Check out Sports Photography section of our forum.
Tape Measures
Aug 11, 2017 08:11:50 #
I've accumulated quite a few tape measures over the years. Here's an article from Family Handyman. One type they don't mention is a tape with both inches and metric markings - very handy. Also handy is the tape with markings for the center of a board.
https://www.familyhandyman.com/tools/best-tape-measures-reviews-and-secrets-of-the-tape-measure/view-all/
https://www.familyhandyman.com/tools/best-tape-measures-reviews-and-secrets-of-the-tape-measure/view-all/
Aug 11, 2017 08:31:58 #
My tapes are always off on their own whenever I'm looking for one. A year ago I bought a six-pack of Stanleys in bright colors so it's not so bad now. Metrics are not that important to me, it's just another way of measuring. I do have one tape that shows the half-way mark in red just below, as in half of 8 3/8 is 4 3/16, etc.
Aug 11, 2017 08:56:21 #
Aug 11, 2017 08:58:02 #
That was really interesting. Wish I had known about the center finding tapes back in the day when I was framing. Glad to know why the thing on the end always seemed loose. Come to think about it, that center finding tape could be used in lots of applications, even sewing. Might have to get one of those! Metric is so much easier to use, I'll get one with both, too.
Aug 11, 2017 09:23:42 #
Don Craig wrote:
My tapes are always off on their own whenever I'm looking for one. A year ago I bought a six-pack of Stanleys in bright colors so it's not so bad now. Metrics are not that important to me, it's just another way of measuring. I do have one tape that shows the half-way mark in red just below, as in half of 8 3/8 is 4 3/16, etc.
I must have a dozen lying around the garage. As for the metric, I find it easier using mm rather than 16" or 32". First, I have to figure out if it's 8th, 16th, or 32nd. Then I have to count those little lines. Using the metric scale is often easier.
Aug 12, 2017 05:19:50 #
jerryc41 wrote:
I must have a dozen lying around the garage. As for the metric, I find it easier using mm rather than 16" or 32". First, I have to figure out if it's 8th, 16th, or 32nd. Then I have to count those little lines. Using the metric scale is often easier.
They still have little lines on metric rulers!!!
Aug 12, 2017 06:18:26 #
I'm 62, and I'm pretty sure that that's the first tape I've seen with imperial measurement only!
Check out Wedding Photography section of our forum.
Aug 12, 2017 06:45:42 #
I will never understand why tape measures are only made for left handed people. This was pointed out to me by a plumber. If you doubt it check the picture of the center-finding tape.
Aug 12, 2017 07:56:34 #
EX-TELCO wrote:
I will never understand why tape measures are only made for left handed people. This was pointed out to me by a plumber. If you doubt it check the picture of the center-finding tape.
Right. That's why I always use mine from left to right with a mirror to show the measurements.
Aug 12, 2017 10:50:09 #
EX-TELCO wrote:
I will never understand why tape measures are only made for left handed people. This was pointed out to me by a plumber. If you doubt it check the picture of the center-finding tape.
You are absolutely right about it being for lefty's. I bought a right hand tape years ago form woodworkers warehouse.
Aug 12, 2017 11:12:07 #
You can magnetize the hook, if you want, by passing a magnet over it several times in the same direction (not back and forth). Pass it over the hook as many times as needed to get the magnetization you need. You can do this with any iron-based metal object, like the inserts of screw guns that often lose their ability to hold the screw bit securely after years of use.
Check out Landscape Photography section of our forum.
Aug 12, 2017 11:21:02 #
Beauty of metric tapes is that finding center, quarter, 3rds, whatever is that dividing 10 by 2, 4, 3, whatever is as natural as looking at your hands...if you've got 10 digits. Also, I find remembering a metric measure is so much easier than fractions of 8ths, 16ths, 32nds, etc. Made it one of my travel goals in New Zealand a few years ago to get a good metric tape and I use it more than all of my english measure tapes put together. Wish we could just dump the screwy english measures as we have in photography.
Aug 12, 2017 11:39:43 #
Manglesphoto wrote:
They still have little lines on metric rulers!!!
Whether it is metric or SAE, you can always think of the lines as "little thingies", then it is "one little thingie, two little thingies..."
Aug 12, 2017 11:58:02 #
CaptainBobBrown wrote:
Beauty of metric tapes is that finding center, qua... (show quote)
Right. I got a set of three - small, medium, and large - from Amazon. Metric on one edge and English on the other. Lots of choices.
https://smile.amazon.com/s/ref=nb_sb_noss_1?url=search-alias%3Daps&field-keywords=metric+tape+measure
Aug 12, 2017 17:49:50 #
I was the quality control manager in the aero space industry, most of our electrical measuring devices had a switch that would change the readings to metric if the prints were in metric. Ive been retired for 24 years now. Even back than most of our manufacturing machines had built in lazers that measured the product and adjusted the machine to keep the product in tolerance.
If you want to reply, then register here. Registration is free and your account is created instantly, so you can post right away.
Check out Printers and Color Printing Forum section of our forum.