Depends what your doing
If you arnt working from plans and always use the same tape it doesn't matter.
- Thread starter Robertthegreat
- Start date
Depends what your doing
If you arnt working from plans and always use the same tape it doesn't matter.
Maker
Most folk just call me; Orange Joe
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I've got a 3m one, I accidently pinched it from college when I was learning bricklaying.
They had a bucket of tapes, some brand new Tylons and loads of shagged rusty pieces of crap, I made sure to hang onto a decent one every week, and then forgot to give it back at the end of the year. That was eight years ago, still use it regularly, I prefer a little baby tape when I can get away with it, the 8m one is much much stiffer though.
grim_d
Unlikeable idiot.
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This old ballocks about class 1 and 2 again.Buy a quality tape measure. They're made better than the "standard" to start with.
We've been over this.
Sadly I don't have the photo of the tapes anymore but it was pretty conclusive.
You might not appreciate the need for 1.2mm difference over 10m but surely you can see how the disconnect between a crap tape measure and a quality (class II or better) can make or break a job?
I got a callback...and was blamed for something that didn't fit....because their cheap crap tape measure was out by 3mm over 300mm.
By the time you got to 5m that tape could easily have been 50mm out... because it wasn't made to a standard.
These standards are necessary for any metrology equipment to ensure relative consistency across the board.
For reference I 99% of the time use the two for £8 Stanley tylons because I find them excellent value and consistent..so it's not like I'm being a tape snob. I have three identical hultafors class I tapes...because they are excellent metric only tapes.
Excellent metric only tapes. (And not because they are class I)
Hultafors TL5M Tri-Lok Tape 5m - Class 1 | Tape Measures | The Tape Store
Buy the Hultafors TL5M Tri-Lok Tape 5m at The Tape Store - the UK's tape measure specialist. A high specification, Class 1 accurate, metric only, 5m tape measur
www.thetapestore.co.uk
Munkul
Jack of some trades, Master of none
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I can tell you that I've compared plenty of tapes and never had one with any noticeable discrepancy. I know they exist, but I personally haven't found any issues with the tapes I've played with.
(I don't even look at cheap nasty tapes so maybe that helps)
3mm over 300mm is a MASSIVE error, that's not built to any "class" standard whatsoever. That's not any sort of argument for the class I vs class II debate. That's just basic quality control to start with.
A tape measure is an inherently inaccurate way to measure something. Where do i start? The moving hook? The rivets holding the hook? The sag in the tape? The accumulative wear each time you drag it across something?
I can tell you this for certain: A class I tape, used for general purpose, will be damaged within a day or two. 0.3mm accuracy? Give me a break. The first time you hook something and pull on it, you'll get that much in flex.
I'm not saying class I is pointless altogether, but it's pointless for 99% of people. And you're limited to pretty much Fisco and a couple of boutique companies... who obviously thrive on this "class I accuracy" as their tapes have no other selling points... I've never seen a Fisco tape I liked yet.
(OK I like the Fisco surveyors tapes... they're nice)
(I don't even look at cheap nasty tapes so maybe that helps)
3mm over 300mm is a MASSIVE error, that's not built to any "class" standard whatsoever. That's not any sort of argument for the class I vs class II debate. That's just basic quality control to start with.
A tape measure is an inherently inaccurate way to measure something. Where do i start? The moving hook? The rivets holding the hook? The sag in the tape? The accumulative wear each time you drag it across something?
I can tell you this for certain: A class I tape, used for general purpose, will be damaged within a day or two. 0.3mm accuracy? Give me a break. The first time you hook something and pull on it, you'll get that much in flex.
I'm not saying class I is pointless altogether, but it's pointless for 99% of people. And you're limited to pretty much Fisco and a couple of boutique companies... who obviously thrive on this "class I accuracy" as their tapes have no other selling points... I've never seen a Fisco tape I liked yet.
(OK I like the Fisco surveyors tapes... they're nice)
grim_d
Unlikeable idiot.
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Almost all metrology equipment has moving parts, does that also make them inherently inaccurate?
Again it depends what you're measuring, measuring sheet goods? There's going to be negligible wear and no sag, using a tape measure in a situation where it can sag or wear is of course going to introduce error ..that's hardly the fault of the tape.
Where are you getting 0.3mm from? Class I is +/- 1.1mm over 10m at 50N at 20c (according to internetzz) and class ii is +/- 2.3mm over 10m.
Is that 1.2mm difference important? That's up to the user to decide but you can't just run around branding a classification systems "ballocks" because it's not important to you.
What's the issue with people buying better quality equipment than they need? Costs you nothing not does it affect you in any way. I don't need the quality of equipment I have for many things but it certainly is nice to have.
Nobody needs a Bentley but it'd be nice to have...
Munkul
Jack of some trades, Master of none
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I absolutely agree
Standards are necessary, especially with measuring equipment.outside of some niche areas, though, where you're taking great care with those tapes as precision instruments, the standard of class I is just unnecessary and unrealistic.
Take for example, structural steelwork. It's an excercise in delusion if you think a class I tape will be more accurate than a class II, after a month of getting chucked about and dropped.
Maybe a need for a class I tape as a reference dimension during final alignment of precision machines, but not for most jobs. (most fabbers can barely build something to within 5mm, but that's a different problem)
0.3mm within 2m is also part of the class I standard
Sorry you misunderstand me. The class system is perfect, fit for purpose. What isn't, however, is people thinking that you need a class I tape for everything, when often they aren't as well built as the class II competition. That's the bit that annoys me. Some of those Fisco tapes are rubbish. Accurate, but rubbish.
I'm all for buying high quality gear too, by the way...
I just happen to question something that "the forum" thinks is gospel.
grim_d
Unlikeable idiot.
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Would make for an interesting experiment that, to see if general use (not abuse) of a class I tape measure over a month would alter it's accuracy to a point where its class should be altered.
The best tape measure in the world can't make up for crap workers.
0.3mm within 2m is also part of the class I standard
Only if the overall length of the tape is 2m, a 10m tape should be 0.22mm accurate over 2m.
(I searched...I'm not a font of knowledge)
northwest
Searching for the Holy Grail.........
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They look suspiciously like the ones sold by Wurth, which I have found to be excellent.
My favourite folding rule, for carpentry (I have tapes and rulers that measure only inches, brought back by myself from the US). Yes, I am a heathen but I spent a good few years working only in the Imperial system despite serving my time in a Metric only environment. I know, messed with my head it has.
The brass bit slides ad you can get a very accurate internal measurement.
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This old ballocks about class 1 and 2 again.
My ex-GF bought me a sandvik all singing tape measure for xmas, not cheap at £30! To start with the wonderful magnetic hook turned out to be a pita as it collected every bit of swarf & grinding dust it came near.
But unfortunately buying a top brand expensive tape does not guarantee accuracy! This tape is exactly 1mm out, rendering it useless for accurate measurements over any distance.
J1nx
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I’m a fan of the Advent tapes, much more compact than the Stanley Fatmax but that’s a bit more suited to outdoor works.
I also like the BMI meter (not the fatty measure!) for finer stuff, not sure if they do a five meter version but it’s prob a bit fine for that anyway…
I also like the BMI meter (not the fatty measure!) for finer stuff, not sure if they do a five meter version but it’s prob a bit fine for that anyway…
you could keep a 747 with them wings ! ...............
??
Hood
I am obsessed.
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Might as well chime in since it is almost 2 years since I bought a tape and it is still in working condition which is 3 or 4 times longer than the previous best tapes have lasted.
One of these.
One of these.
brightspark
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i have a few irwin 5 m and a few fatmax .. the fatmax were 8 quid and the irwins a fiver each got them while the price is right have another half dozen different make ones as well
got them while the price is right have another half dozen different make ones as wellShame it's not 8m long.
