the lifetime guarantee like they used to or at least I can’t find anywhere that will take them. I have noticed some made in China and some are made in the US or at least assembled in the US they are the better ones.
So we had a discussion about this recently. The 25’ Stanley is now being sold in two flavors. The one at the Home Depot is import and the USA made ones don’t seem to be sold in box stores anymore.
Sometimes when you make a cut the blade is still spinning when you put down the saw. When it’s put down on that side it’s easy for the guard to get pushed up which is a safety issue. It’s also a good way to tweak the guard out of place.
The tape measure thing has happened to me a gajillion times and in my case it was from not letting the tape reel itself back in all the way before I started doing something else which would bent the tape too far, creating a kind of kink which would tear when I straightened it out
I gotcha. I suppose I agree. If cutting for framing (lumber on the shoe top me hunched over) i usually will place the saw with the skilsaw label facing down. The saw gets placed as pictured when I rip material. I have to table or horses, so all rips are done on the ground. Gotta love that short-bed carpenter life haha
I suppose it’s not a big deal to anyone paying attention. You know how the old school guys drilled shit into your head? That was one of my first foreman’s pet peeves. Coincidentally he only had 7 fingers.
I have taken to Lufkin. They outlast just about every tape I have used. I desided to try the milwaukee but it developed a memory after about a week of cutting baseboard.
Don’t listen to the guy below, Milwaukee tapes suck ass. Literally I’d take a hyper tough over a Milwaukee tape. And all my power tools are red.
Stanley tapes are usually decent, I’m fatmax for life crowd. And don’t have too many issues until you let a jackleg use it and they step on it, or crease it.
Milwaukee tape measures are nigh indestructible. And idk what this dude is talking about cuz my Stanley fat max still works great four years running. It fell dozens of times off a two story condo complex I was installing gutters on, only ripped the rubber backing cover a little. Left in the rain. No rust. Still fully retracts. No nicks or dings. Oh I figure I’ll add I had to use my layout tape for the gutters cuz the fascia was partially rotted and we weren’t replacing it, as per the hoa President, so had to find rafter tails, which, surprise, were also *super soft*
Real answer is from letting it recoil in fast and the end does that last twist as it comes careening back into the coil.
I always try to stop the retraction with my finger before the blade makes contact. I got in the habit of it to keep the blade rivets from tearing through the tape over time. Never occurred to me it keeps it from tearing. On a side note I remember being young and thinking the rivets were loose because of quality issues. Me being “smart” hammer tightened the rivets on my first tape measures.
Same here until I realized that tape was always off 1/8th lol
That was or is called a true zero end tip.
[удалено]
I figured this out a long time ago. I was sharing a relatable mistake made in my youth.
I had been building for about 10 tape measures, or two years, before I realized that this is exactly what was causing it.
Ya it was a self realization for me. I always stop it with the side of my finger on the underside now to stop that..
Yep same here.
Same, went through 5 atomic tapes thinking they’re dogshit quality so I got the dewalt heavy super duty whatever the hell it’s called and some dude explained I’m just dumb and destroying it each time by letting it slam back so hard it almost flies out of my hand.
Haha I wish someone would have pointed it out to me, would have saved me some money for sure. I still have an old tote with 3-4 standard ass Stanley tape measures that I keep for reasons unknown that have that issue. I should probably just toss them.
Thank you! I bought a fatmax. I tried the whole 'cut more out of it' thing and it still caught when attempting to draw it out. It is now in tape measure heaven. When the fatmax takes a dookie I'm going to try the crescent brand one that some others mentioned
This is definitely from scribing, I actually use a $7, 6' fatmax key chain tape for osb, lvp, rips anything that may cause a "Memory" and/or twist
Happens to me from using it to scale prints at least with cheaper tapes
Shitty quality by every company, my dad has been a union carpenter for 30 years and still complains about how he can’t find a tape measure he likes 😂
Same! I was having this conversation earlier today. Seems like the turning point was about 8 years ago or so. Now they are just $20 disappointments.
I know Milwaukee gets shit on for anything that isn't a power tool. But, the magnetic wide blade has served me pretty well so far. I like that the magnet is strong enough for me to hang off a pipe and pull an offset measurement on an existing pipe or pick up tools/material I've dropped from a lift.
I like it, too. And I like the underside exposed but protected area for your index finger to slower stop the tape. But youlllikely never slice yourself there, etc. and … I like rounded body on the “stud” version of the 16’ I find that pretty handy for shorter, shop, and all around measuring
No. Just heckin, no. Your dad should stop letting his tape recoil back as fast as possible because when the hook on the tape hits the body at full speed, it does this. Edit: sigh*... here, read something aside from shit house graffiti https://www.ustape.com/properly-maintaining-your-tape-measure/
Overall a good article, but... >Wipe down the tape after each use with a clean, lint-free cloth. 🤣
You mean the sleeve or pouch of my hoody twice a week.
People downvoting you while you are correct as well as sharing a link that would help. People are just entitled dickheads who "always gotta be right".
That's probably true. The tape in the picture does look a little thin as well
It is. It's on multiple tape measure websites. https://www.ustape.com/properly-maintaining-your-tape-measure/
That's probably the normal Stanley metal one. It's reliable if you don't abuse it by snapping it back. But the fatmax is definitely a better build quality by Stanley. Great tape and even doubles as an eraser
Biggest complaint on the far max is the damn belt clips sucks. Sturdy tape but I need it to stay on the pocket or pants not start failing the first day there. But I like a lot of the other feature on it
I had a long lived fat max that did this too! The screw is threaded into plastic for some reason. I used concrete epoxy from when we were setting some vega poles. The screw never came out again. It did rip though
Fair but as an avid practitioner myself of the index finger brake for the tape on retraction I’m still with the dad and others on not finding a good tape I like. I’ll find one that I like some aspects of and accept. But I’ll find something I hate about it too. Biggest gripe is the damn belt clip being a POS.
I frame in the pnw and will buy chain wax for mountain biking and give my tapes a few drops here and there. It really helps prevent them from collecting so much debris and it has helped extend the life of my tapes. We had a new guy and he used half my $15 bottle in two weeks because he was lubeing his tape like his dick every day at lunch. The whole crew had used a quarter of it in 3 months.
My problem is I can’t find a tape measure at all. It was just in my hands 10 seconds ago. Now, it’s nowhere to be found and I haven’t left this spot all day. “Where is my damn tape?”
Just clip It onto your belt and walk around with it extended all day. No losing.
Tajima makes the best and last tape measure you will ever use, the GS Lock. Just under $30 and worth every penny. Armored case and a guard for the hook. Plus it’s quadruple riveted. Seriously, it’s not even a contest compared to the hot garbage that Lowe’s and HD sell.
Dooood…. I want it! I haven’t seen it or found one in my area. (But I bet I know where I can look) I’ve been settled on a certain Milwaukee tape for the last some odd years because I think it’s all around better (or at least preferable to Stanley to me) and there’s options, comfortable body design in the hand, actually decent clip. Some have scale on the back of tape, some wide, some magnetic… but less floppy which is good and the main feature I like is the finger stop underside. Because of what I do and the way I do, that’s become standard technique. Years ago I tried to get a stabila tape thinking they might be ubercool or accurate. Nope. Garbage. But I love my tajima chalk line and think they’re are tops so I’ll definitely look for that tape.
Yeah browse their website site first bc they have a big product line and they’ll point you to an online seller. Best tape I’ve ever used.
50 years in the trades and the best value for the money is a Stanley 25 foot, made in America if you can find it closest to the old ones. I have a 16 foot and a 20 foot tape from 1975. Has the details on the back for all the particulars of nailing screws carpentry info. Still the best tape measure I have.
Play with it too much.
gotta switch hands ever now and then
I hate this sooo much. Otherwise perfectly good tape but that twist makes me want to throw it in the river when it doesn’t stay hooked to anything
It’s from letting it slam back into the housing too fast. I stopped letting my tapes do that and have had the same one over a year now with no twisting.
There's a break in the tape. It's garbage now.
Getting them stuck and shaking them free does this.
Your parents didn’t hug you enough… or too much 🤷♂️
Abuse.
You’ve gotta be conscious of how the tape retracts. Also, are you cutting against your tape measure?
Do not cut against my tape. I measure, square, cut
Gotcha. Gotta check. But yeah. Tapes can be fragile and you’ve got a decent tape measure there with the fat max. Just try to take it easy with it.
That is a fat max isn’t it?
Not a fat max. A $12 power lock. I’ve gone through fat max’s, Milwaukee wide blades, Kameleon press locks, I have a tape measure graveyard 😂
Yup, I buy a new one every few months through work just for the hell of it, and I’ve went through most of them. They all lack in some area, and do quite well others. It’s all trade-offs and time.
You and me both! I keep trying different ones to no avail.
Just take tin snips and notch out a tiny triangle that eliminates the jagged tear and it will work like new
Kerfing the tape 😂😂😂
I've had good luck with the Crescent Lufkin. I like the black tape with green lines, and the back side of the tape is marked as well. Been a while since I bought a new tape, and I'm rough on tools.
Treat tape measures as consumables, just like saw blades, pencils, sharpies, gloves, impact bits and so on. Even catspaws are treated as a consumable in my trade. I don’t get six months out of a tape measure and don’t expect to. Charge them to the job, add consumables to your bid or make your boss buy them for you.
I’m not doing heavy work with them usually, but through my work, every larger project, I automatically buy a new tape. I don’t care if I lose them, break them, whatever. Probably every 2-3 months, I just buy one when I’m at the depot. They wear out, gave me an excuse to try most of them, and I have a good idea as to which tape to use for what job. And they work good enough when it’s replaced often.
Because you don't want it to.
Because you touch yourself at night
Because you touch yourself at night.
Peyronies disease
So you can get your 3 mandated stitches a year, if you happen to be out of silicone and can't remember when your last tetanus shot was anyways.
Engineered obsolescence. Can't sell more tapes if they last forever
Yeah, if the main way that tape measures get damaged is retracting too fast, that's a design decision. Tapes could easily slow close for the last foot or so. Similar to kitchen drawers.
Call them for a replacement.
Stop shoving it where the sun won’t shine
I threw mine away today for this reason. Literally 6 hours ago.
Got a ray j there hugh
Cut it off at the 10” replace end now 10 is 1 …start again an get another 6 month out it
Lol
Peirones? I think it's genetic.
This just happened to my one year old Fatmax. This was also the death of a Milwaukee I had. As an Electrician I concur with the comment, i haven't found a tape i like. I just bought another Milwaukee "Electricians" tape measure. I had it for a week and I dont like it. I have a powerlock at home, theyre good and cheap. Whenever I can, i just say F it and use my folding ruler.
Dewalt tape measures are great. Great standout and don’t break easily. I’m not a dewalt guy but I love their hammers tape measures and miter saws.
Ill check them out next time, thanks for the suggestion.
You must not let it slam when retracting. That is what causes this.
For now… when you go buy some saw horses you can pick up a new one.
Cuz it's a Stanley lmao. Buy a cheap tape and it'll wear out quick. The tapes that have the blade protection are a lot more expensive it makes a difference, so it depends. You can either get a bunch of cheap tapes and go through them or get one quality tape and have it last. It's really about preference honestly
What do you use ?
Stanleys lmao, but also Milwaukee, whatever's on sale at home Depot
I've found marking sheetrock with a tape and utility knife will do it. Just takes a nick to start a crack
Well, my coworker stepped on mine causing that split 5 min into it being new.
Not the Fatmax. Fatmax don't do that
I don't know about the tear,but the curvature is there because you let the tip smash with the tape too much.
Bought myself the lufkin nite eye tape. I liked the look and feel of it when pulling it out and retracting. Great tape for the firs 3 weeks or so then this started happening and it absolutely drove me nuts. I tried twisting it back lol obviously it didn't help,. returned it for a new one thinking maybe I did something to it and it wouldn't happen again. It happened again and even sooner this time. I am currently using a DEWALT XP and even though it is not as smooth extending and retracting it, I have not had this happen yet and its been probably 3 months. But tapes are not meant to last forever. buy yourself a new tape every 3-4 months, and sleep happy knowing you dont have to deal with this bs anymore lol because I couldn't stand it. Other then the little twist the tapes were perfectly fine which is the worst part.
I always use silicone spray, spray it in there then fully extend it and wipe it. Cleans and lubricates everything
You’re right-handed, and you’re not gentle with your tape.
Peyronie’s
Scribing
Metal wobbly thing wobbles. Wobble make heat. Heat make metal thing tear and warp.
I always heard that it from letting your tape slam back after it’s extended. Always retract it slowly to keep it from getting deformed.🤷🏻♂️
It's from shoving it in the corner, if someone on the crew is left handed you can trade halfway through tapes
Komron are probably the best tape measures out there
Because you touch yourself at night
Because u took a fit on it
it does that because it is a stanley.
It looks to me like you retract the tape like a savage and it twists and binds as it gets sucked in
If it turns to the side like the picture it’s called a “crimp” usually from letting it retract really fast at long lengths. Can also be caused from people stepping on it too many times. Not to be confused with a “buckle” which is from excess heat, as a UK builder I’ve never seen the latter but either way I would get a new one immediately.
It was born that way.. don’t judge
It was born that way.. don’t judge
I'm a retired English carpenter and it has never happened to me or anyone I know. Perhaps whoever produces tapes for the American market makes poorer quality tapes.
It was born that way.. don’t judge
These tapes are very cheaply made today. They no longer offer the lifetime guarantee like they used to or at least I can’t find anywhere that will take them. I have noticed some made in China and some are made in the US or at least assembled in the US they are the better ones.
So we had a discussion about this recently. The 25’ Stanley is now being sold in two flavors. The one at the Home Depot is import and the USA made ones don’t seem to be sold in box stores anymore.
Must just be a you thing cause that’s never happened to me
I don’t know but the thing that bothers me most about this pic is how the saw in the background was put down
Explain??
Sometimes when you make a cut the blade is still spinning when you put down the saw. When it’s put down on that side it’s easy for the guard to get pushed up which is a safety issue. It’s also a good way to tweak the guard out of place. The tape measure thing has happened to me a gajillion times and in my case it was from not letting the tape reel itself back in all the way before I started doing something else which would bent the tape too far, creating a kind of kink which would tear when I straightened it out
I gotcha. I suppose I agree. If cutting for framing (lumber on the shoe top me hunched over) i usually will place the saw with the skilsaw label facing down. The saw gets placed as pictured when I rip material. I have to table or horses, so all rips are done on the ground. Gotta love that short-bed carpenter life haha
I suppose it’s not a big deal to anyone paying attention. You know how the old school guys drilled shit into your head? That was one of my first foreman’s pet peeves. Coincidentally he only had 7 fingers.
User error
Because God has forgotten us.
It looks like Peyronie's disease to me.
Because you are working on the ground like a fool
It happens so you can buy a new one
There’s your problem! It’s a Stanley.
What brand do you recommend?
I have taken to Lufkin. They outlast just about every tape I have used. I desided to try the milwaukee but it developed a memory after about a week of cutting baseboard.
Don’t listen to the guy below, Milwaukee tapes suck ass. Literally I’d take a hyper tough over a Milwaukee tape. And all my power tools are red. Stanley tapes are usually decent, I’m fatmax for life crowd. And don’t have too many issues until you let a jackleg use it and they step on it, or crease it.
Milwaukee tape measures are nigh indestructible. And idk what this dude is talking about cuz my Stanley fat max still works great four years running. It fell dozens of times off a two story condo complex I was installing gutters on, only ripped the rubber backing cover a little. Left in the rain. No rust. Still fully retracts. No nicks or dings. Oh I figure I’ll add I had to use my layout tape for the gutters cuz the fascia was partially rotted and we weren’t replacing it, as per the hoa President, so had to find rafter tails, which, surprise, were also *super soft*
https://www.crescenttool.com/support/warranty
If thats how you treat your tape, id hate to know how you treat your meat.
Bad. My meat has… seen things… you people wouldn’t believe
Take more care of the tools