These also serve as precise straight edges to aid in laying down pencil and chalk lines and other markings. The blades come in colours that make the numbers easy to read and often display measurements in both metric and imperial units. Browse measuring tools such as tape measures and levelsthat feature magnets to attach to metal surfaces for added versatility and convenience.
A tape measure is effectively a flexible ruler that is usually sprung on a retractable mechanism for easy storage, helping to measure the distance or size of any space or object. With linear-measured markings usually covering a number of different scales, a measuring tape can be many different materials. Flexible fabric options are great for accurate measurements across circular or jagged surfaces. Measure tapes often have a floating tang or hook at the end, sometimes magnetic, to secure them in place when in use which is ideal if working alone or in awkward spaces. Tape measures are often designed for specific uses or trades. Tapes may have different scales, be made of different materials, and be of different lengths depending on the intended use.
Tape measures that were intended for use in tailoring or dressmaking were made from flexible cloth or plastic. These types of tape measures were mainly used for the measuring of the subject's waist line. Today, measuring tapes made for sewing are made of fiberglass, which does not tear or stretch as easily. This type of tape measure will have a floating tang or hook on the end to aid measuring. A tape measure of 25 or even 100 feet can wind into a relatively small container. The self-marking tape measure allows the user an accurate one hand measure.
The Series 100 is our premium professional quality tape. We took everything we've learned about tape measures and poured it into this one. The Series 100 has a nylon-coated blade for durability with wide-read numbers and easy-read inch fractions printed throughout its length. Inches are shown in both consecutive format and as a function of feet. You'll find 1/32″ graduations for the first foot and 1/16″ for the remainder. Flip the blade over and you'll also find vertically-reading metric graduations, with decimeters marked in red.
A dual-hooked magnetic endpiece allows you to use either side of the blade to take measurements. The strong magnetic endpiece adheres securely to metal surfaces, and even gives inch and metric measurements on its two vertical spires. A frontside lock and an underside pause button give effortless tape control while keeping fingers clear of the tape. A substantial rubber jacket with grip-bumps provides shock absorption and secure ergonomics in the hand. Whether you're a tradesman, hobbyist, or general DIYer, this is the tape you will use for years. We can print your 1-color logo on this tape in quantites as small as 50.
A tape measure is a tool that allows you to measure an object or distance and has many features than just measuring. Measuring tapes can be made of cloth, plastic, fiberglass, or a metal strip. All of them have equally spaced markings indicating a measurement. It can be commonly found in toolboxes, belt clips, and some are small enough to fit in your pocket. Many tradespeople and surveyors use tape measures daily and depending on the one you have the scale may vary. Some tape measures can be only imperial while some have both imperial and metric units.
Most standard tape measures in the U.S. have markings that measure down to 1/16 of an inch. These are smaller, sometimes thinner markings, evenly spaced between the half-inch and inch marks on a tape measure. On some tapes, quarter inch marks are the same size as eighth-inch marks. Remember that two sixteenths of an inch equals one eighth, two eighths of an inch equals one quarter, and 2 quarters equals one half. For example, the second eighth-inch marking after the inch marking is a quarter inch.
Reading a tape measure correctly is a necessary skill when taking on DIY projects. Tape measures are available in both standard or imperial units and in metric units. Plus, you'll learn some tips and tricks for using this tool to get precise measurements. A tape measure usually has two different measurement systems on it. This is a mix of the inch system and the metric system.
Most manufacturers have opted to use both systems, for whatever reason. Even though modern-day measurements are usually taken in inches, some do not, so the calibrations stay. The top half of a tape measure is usually in inches, broken into eighth and sixteenth of an inch increments.
The bottom half of the tape is divided into centimeters and millimeters. The large numbers on the top represent inches, while the little marks between the numbers represent increments of an inch mentioned earlier. For example, a 16-foot tape measure has 16-1 foot markers across the top and inch marks .
The Easiest To Read Digital Tape Measure has an LCD screen that makes it faster and easier than ever to get measurements from the tape. Equipped with a large, easy-to-read 1.75" x .75" digital display screen, you won't have to squint to read tiny lines on the tape. It measures standard or metric, showing feet, inches, centimeters, decimals and fractions. Features 2 memory functions, U.S. and metric units, center line calculation, blade lock and re-zero option. You will get two nice tape measures in this package from LEXIVON.
The case of the tape measure is made of hard ABS plastic with a rubber boot for protection against impact and firm grip. The tape of this tool is wide, 1 inch, and both metric and imperial units are available with easy-to-read fractional markings. It is coated with nylon for protection against wear and tear. The dual scale measuring tape CMHT37226S from CRAFTSMAN includes both metric and imperial units. The measure tape high contrast markings are easy to read. The end hook is attached to the tape using three rivet joints.
Once the tape is extracted from the case for measurement, it will remain locked to that position, thanks to the self locking mechanisms. In some countries such as the UK, tape measures have both Imperial and Metric measurement markings. Until recently in the US, for example, all tape measures were in Imperial units, however the dual standard option is becoming more widely available.
Reading a tape measure is a skill you can easily master. Using this small, sturdy hand tool can improve the accuracy of your project measurements. Learning how to use a tape measure properly means to always "measure twice, cut once." You can use a standard tape measure or opt for a metric one.
How To Read A Tape Measure In Mm The Home Depot delivers online orders when and where you need them. We've owned and used this standard tape measure for years and have been very happy with it. Once you learn what the markings mean (see our next section!) this type of measuring tape will be easy to read too. The nice thing about them is the 1″ marks are much larger and easier to read than the easy read tape measure option discussed above. A standard tape measure will have all the same markings as an easy read measuring tape, but will only have labels for the large 1″ marks. This is typically why people new to reading measuring tapes find it hard to know what measurement they're actually looking at.
The idea of taking and keeping measurements predates ancient civilizations like Egyptians and Romans. The first historical record of reading measure tape was by the Romans using marked strips of leather. Taking accurate physical measurements is crucial for any projects like surveying, construction, garments, mechanical projects, etc. The modern measurement system was devised by an English bishop, John Wilkins in 1668, and the spring return pocket tape measure was invented by William H. Bangs in 1864. With the advancement of cutting edge technologies, the measure tape read has already entered into the digital age with digital measure tape.
A tape measure, or measuring tape is a type of hand tool typically used to measure distance or size. It is like a much longer flexible ruler consisting of a case, thumb lock, blade/tape, hook, and sometimes a belt clip. A tape measure will have imperial readings, metric readings or both. They are a common measuring tool used in both professional trades and simply around the home.
Building and construction practice calls for all measurements to be made in millimeters . These are the smallest unit on the tape measure scale, and are also marked with the smalles hash mark along the edge. As they are so small, they are generally not individually numbered on tape measures.
Ten millimeters make up a centimeter and these are marked with a number, and a bigger hash mark. Every tenth centimeter is highlighted, so they can be easily picked out. A hundred centimeters make up a meter , which is again clearly marked on a tape measure with a hash mark that will extend across the width.
Flexible, vinyl measuring tapes are typically used for sewing and fabric, but I've used them for measuring round objects in our DIY or home improvement projects before as well. Like the standard tape measures, these only label the 1″ marks along the tape and require you to understand how to read a tape measure. An easy read tape measure has the most dimension details on the tape, making the reading of your measurement easier to recognize and quite possibly quicker. This Spec Ops 16' Tape Measure boasts military grade composite housing and MIL-X coating on the tape which makes it two times more durable than ordinary tapes. The tape itself is 16' long but the case is 20% more compact than standard tape measures. The 10' standout of the tape is convenient when you are working alone.
The 1-¼" tape also provides the highest visibility and contrast with a bright, white blade for precise measurement reading and marking in dark spaces. Fractional markings are clearly printed on both sides of the wide tape so that you can take accurate measurements without error. In general, a tape measure or measuring tape refers to a flexible ruler used to measure size or distance. The tape is marked with linear measurement markings at regular intervals. The materials used to make measuring tapes are ribbons of cloth, plastic, fiberglass, or metal strips.
You will see a foot designation marked every 12 inches . To read a measuring tape, line the zero mark up at the edge of the item you're measuring, then stretch the tape all the way across the item. Try to keep the tape straight to ensure an accurate measurement! Then, look at the point where the tape meets the end of the item you're measuring and read the nearest large number.
The large numbers are the units you're measuring, like inches or centimeters, and the markings between the large numbers correspond to fractions of that unit. Just as you would with a retractable tape measure, look for the spot where the end of the object or distance you're measuring lines up with the tape measure. If the tape measure stretches exactly halfway between the 27 and 28 inch markings, this means that your arm is 27.5 inches long. The lines on a tape measure are simple to read once one understands what they represent. The longest lines represent the number of inches from the beginning of whatever space is measured.
This is usually a different color than the other numbers. The bigger marks between each inch mark represent one-half of an inch. The markings between each half-inch mark represent a quarter of an inch, while the markings between each quarter-inch represents 1/8 of an inch. Between these 1/8 inch marks are 1/16 inch marks, with some tape measures breaking the inch down into 32nds and even 64ths.
In the United States, measurements are usually presented in inches , feet, and yards. Most other regions use the metric system, millimeters, centimeters, and meters. It is a good idea to familiarize yourself with both types of tape measure. You may often come across European products and guides, using the metric system. Though the basic principle of reading a tape measure, and using one correctly, is universal. The sale of dual Metric/US Customary scale measuring tapes is slowly becoming common in the United States.
For example, in some Walmarts there are Hyper Tough brand tapes available in both US customary units and Metric units. So, the inclusion of a metric scale requires the measuring device either to contain 3 scales of measurement or the elimination of one of the US Customary scales. For different types of trade, tape measures may differ also in design and construction materials. For tailoring or dressmaking, the tape measures are made of flexible cloth or plastic and are referred to as sewing tape.
Modern sewing tapes utilize fiberglass to prevent wear and tear. Flexible measuring tapes are essential to take the measure of curved shapes like waste lines or chests. To write the measurement, the task will be easy if the object measures in approximate inch-values. However, if there is deviance from 1-inch markings to smaller ones, keep a calculator handy to add the fractions.
Or display the might of your mental math for accurate tape measurement values. In addition to the easy read and standard tape measures discussed above, there are a few other non-traditional measuring tapes you can use for projects too. Reading a metric tape measure is pretty much the same as the method described above, just with fewer steps and not as much calculation involved. You start by identifying the closest numeric mark to the point you're measuring, starting with the largest unit. You then count the number of millimeters from the centimeter marking to the point you're measuring.
When reading a tape measure, you start by identifying the largest unit, this would be feet or inches, indicated by a number. Identify the inch marking closest to the point you're measuring. Finally, you'll count the ¹⁄₈" and ¹⁄₁₆" lines from the last inch, ½", or ¼".
Essentially, you're counting markings from the largest unit down to the smallest. Measuring tapes provide the precision you need for any construction or installation project. Look for convenient features such as blades with large, easy-to-read numbers as well as those with both metric and Imperial measurements.
