Woodworker's Journal Magazine is America's leading woodworking authority. We feature videos that teach you woodworking tips, techniques and how to build projects. Plus, we share updates and reviews of the latests tools. If you like woodworking and making projects, then you'll also like our FREE weekly eZine - subscribe at - Подробнее Tricks of the Trade. That’s why Woodworker’s Journal proudly announces the newest addition to its “The Way to Woodwork” teaching DVD series. Coming April 1, to a Rockler store near you, is a minute intensive video course on learning how to measure without the mania of traditional measuring tools. It’s called “Measuring Made Easy.”  Do it with a tape measure. And be careful with the multiplying part. This method is not easily adapted to fractions.  Wire might actually be a better way to go, come to think of it — but we show string in the video. I guess it works pretty well.” “Measuring Made Easy’s” second chapter, titled “In a Pinch, Try the Inch,” offers viewers a singalong to help make the Imperial inch less frightening and more user-friendly. The new Milwaukee tape measure is dubbed the Stud and claims to be the most durable on the market. It touts features such as being able to survive an foot drop and a special coated blade technology to make the blade more durable. It also claims to stand out straight for “up to 10 feet.” Based on those features and a few more it seems like key factors to consider in selecting a tape are length, width, measurement style, standout, locking methods, accuracy, durability, and some non-measuring accessories, such as the belt clip. Let’s take a look at all of those.  While you might need the longer length for job site work, most shop-based woodworkers rarely need more than 15 feet. A smaller tape means a more compact, lighter, convenient tape for carrying. Additionally, this model also has a inch and Both metric and standard units of measurement are applicable for this tape measure, therefore it can be used as a global device. Too bad, because there best woodworkers tape measure journal a glimmer of mutual attraction. Load More Comments. The extra weight on wider blades helps, but a stronger spring hinders.

Installed, it gives better hold at every angle than any of the others in our test. Ergonomics on tape measures are less about the weight and more about how naturally they fit in your hand.

DeWalt, Lufkin, and Milwaukee all have an excellent fit with a standard tape measure grip. As you compare the number of points each tape earns to it price, you begin to lose value as you go up in price.

We asked each manufacturer for their toughest tapes rather than their most feature-rich. But there are also times when you might not want it. For the times that you do, Klein, Milwaukee, and Ox have it.

Nylon coating on the blade helps reduce the amount of wear that eventually starts rusting and peeling away. Milwaukee and Klein have finger stop brakes on the bottom to help you control the return of your blade.

Klein, Lufkin, Milwaukee, Ox, and Ridgid print on both sides of the blade. Love it or hate it, auto lock mechanisms stop the tape as you extend it rather than forcing you to use the thumb lock.

Empire and Stanley have this feature. Some of these tapes give you a little more bang for your buck with additional scales for certain applications. Klein gives electricians a conduit bending multiplier. Empire, Ox, and Ryobi give you fractional printing to take some of the guesswork out of reading the tape.

Its compact size helps in the ergonomics department but hurts it a bit in standout and throw. The only glaring concern is that the wire belt clip is too small. Other than that, it settles in nicely to the middle ground in our other categories. On the clock, Kenny dives deep to discover the practical limits and comparative differences for all kinds of tools.

Off the clock, his faith and love for his family are his top priorities, and you'll typically find him in the kitchen, on his bike he's an Ironman , or taking folks out for a day of fishing on Tampa Bay.

The inch level is great on its own, offering large easy-view bubbles for making sure your pictures and shelves are perfectly level. A stud finder integrated into a level? Too bad that quality takes a back seat to price nowadays. I hate the DeWalt XP tape! The blade lock switch is also ridiculously tight.

Hey guys the dewalt xts model is made at Stanley in new britain ct. I know i put the laminating process on them. Read the back of the packaging card. What is the best measuring tape in terms of blade durability? Most of what I measure is closed at both ends so this is basically unavoidable height of kitchen backsplashes for tiling. Thanks for recommendations. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly.

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It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. Chances are that if we repeated the test several more times, it would do better. Read the Review here. While we were able to clearly see what was going on inside, drop after drop, the mechanisms kept working.

If Empire goes to work on the outer housing, this could end up being one of the toughest tapes out there. Ox checks off most of the major categories for a Pro level tape measure. With mid- to upper-level results from start to finish, Stanley FatMax is still a reliable name to turn to. The question that remains is how well that finish will hold up over time.

A step higher in durability might put it in contention at the top. Where it can fill the relatively small gap to 1st place is by picking up some additional standout and a little improvement for better side grip on the hook. Otherwise, it goes toe to toe with 1st place. Want more? Join our newsletter and get the latest tool reviews every week! Tags: tape measure. About The Author. Kenny Koehler On the clock, Kenny dives deep to discover the practical limits and comparative differences for all kinds of tools.

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Please read and accept our website Terms and Privacy Policy to post a comment. Newest Oldest Most Voted. Inline Feedbacks. Allan Crawford. View Replies 5. Ann Marie Alspaugh. The end hook of the tape is also triple riveted for extended life. At over one pound, the Komelon PG85 is the heaviest tape measure on this list so far. This foot tape measure has a tape lock as well as a one-touch pause button on the side. A four-rivet sliding end hook will stay in place for years without rusting or corroding.

We found ourselves using the pause button on the side more often than the lock. The magnetic hook helps the tool grip steel studs for easy measurement, and the claw moves our way so you can get a more precise measurement. The paint on ours also kept chipping off, creating a yellow glitter, and the edges warp more and more every day, making it hard to get a correct measurement.

None ever cracked or shattered while on the job. You can usually pull the tape out about ten feet before it buckles, allowing one person to take many measurements that would otherwise require two people. It has the standard foot total reach, and all unit markings are easy to read.

There are no fraction markings, only ticks, so you will need keen eyesight to work with fractions on this model which is essential for woodworking. In a few models, the retracting spring broke, forcing us to manually re-insert the tape. It is also extremely difficult to get out of the package when you first buy it. The double-edged magnetic hook is great for grabbing steel studs, and the large numbers are easy to read from a distance, even in low light.

The housing is a durable ABS plastic with a molded rubber cover for a better grip and added shock absorption. Though the tape is wider on the Swanson Tool SVPS25M1, it still wrinkled pretty quickly along the edges, especially the first ten inches. Check Latest Price The Task Tools TR ProTrak Tape Measure is a foot left-handed measuring tape for left-handed woodworkers or right-handed workers that find it easier to make some markings using the left-handed blade.

The blade is coated in clear nylon to prevent rust, and it has a triple rivet reinforced tip. The impact-resistant case is durable and can withstand a fall or two. The reason the Task Tools TR is at the bottom of our list is that it is a massive tape measure weighing more than two pounds, and despite that, the tape inside is extremely thin and is hard to use.

It developed creases quickly while we were using it and the edged became warped as well. It was among the quickest on our list to wear out, and for some reason, they put the belt clip on the wrong side for a left-handed model.

Most tape measures are 25 feet long as that seems to be the industry standard, though other lengths do exist. It seems simple to lock the blade in place so you can take the measurement, but too many models provide a weak or hard to use locking mechanism. You also need to slow the blade down as it retracts, or you risk cutting yourself and adding unnecessary wear to the delicate tip.

We tried to list any models in our reviews that did not have a good locking and braking mechanism. Most of the blades on our list are about one inch wide. You can pull wider blades out further before they bend, which is an important feature when you work alone. Of course, thickness also counts, but you can usually pull a one-inch wide blade out about seven feet before it bends. Depending on what type of woodworking you are doing, you may require a tape measure with metric markings as well as the American Imperial system of feet and inches.

Many tape measures offer this feature, and we tried to list the ones on our list that do. You can count on that you are going to drop your tape measure repeatedly.

Unfortunately, the durable steel cases of yesteryear have all but vanished, and you are going to need to rely on polypropylene plastic.

Though it sounds bad, many of these units are quite durable, and some have a rubber coating that helps absorb some shock and adds durability. You will see that many brands add extra rivets to the tip in an effort to make it more stable and durable. Slowing down the blade before it fully retracts can dramatically extend the life of your tape measure. We also recently published an article where we showcase our favorite digital tape measures, it can be found here.

It features a durable high impact case, thick blade, and clear markings. The lock is a little rough, but it holds firm and does not wear down over time. This model provides you with a durable locking tape measure with easy to read numbers and some unique features like an erasable notepad and an onboard pencil sharpener. We hope you have enjoyed reading over these tape measure reviews and found them helpful for finding your nest tool.

If you have found your next tool, please share these ten best measuring tapes for woodworkers on Facebook and Twitter. Ed Malaker Last updated: December 15, Check Latest Price. Difficult to lock in place. Numbers wear off.

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