Tape measures

[LCHIEN]

I have 2 Craftsman Made in U.S.A. tape measures, 39217 and 39215, nearly identical except 20 ft and 16 ft. About 45 years old I figure, one mine and the other was my father's.

still working very well except the thin plastic protective film over the tape is peeling in places.
Even had the blade replacement part number marked on the label. (I checked, no longer available).

16 footer is my go to shop tape measure; the 20 footer is in the kitchen drawer for when I need to measure stuff in the house.

Hefty, steel-encased, All American tape measures! Whee!



I think i may have one more same basic model but with a different tool maker label on it. Found in the yard after a contractor worked... in somewhat worse shape.

[Jim Frye]

I've not had such good luck with tape measures. I bought two Lufkin 25' tapes less than 15 years ago. One had the tape tear on one side a few years ago and the other had the brake wear out, so it resides in the garage. I replaced them with two Stanley Fat Max 25' units about five and three years ago. The wider tapes are a lot more stable when extended and easier to use.

[LCHIEN]

Wow a quick look on ebay, used these things are listed for $13 to $30 bucks for 20 ft, $10 to $20 for 16 ft.

[JamesDean19]

Oh, wow! I usually get my blades off of Sawblade.com and it was a 5 or 10 years ago where I'd get a real good quality 25' tape measure for FREE. Unfortunately, they don't do that anymore. I still have it somewhere. I'll send you the picture when I get the chance. Real good quality too.

[Slik Geek]

My old Craftsman tape measure became unreadable at the very end due to wear on the graduations (so I couldn't make short measurements), and the 'hook' on the end had worn the slot in the tape so the accuracy suffered. It was probably about 30-35 years old.

[dbhost]

I remember going to Sears in the Tucson mall when I lived there, and buying some mechanics tools at the tool section. I needed a basic tape measure for setting base toe when doing front end work prior to a proper alignment (that way the wheels are pointing at each other as the shop I worked in didn't have an alignment machine, we farmed out). I bought a Craftsman 25' footer. That was in the fall of 1989.

Still have it, foats around the house measuing all kinds of goofy stuff.

[leehljp]

I have never been able to buy a tape measure without legs! Or at least they grow legs after I buy them!

[capncarl]

Every place that sold tape measures use to sell the replacement tapes. I’ve replaced a few myself, it was quite easy. I can’t recall seeing replacement tapes on the shelves lately?

[capncarl]

Leehljp, I’m pretty sure tape measures have legs! I normally keep 6 12’ tape measures in one spot in my shop so I always have one handy. The past couple of weeks I’ve been installing a cabinet for a tv In the house. Back in the shop to cut a piece of wood I couldn’t find a single tape measure, they had followed me into the house. Yep, got legs!

[LCHIEN]

I really prefer the one tape measure method for measuring, marking and checking just to ensure they all read the same.
I have multiple tape measures around but the final measure, the marking and the checking are all done with one.

[LCHIEN]

Y
ou can get replacement tapes, but they all seem to be eBay and surplus stores or very expensive brands.
I guess tape measures are so cheap its easier to just get a new one. I have Harbor freight ones I got for free in both cars and spare tool boxes.




search for replacement 3/4" Stanley refil:

[LCHIEN]

Hey, these are Craftsman... are they covered by the lifetime handtool warranty?

[capncarl]

Sears use to give you a replacement tape rather than a whole new tape measure. That’s how I learned how quick and easy the replaacement tape was!

[capncarl]

Never throw away an old tape measure. I’ve had a number of tape measures that get a nick in the tape, that’s a good way to loose a hunk of meat when it retracts. Depending on the condition I will cut the tape off and use it for a ruler. I keep an 18” er on the table saw fence and have various lengths strowed throughout the shop. Much easier than a coil up tape.

[pearson]

My last one got from the nearest supermarket and have it for years now. I’ve gone through more tape measures than I’d like to admit, and I always end up losing them when I need them most. A friend told me about vevor https://vevor.pissedconsumer.com/review.html tools, and while I haven’t tried them yet, they might be worth looking into for shop stuff that doesn’t need to be fancy but does the job. At this point, I just need one that lasts more than a season.

[LCHIEN]

just passing this along...