Tape Measure Tips - Getting The Most Out of Your Tape
how23rd June 2015
As the UK’s only dedicated tape measure specialists, the team here at The Tape Store have put together this handy guide, packed full of useful tape measure tips; clever little snippets that will help you use your tape more accurately, more creatively and more often.
We’ve put all our favourite tape tips together here in one place, a tape measure treasure trove, if you will. We know there will be tips here to suit all users, from casual DIYers right through to professional tradesmen and engineers. If you’ve got a hint or tip that you think others will find useful we’d love to hear about it!
Long Distances or Inside Corners
It can be tricky to get your tape into a corner to take an accurate measurement. Rather than bending the tape to fit or, worse, guessing at the length take two inside measurements instead. Make a roughly central mark on the object and measure from the mark to one side, then from the mark to the other side. Add the two together for an accurate corner to corner reading.
The same method can be used to measure all sorts of longer than average objects... anything that’s longer than your tape measure. Obviously, the alternative would be to use a longer tape measure (!) or even a laser measure.
Remember Your Place
If you regularly take long measurements it can be easy to lose your place on the tape. Whilst some tape measures display their measurements in centimetres (i.e. 1m = 100), others simply ‘start again’ after the metre mark (i.e. 70, 80, 90, 1m, 10, 20 etc.). To get around this simply take a fine-tip permanent marker pen and mark the metre every 20cm (e.g. 1m 20cm, 1m 40cm, 2m 80cm). This helps you keep track of exactly where you are and prevents misreading. You can also do this with imperial measurements and achieve the same results.
Taking Measurements Upside Down
Wherever possible, try to keep the markings/numbers on your tape's blade facing towards you when measuring. When that’s not possible, realise that the 16 you just measured may have actually been 91... so double check! Whilst this seems an unlikely mistake to make you'd be amazed by how often people make it.
V for Victory - Marking Your Measurements
Don’t use a line or an ‘X’ when marking out your measurements - use a ‘V’ for improved visibility and accuracy. The exact measurement is the point where to two lines meet. Other marks can cause confusion as to just where that critical point should be, e.g. top, middle or bottom of a line?
Quick Sharp - A ‘Tip’ About Pencils
A blunt pencil can add millimetres to your reading so always use a sharp pencil to mark out measurements. Carpenters pencils, despite their name, aren’t really sharp enough for truly accurate measurements. Make a pencil sharpener a permanent feature of your toolbox – a Stanley knife (other brands are available!) simply won’t get the point sharp enough.
Drawing Straight Lines
Need to draw a straight line? Simply turn the blade over and use it as a ruler. Alternatively, why not consider the revolutionary BMIMeter from German manufacturer BMI? A tape measure and ruler all in one!
Working Flat Out - Improving Measurement Accuracy
Try to ensure that the tape markings are flat against the bench/object to be measured when marking out your measurements. The blade is naturally curved which can cause misreadings so gently pressing it flat or tilting the blade to one side slightly will improve the accuracy of your measurements.
Use a Pencil to Mark the Blade
It’s a little known fact that the coating on most pocket tapes allows the user to write directly onto the blade with a pencil. When fitting one object into another, such as a window into a frame, prevent errors by making a pencil mark on the back of the tape, indicating the actual dimension of the object.
Perfect Circles - Marking Out Circles
A handy tip used by haberdashers all over the world - put a nail through the notch in the hook or a pin through the tape to create a pivot. ‘Walk’ the tape in a circle with one hand and use the other to mark pencil dots at intervals. The dots can be joined in a circle once completed. Make sure you do this carefully and ask the tape owner’s permission before potentially vandalising their tape!
An alternative method would be to use a marking tape measure such as the Hultafors Talmeter or the BMI Viso.
Setting Out Joists
This is where the mystery ‘black diamonds’ or joist marks come in handy. Explained in more detail earlier in this guide, these are found at 16” / 40cm centres along the blade and indicate the correct position of your next joist.
Burn an Inch
Whilst some more advanced tape measures features a clear plastic end hook, the majority don’t. If the hook is preventing you from taking an accurate measurement, simply roll the blade over slightly so that the markings are touching the bench/object, move up the blade and start your measurement from 10cm or 1”. Then just add that amount onto your final measurement once finished.
Written by Ian Johnson