Self-retracting pocket tape measure

plastic tape measure

A tape measure or measuring tape is a ribbon of cloth, plastic, or metal with linear-measure markings, often in both imperial and metric units. Surveyors use tape measures in lengths on the order of hectometres. It is a convenient, common measuring tool. Its flexibility allows for a measure of great length to be easily carried in pocket or toolkit and permits one to measure around curves or corners. Download high resolution version (1623x393, 108 KB)This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons, a repository of free content hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation. ... Download high resolution version (1623x393, 108 KB)This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons, a repository of free content hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation. ... Download high resolution version (1623x393, 108 KB)This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons, a repository of free content hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation. ... Download high resolution version (1623x393, 108 KB)This is a file from the Wikimedia Commons, a repository of free content hosted by the Wikimedia Foundation. ... The Imperial units or the Imperial system is a collection of English units, first defined in the Weights and Measures Act of 1824, later refined (until 1959) and reduced. ... Look up si, Si, SI in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... Surveyor at work with a leveling instrument. ... A hectometre (American spelling: hectometer, symbol hm) is a somewhat uncommonly used unit of length in the metric system, equal to one hundred metres, the current SI base unit of length. ...

Tape measures intended for use in tailoring or dressmaking are typically made of flexible cloth or plastic, while those designed for carpentry or construction often use a stiff, curved metallic ribbon that can remain stiff and straight when extended, but retracts into a coil for convenient storage. This type of tape measure will have a floating tang on the end to aid measuring. The tang will float a distance equal to its thickness, to provide both inside and outside measurements that are not accurate. A tape measure of 25 or even 1000 feet can wind into a relatively small container. “Sewn” redirects here. ... Carpenter at work in Tennessee, June 1942. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ...

One little-known feature on most tape measures is a small black diamond that appears every 19.2 inches, known as the 'black truss' markings. This is used to mark out an equal five trusses per standard eight-foot sheet of building material. (8 feet, or 96 inches, divided by 5 is 19.2 inches.)^[1]

The design on which most modern spring tape measures are built was patented by New Haven, Connecticut resident Alvin J. Fellows on 14 July, 1868. According to the text of his patent, Fellows' tape measure was only an improvement on other versions previously designed.^[2] For other uses, see Patent (disambiguation). ... “New Haven” redirects here. ... is the 195th day of the year (196th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ...

The spring tape measure has been extant since Fellows' patent, but did not come into wide usage until the early 1940s, when it slowly began to supplant the folding wood carpenter's ruler. Today it is ubiquitous, even appearing in miniature form as a keychain fob, or novelty item.

Safety

Metal retractable tape measures are relatively safe and easy to use. Extend the tape from point to point placing the end-clip at the location you want to measure from. Most tape measures have a clip (tang) that can be attached to a fixed object to measure spans easily. Many steel blade tapes have tension-control brakes that lock the blade in place for measuring spans. Longer (surveyor) tapes have a crank on the side of the case to retract the cloth tape. To minimize injury, slowly retract metal blade tapes while keeping fingers away from edges.

Maintenance

Metal retractable tape measures are virtually maintenance-free. To extend their life, keep the measurement blade clean and don't retract the blade into the case too fast.

References

1. ^ asktooltalk.com.Text accessed 08 April 2007.
2. ^ Letters Patent No. 79,965. Text accessed 26 February 2006.

Metalworking:
Metalworking measuring instruments: Image File history File links This is a lossless scalable vector image. ... Turned chess pieces Metalworking is the craft and practice of working with metals to create structures or machine parts. ...	Bore gauge | Caliper | Dial indicator | Engineer's blue | Feeler | Fishtail-Center | Gauge blocks | Gauge | Go-NoGo | Machinist square | Marking blue | Marking gauge | Marking out | Micrometer | Radius gauge | Ruler | Sine bar | Spirit level | Straightedge | Surface plate | Tape measure | Thread pitch | Vernier height | Vernier scale | Wiggler A bore gauge is a convenient term for the measuring or transfer tools that are used in the process of accurately measuring holes. ... For the brake caliper, see disc brake. ... Dial indicators are instruments used to accurately measure a small distance. ... Prussian blue is a blue pigment used in paints and formerly in blueprints. ... Feeler gauge set A feeler gauge is a simple tool used to measure thicknesses. ... Two different thread setting gauges Fishtail-Center gauges, the left image is a fishtail gauge, the right image is a center gauge. ... Gauge blocks, (also known as gage blocks, Johansson gauges, or slip gauges) are precision ground and lapped measuring standards. ... In engineering, a gauge is used to make measurements. ... A Go NoGo gauge refers to an inspection tool used to check a workpiece against its allowed tolerances. ... Two typical engineers squares A machinist square or engineers square is the metalworkers equivalent of a try square. ... Marking Blue is a dye used in metalworking. ... Stanley and Veritas marking gauges A marking gauge is used in woodworking and metalworking to mark out lines for cutting or other operations. ... Marking out is a moment of enjoying professional wrestling for what it is rather than analyzing its staged nature, and can be a sought-after experience for fans whose insider knowledge can make them jaded toward its entertainment aspect. ... Outside, inside, and depth micrometers A micrometer is a widely used device in mechanical engineering for precisely measuring thickness of blocks, outer and inner diameters of shafts and depths of slots. ... Two types of radius gauges A radius gauge is a tool used to measure the radius of an object. ... A variety of rulers A 2 metre carpenters rule Retractable flexible rule A ruler or rule is an instrument used in geometry, technical drawing and engineering/building to measure distances and/or to rule straight lines. ... A sine bar is a tool used to measure angles in metalworking. ... Engineers spirit level Precision engineers level An engineers spirit level is generally used to level machines although they may be used to level large workpieces on machines such as planers. ... A straightedge is a tool similar to a ruler, but without markings. ... A surface plate is a solid, flat plate used as the main horizontal reference plane (datum) for precision inspection, marking out (layout), and tooling setup. ... Three different sets of threading gauges Threading gauges, pictured on the right, are also referred to as pitch gauges and are used to measure the pitch or lead of screw threads. ... A height gauge is a measuring device used either for determining the height of something, or for repetitious marking of items to be worked on. ... “Vernier” redirects here. ... Wiggler Set of wigglers A wiggler, center finder or sticky pin refers to a tool used in the rotating spindle of a machine such as mill or drill. ...
Metalworking topics:   Turned chess pieces Metalworking is the craft and practice of working with metals to create structures or machine parts. ...	Casting | CNC | Cutting tools | Drilling and threading | Fabrication | Finishing | Grinding | Jewellery | Lathe (tool) | Machining | Machine tooling | Measuring | Metalworking | Hand tools | Metallurgy | Milling | Occupations | Press tools | Smithing | Terminology | Welding This article is about the manufacturing process. ... A CNC Turning Center A CNC Milling Machine The abbreviation CNC stands for computer numerical control, and refers specifically to a computer controller that reads G-code instructions and drives the machine tool, a powered mechanical device typically used to fabricate metal components by the selective removal of metal. ... a Cutting Tool, in the context of Metalworking is any tool that is used to remove metal from the workpiece by means of shear deformation. ... Drilling is the process of using a drill bit in a drill to produce holes. ... A typical steel fabrication shop Fabrication, when used as an industrial term, applies to the building of machines , structures, process equipment for chemical, fertilizer sector by cutting, shaping and assembling components made from raw materials. ... Metalworking finishing is the activity of making things out of metal in a skillful manner. ... Rotating abrasive wheel on a bench grinder. ... Amber jewellery in the form of pendants Jewellery (also spelled jewelry, see spelling differences) is a personal ornament, such as a necklace, ring, or bracelet, made from jewels, precious metals or other substance. ... Conventional metalworking lathe In woodturning, metalworking, metal spinning, and glassworking, a lathe is a machine tool which spins a block of material so that when abrasive, cutting, or deformation tools are applied to the block, it can be shaped to produce an object which has rotational symmetry about an axis... A lathe is a common tool used in machining. ... A machine tool is a powered mechanical device, typically used to fabricate metal components of machines by the selective removal of metal. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... Turned chess pieces Metalworking is the craft and practice of working with metals to create structures or machine parts. ... Metalworking hand tools are hand tools that are used in the metalworking field. ... Georg Agricola, author of De re metallica, an important early book on metal extraction Metallurgy is a domain of materials science that studies the physical and chemical behavior of metallic elements, their intermetallic compounds, and their mixtures, which are called alloys. ... Endmills for a milling machine. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Smith (metalwork). ... Power press with a fixed barrier guard A press, or a machine press is a tool used to work metal (typically steel) by changing its shape and internal structure. ... A smith, or metalsmith, is a person involved in the shaping of metal objects. ... This article needs to be wikified. ... Welding is a fabrication process that joins materials, usually metals or thermoplastics, by causing coalescence. ...