This is why I've learned to question everything

[Gizmo]

[DirtyDan]

What was that measurement ?

Dan

[Patrick]

Well heck there is a big difference between 35 and 25 ft !   

[Jess from VA]

I didn't think you guys used inches.

Millimeters and cubits and stuff. 

[Gizmo]

Well measure twice and you'll still get it wrong haha.

BTW, I'm a Brit...really find it hard thinking in litres for gas or metres for length.
And L/100km...wtf...will never get used to that...I still think in mpg (and I've lived in Canada for 30 years!)

[old2soon]

       3/8" IS a big difference what ever yer building. And should you be telling someone else or being told the measurement to cut best both tapes read identical. Is Stanely still built in America? RIDE SAFE.

[f6john]

The difference in the picture is 3/16” . Not good for trim work or much of anything else especially if you have two people working with two different tape measures.

[Willow]

It's contrived.  You can see that the three rivets have been removed and replaced on the shorter first inch.  It was cut off and replaced for the picture.

Measuring tapes are most generally very reliable.   

[Chrisj CMA]

It's contrived.  You can see that the three rivets have been removed and replaced on the shorter first inch.  It was cut off and replaced for the picture.

Measuring tapes are most generally very reliable.   

Carl your post is a perfect segue to what I was getting ready to type. It’s unusual for a tape to be that far off. That’s either a set up like Carl said or a fluke. However, “very reliable” is a relative term. If you just need to know if something is roughly a certain length then yes tapes are usually reliable. But, if you need it to be accurate to 1/32” or even better.....not so much.

When I worked at the cabinet shop we had to present our tapes for accuracy verification every morning. And whenever I buy a new one I test it on my metal 18” ruler. It must be spot on or I won’t use it. You would be surprised how many are 1/16” off. If that’s close enough for you you should never have to worry.

I will always check mine

[ridingron]

If you have one, you think it is right.

If you have two, you're not sure which one is right.   

[Chrisj CMA]

If you have one, you think it is right.

If you have two, you're not sure which one is right.   

That’s why you check them

[DirtyDan]

I didn't think you guys used inches.

Millimeters and cubits and stuff. 

20 years in pipefitting NEVER delt with metric

EVER !

Dan

[Gizmo]

But I hope you use metric on your Valk Dan  ;-)

i have to say though, there is something sweet about only having to remember 14 mm instead of 71/128 inches haha.

20 years in pipefitting NEVER delt with metric

[Jersey mike]

It's contrived.  You can see that the three rivets have been removed and replaced on the shorter first inch.  It was cut off and replaced for the picture.

Measuring tapes are most generally very reliable.   

Carl your post is a perfect segue to what I was getting ready to type. It’s unusual for a tape to be that far off. That’s either a set up like Carl said or a fluke. However, “very reliable” is a relative term. If you just need to know if something is roughly a certain length then yes tapes are usually reliable. But, if you need it to be accurate to 1/32” or even better.....not so much.

When I worked at the cabinet shop we had to present our tapes for accuracy verification every morning. And whenever I buy a new one I test it on my metal 18” ruler. It must be spot on or I won’t use it. You would be surprised how many are 1/16” off. If that’s close enough for you you should never have to worry.

I will always check mine

As a glazier most of our work is to the 1/16..on certain occasions when absolute specific is needed we will get to as close to 1/32 as possible but it’s not a guarantee, too many variables in cutting, edging and finishing glass by hand. I check my tape once a week amd as long as I don’t drop it it’s good to go. The fast snap back to the fully retracted position is what kills those rivets and causes the difference. My tape never leaves my side, it’s either in my hand, on my hip or most of the time back pocket. I’ve been using a Stanley 25’ for decades. Best tape ever.

[cookiedough]

not a huge Stanley fan,   the older tools were o.k. but the newer stuff is all made in CHINA just like most things are nowadays.   In 1993 Stanley sold garage door openers lifetime warrantry on motor I installed had receipt, etc. still,  but when my motor failed me some 6 years ago I called and not in business anymore sold out that line of business so lifetime warranty is worthless if not in business. 

AS far as both tape measures, if you count the marks even the bottom one is off 1/16".  Stanley quality is not very good anymore IMO.

[Gizmo]

AS far as both tape measures, if you count the marks even the bottom one is off 1/16". 

The bottom one is not out. That 16th is to allow for the thickness of the sliding bit at the end which adds a 1/6th if it is pulled out or pushed in.

[sheets]

I believe that is a mismarked Engineers tape measure.
Carpenters measure to the 1/16 of an inch.
Engineers measure by the 100th of an inch.

[ridingron]

I counted 15 little lines per inch on both tapes (from 1" line to 2" line). That makes 16 little spaces.

Engineers would have 9 lines (10 spaces) and a bunch of smaller lines.

[Chrisj CMA]

not a huge Stanley fan,   the older tools were o.k. but the newer stuff is all made in CHINA just like most things are nowadays.   In 1993 Stanley sold garage door openers lifetime warrantry on motor I installed had receipt, etc. still,  but when my motor failed me some 6 years ago I called and not in business anymore sold out that line of business so lifetime warranty is worthless if not in business. 

AS far as both tape measures, if you count the marks even the bottom one is off 1/16".  Stanley quality is not very good anymore IMO.

You’re not allowing for the gap and the foot

[sheets]

My typo error . . . I meant to say 100ths of a "foot".  

Carpenters measure by the fraction of inch (1/16")

Civil engineers measure by the tenth or hundredth of a foot.

[Jersey mike]

not a huge Stanley fan,   the older tools were o.k. but the newer stuff is all made in CHINA just like most things are nowadays.   In 1993 Stanley sold garage door openers lifetime warrantry on motor I installed had receipt, etc. still,  but when my motor failed me some 6 years ago I called and not in business anymore sold out that line of business so lifetime warranty is worthless if not in business. 

AS far as both tape measures, if you count the marks even the bottom one is off 1/16".  Stanley quality is not very good anymore IMO.

I can’t say anything about Stanley garage door openers, I didn’t know they made them. Around her most people typically got the Sears or Liftmaster openers. I did like their hand tops though, I still have a couple,sets,of,Stanley screwdrivers, 2 speed squares, a couple combo squares and I think a 3’ level.

As for Stanley tapes, they’re great. I’ve been using the same housing for close to 15 years and only replace the guts when necessary, last time was 7-8 years ago ( it’s almost time though) and I use this tape every day from measurements less than 6” to measurements up to 24’, it gets a workout.

[Patrick]

But I hope you use metric on your Valk Dan  ;-)

i have to say though, there is something sweet about only having to remember 14 mm instead of 71/128 inches haha.

20 years in pipefitting NEVER delt with metric

Doesn't everyone have both ?  They're such common sizes after-al.   

[semo97]

Need another tape and split the difference. My son builds oil and gas field pumps mostly fracking. These are very large pumps. He does it on a manual and some parts on cnc. He deals with 1/1000 to 1/10000. There is no room for error on a $30,000 block of steel with holes going different directions and angles. He loves his job just hope it doesn't end after Tuesday.

[Jersey mike]

God bless him for having the ability and patience to work with and within those tolerances.

Keep on fracking 

[Gizmo]

God bless him for having the ability and patience to work with and within those tolerances.

Keep on fracking 

I bet many of us still have steel rules with 100ths on them...and we can remember those days when we could actually see them to measure things -)

[Patrick]

God bless him for having the ability and patience to work with and within those tolerances.

Keep on fracking 

I bet many of us still have steel rules with 100ths on them...and we can remember those days when we could actually see them to measure things -)

Ha, I now need those things you slip over the ears and hang on your nose to read those things. But, those things still work. It cracks me up to hear how some folks read them, 2 and 5 of those  marks.