"Nick Bozovich" wrote in message

Why? Because the end of it is loose, and if you don't push the tape back
toward it, the measurement can be off by nearly 1/8".

That is a "feature" that is actually by design on most tape measures so that
you can take accurate inside measurements.The amount of slop should be equal
to the thickness of the hook ... generally about 1/6th or so.

I've mostly used a folding carpenter's rule with a metal insert for 1" -
6",
because the tape measure isn't reliable.

What does everyone else use?

The "accuracy" of a particular tape measure is completely irrelevant as long
as you ALWAYS use the same one.

AAMOF, tape measures aren't even necessary in woodworking. Many furniture
and cabinet makers go with a stick with the project measurements marked off
linearly. It's called a "story stick" and is much more accurate than using a
tape measure. Save the story stick and you can build another project with
the _exact_ same dimensions as the original 50 years later ... you can't do
that with a tape measure unless you use the same one.

The moral, because tape measures to come in handy, is to buy a well made one
that will last a long time and use it exclusively ... again, the "accuracy"
of the tool is irrelevant.

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Last update: 1/02/04