Stanley 033932 Powerlock Tape 5m Top Reader

Product Information

Wear clothing that fits well. Loose clothing or accessories can get caught in a tool’s moving parts, which could result in dire consequences. Cheap drill bits do not cut well when they are brand new and don’t cut cleanly either. It will make the job slower and more difficult. It can be challenging to identify if a cheap drill bit is doing a good job because they can work great on lighter materials. Once you go to use it on the heavier stuff, however, you will run into an array of issues that will frustrate you. PPE (Personal Protective Equipment) With a rubbery outermolding, this tape measure is easy to grip and resistant to damage if dropped, although it might be a bit large for those with small hands. We tested both the 16-foot and 25-foot models and found this tape measure to be very easy to read, with big, bold markings on both sides of the blade. Measurements are indicated down to 1/16ths of an inch, with additional markings to show stud and joist spacings. The entire length of the 1-1/4-inch-wide blade is coated for sturdiness, but the first 6 inches have an additional rip-shield coating to ward off kinks or damage. The standout of the 16-foot version was around 12 feet and the 25-foot model was only slightly longer at around 13 feet in our tests. After our drop test, the tape measure had no visible damage, and the tape functioned the same after each drop. Do not use electric tools in wet conditions unless they are approved for that use. If you must work in wet conditions, always ensure you have good balance and are unlikely to slip.

The dual-sided hook helps keep the blade in place when measuring without an assistant. The belt clip easily attaches to a belt or strap, but this measuring tape is a bit bulky for the designated tape measure holder on some tool pouches. Overall, we found this to be a very accurate, durable, and useful tape measure for professionals, DIYers, and around-the-house users alike. Cased tape measures are the most familiar type, and the type we tested at our lab. These tape measures have a retractable blade marked with imperial or metric measurements, and a case that’s made of plastic or metal. This type of tape measure is a must-have in your toolkit and is useful for most measuring tasks around the home.The Irwin Strait-Line is a top option for any tool collection.

How To Measure The Hall, Stairs & Landing For Flooring

A tape measure is one of the most important tools you can have in your home and can keep you from making a lot of purchasing fails,” says Kimberly Greenwell, a home education expert and host of the TV show "My Southern Home." “It will allow you to make sure the sofa fits perfectly against the wall and the dishwasher slides perfectly into the cabinetry. A DIYer who wants to install hardwood floors in their home will need a tape measure to accurately determine the room’s square footage, to calculate the price, and keep them on budget.” The window isn't actually upside down - it's designed to be that way. When taking left to right measurements you don't need to use the window as you read the measurements directly off the blade. When taking right to left measurements you use the window, at which point the window is the right way up. All things considered, this double-sided tape measure is a reliable option for homeowners who need something compact and easy to read for smaller projects. When taking internal measurements (i.e. from the inside edge of an object such as between one internal wall and another) the hook can be pushed against the object (e.g. skirting board) providing an accurate measurement.

Some tape measures have a magnetic hook, which is useful when measuring steel or other magnetic metal items but can potentially be a nuisance, as the magnet can attach itself to various nearby metal items other than what you want to measure. The DEWALT Tough Series has a removable magnetic tip, so you can take it off when not needed. There is a long list of brands that excel in specific tools, but don’t do so well with others. One company that is fantastic across the board is Screwfix. Cheaper brands, such as those you would find in high street bargain stores, will have been mass-produced with lower grade materials which allow the low price tag. Though that may sound good for your bank account, you will soon discover you have a tape measure that slices your fingers, screwdrivers that don’t fit in the cross slot of a screw and a hammer grip that is slipping from the handle.The Stanley FatMax is a quality investment, especially for professionals who need a tape measure that stands up to the rigor of everyday use. The fully coated blade adds to the durability and extends the life of the tape measure. After our drop test, the tape measure worked perfectly, suffering only minor dings and scratches to the case. Abrasion resistant polyester film coated blade coating provides up to 10 times more resistance to abrasion than a standard lacquered blade, increasing the life of the tape and reducing wear on most heavily used sections of the blade. The fact that you no longer need to bend the blade to take accurate measurements means that significantly less stress is placed on the blade. This plus the Mylar coating of this tape measure's blade means that it could last up to ten times longer than a conventional, lacquered blade. Read on for the latest trade insights, national news stories and product updates that affect our customers. When looking at the image above, the 1st small mark after the 4cm point denotes a measurement of 41mm. The next small mark in line would be 42mm, the next would be 43mm and so on. 41mm can also be referred to as 4.1cm (0.041m) but the majority of trades in the UK do tend to quote measurements in milimetres. How to Read an Imperial Tape Measure

Whilst the seasoned professionals amongst you will no doubt be fully aware how to read the various markings on your tape, there will be amateurs, enthusiasts or those just starting off in their careers who aren’t yet so knowledgeable. We regularly get asked the question “how do you read a tape measure”. In response to our customers, therefore, we’ve put together this simple guide that explains just that! When shopping for a tape measure, one of the most important things to consider is its blade. “The ‘blade’ is the part of the tape measure that has the measurements on it,” says Jantz. “It is the ‘tape’ in a tape measure.” Different brands offer blades of various lengths, with 25 feet being the most common. However, there are other sizes available such as 16 feet, 35 feet, and even 100 feet. Consider the types of projects you’ll need the tape measure for, and choose a blade length based on that. When it comes to choosing a tape measure, don’t automatically assume that the longer, the better. The most common length for a cased tape measure is 25 feet, which is long enough to measure the average room’s walls or floors, yet not so long that it’s unwieldy or overly heavy. But there are shorter tape measures for those only needing the tool for small tasks like measuring a piece of furniture, looking for the right spot to drive a nail to hang a picture, or centering a television. And of course, there are also much longer tape measures that come in handy when measuring floors or walls in large rooms or outdoor areas. Other than 25 feet, the most common sizes are 12, 16, 30, and 35 feet.There are also differences in terms of blade markings: Some tapes will have fraction marks and others will have line markings instead. You can also find digital tape measures that have built-in lasers, which are good for long distances and for the times you need more accurate measurements. This Stanley Fatmax tape measure features large font numbers and blade markings that are easy to read against its yellow tape. Our testers felt it was uncomplicated to distinguish between each increment so measurements are more accurate. Many bargain footwear suppliers offer work boots for a fantastic price. But these are often not steel toe capped, do not have anti-fatigue soles and won’t protect your feet against liquids or extreme heat. In fact, some boots that look the part may as well be a pair of sandals if a hammer or power tool was to drop on your foot.

When working at heights, never leave tools lying out in the areas where they could present a hazard to the people below.As for the blade width, around 1 inch is best. Thinner than that, and the blade can be flimsy. Wider, and you may find the tape measure too bulky or difficult to retract. The body is covered with a rubber material that makes it comfortable to hold and cushions the tape from damage. This tape measure was unphased by our drop test, with testers describing it as “rugged and well-made.” For both the 16-foot and 25-foot sizes, we were pleasantly surprised that the standout was much longer than we originally thought (11 feet and just over 13 feet, respectively). We also found it to be accurate for outside and inside measurements, which are notoriously difficult to get right. When you are finished using a compression tool like a nail gun, make sure that the pressure is released before you break the hose connections. The standout of a tape measure is how far the blade will stretch without bending or collapsing, explains Jantz. For long distances or for measuring high ceilings, it’s always beneficial to use a tape measure that has extended reach. A long standout is also good if you are working solo: “It allows one person to measure longer distances without having to have a second person available to hold the other end of the tape measure,” says Jantz. Units of Measurement