Old Shop Tip for New Makers

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I periodically check my tape measures in the shop for accuracy or really for consistency. If you have multiple tape measures you need to check them for consistency. A tape measure has a tab on the end that has play in it. The play should be the exact width of the tab. This tab moves to compensate for inside measurements vs outside measurement. Check your tape measure tab is straight and square. Dropping your tape measure can cause the tab to bend and/or not have the play in it for accurate measurement. In the pic you can see all 4 of mine line up at 12 inches. If one is off and you use two different tape measures you will miss measure a project. When possible try to use the same tape measure for the duration of a project for consistency. But I do a lot of cutting outside to rough length and bring the piece inside to cut to final length on table saw.

If you have multiple tape measures around the shop gather them up and inspect them for function and consistency and save your self some trouble.

The same is true for digital calipers, measure the same object on all your digital calipers to make sure they measure the same. Also clean the sliding tracks and remove dust or saw dust.

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Yeah, there’s a great bit on this in the book House by Tracy Kidder.

(moral of the story, inspect your tape measure if it ever gets dropped, even when doing rough carpentry)

I’ve always thought that someone needs to make some sort of magnetic/suction/spring-loaded sticky tape device which attaches to the end of a tape measure and which will verify that the hook is in good shape and which can be used for awkward measuring situations — make it the same length as the case and you could make the far end direct measuring w/ no need to deduct for the case.

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