tape measure : Computer Hardware Buyers’ Glossary

Considerations

If you buy a tape measure, here are some things to consider:

• Is it brightly coloured so it will be difficult to misplace it in plain sight? Some are plain black, but most are yellow, red, orange, blue and even green. Some are metals such as chrome.
• How long is it?
• How wide is it? If it is extra wide, it will standout still for perhaps ten feet. That means you can measure things without having to secure the tip. If it is thin, it will be less bulky and will weigh less.
• When you hold the canister in your right hand and pull the tape out to the left, how are the numbers oriented? There are four possibilities. Most commonly they are up the way most right-handed people prefer them.
• Does it have calibrations in inches, centimeters or both with metric on top or imperial on top?
• It is small enough to slip into a pocket?
• Does the tape automatically lock when extended until you press the release button?
• Does it have a digital readout? Sometimes this feature is deceptively touted as laser tape. In reality, there is no laser, just a traditional tape with a digital LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) readout, perhaps easier to read than the tape itself, perhaps more difficult depending on the lighting and your eyesight. However, Stanley and Skil each make true tapeless laser measuring devices. Skil’s 0530 AA laser unit can measure from 0.2 to 20 metres with a measuring accuracy ± 3.0mm. This would be ideal for measuring room sizes, even very large rooms. Skil’s 0520 AD ultrasonic unit is not as accurate with a range of 0.5 to 15 metres with accuracy ± 0.5%.
• Does it have an unusually durable coating? This is useful for outdoor construction where the tape can get dirty or gritty.
• Primarily what you pay for is increased durabilty. This is important if you use the tape on the job. It is not that important if you just do a few measurements a year. My personal needs are rather modest. I got an inexpensive Lufkin 25’ Classic model HVC725CME. My only complaint with it is it is a big bigger and heavier than I would like. It is a nice fiery shade of orange, less likely to hide like my old one is doing.

Manufacturers

Common manufacturers include:

1. Lufkin (95 models)
2. Stanley (62 models)
3. MasterCraft (21 models) [Canadian Tire house brand]
4. Kobalt (19 models) [Lowe’s house brand].
5. Skil (5 models)
6. Komelon
7. Tekton

Futures

When you walk into a hardware store, there are scores of models of tape measure to choose from. Except for length and width, few are labeled with any information to help you tell them apart. I would like it if manufacturers would host an app on their website to help you decide the optimal model for you. It would ask you a number of questions and then present you with models that match your requirements. The app could also explain the benefits and drawbacks of various choices. You could also run the app on a cell phone, limiting it to the models a particular retailer carries.

In similar way, a retailer could offer this app at kiosks and on cell phones for his customers for all his brands and products that have this overwhelm problem.

The manufacturers should compose a set of questions about their models they can answer with a or or a word or number. The questions should be so-designed that no two models have an identical set of answers. They should post the answers on their website and also print them on the back of the card that comes with each tape.

Shopping for a Tape Measure

electronic link to Stanley 25-Feet FatMax Tape Measure model 33-725

	recommend electronic⇒Stanley 25-Feet FatMax Tape Measure model 33-725
	asin	B00002PV66
Also comes is 16, 30, 35 and 40 feet. Tape is 1.25” wide. First 6 feet reinforced with BladeArmor coating for maximum durability. 11 foot tape standout. Mylar polyester film. Limited lifetime warranty. Specs.
Online electronic stores carrying Stanley 25-Feet FatMax Tape Measure model 33-725 amazon.com bestbuy.ca amazon.ca canadacomputers.com amazon.de ncix.ca amazon.es newegg.ca amazon.fr www.staples.ca amazon.it tigerdirect.ca amazon.co.uk bestbuy.com junglee.com ncixus.com other stores newegg.com www.staples.com tigerdirect.com
Greyed out stores probably do not have the item in stock

electronic link to Skil 0520 AA Ultrasonic Distance Measuring Device

	recommend electronic⇒Skil 0520 AA Ultrasonic Distance Measuring Device
	asin	B0014GS542
Works by timing sonic echos like a bat or an SX-70 Polaroid camera. Range of 0.5 to 15 metres with accuracy ± 0.5%. It is 30% cheaper than the laser model. Specs.
Online electronic stores carrying Skil 0520 AA Ultrasonic Distance Measuring Device amazon.com bestbuy.ca amazon.ca canadacomputers.com amazon.de ncix.ca amazon.es newegg.ca amazon.fr www.staples.ca amazon.it tigerdirect.ca amazon.co.uk bestbuy.com junglee.com ncixus.com other stores newegg.com www.staples.com tigerdirect.com
Greyed out stores probably do not have the item in stock

electronic link to Skil 0530 Laser Measurer

	recommend electronic⇒Skil 0530 Laser Measurer
	asin	B000NLZ09W
Works my measuring the time for a laser beam to reflect off a surface. Measures 0.2 to 20 metres with a measuring accuracy ± 3.0mm. This would be ideal for measuring room sizes, even very large rooms. Specs
Online electronic stores carrying Skil 0530 Laser Measurer amazon.com bestbuy.ca amazon.ca canadacomputers.com amazon.de ncix.ca amazon.es newegg.ca amazon.fr www.staples.ca amazon.it tigerdirect.ca amazon.co.uk bestbuy.com junglee.com ncixus.com other stores newegg.com www.staples.com tigerdirect.com
Greyed out stores probably do not have the item in stock