![]() On the end of the tape, there is another little metal tab. If you have a tool bag, sometimes there's a little metal tab on the outside which is specifically designed to fit the clip on your tape measure. On the side of your tape measure, you'll see another handy addition: a springy clip that allows you to hold it on your belt or apron pocket. Make sure not to pull on the tape when it's in the locked position, or eventually the lock will stop working. Simply flip the switch, and it will clamp the tape so it does not retract. But this can get annoying when you're trying to accurately mark your measurement! The tape is coiled around a spring, which pulls it back automatically. The button or sliding switch on the front of the tape measure is the lock. If you've ever measured the length of a room and had the tape flop down after a few feet, you probably had a narrow tape with weak standout. The standout is the distance the tape can reach without bending. It is curved to make it rigid when it's stretched out. The tape is the long metal strip you pull out when taking a measurement. Parts of a tape measureĮvery tape measure has a few essential parts, and learning how they work will make it easier to use! The Tape Please visit my disclosures page for more information. Purchases made through these links may earn me a small commission at no additional cost to you. Classes include professionally produced videos taught by practicing craftspeople, and supplementary downloads like quizzes, blueprints, and other materials to help you master the skills.This post contains affiliate links for your convenience. MT Copeland offers video-based online classes that give you a foundation in construction fundamentals with real-world applications. If you prefer to mark with your right hand and hold your tape measure with your left hand, you can special order a left handed tool. Most stores will only carry tape measures that read correctly while the body is held in your right hand.In a pinch, you can use your tape measure as a straight edge if the mark doesn’t need to be 100% accurate. ![]() If you are measuring alone, tap a nail into the outside edge of the surface and use the hole in the pull tab to anchor the tape to the surface before taking your measurement.This is best done in pairs so get someone to help you out holding the other end and make sure the person reading the measurement knows that the person pulling the tape is burning an inch. Then take the measurement and subtract one inch. Instead of using the pull tab as the edge, place the tape measure so that the one inch line is exactly at the edge of whatever you are measuring. To measure a length as exactly as possible for detailed finishing work or expensive materials where you really only have one shot to get it right, try the “burning an inch” method. ![]() ![]()
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