Break your tape measure…. because there are so many uses for the
pieces.

1 Glue or nail part to the radial arm fence so you know how long that
piece is that you cut off.
2 Glue another part out the other way so you know how much is left to
the piece.
3 Use a small magnet and place it on the band saw top cover. A 12"
section of measuring tape can be held there, ready for use.
4 Glue small weak magnets to the front of the workbench, to your
portable lathe tool rack, …… to anything that doesn't move, or moves
slowly like your face shield. These magnets can hold pieces of tape
measure from 12" to 24". I glue 2 magnets near each other so that the
tape will not just hang vertically. I can set it to project out from
the side of a cupboard so it can be grabbed easily from whatever angle
I want.
5 Cut 4 or 5 short pieces from 1 1/2" to 6" to hold down in the bottom
of a bowl or plate that you are making to see if the bottom is flat.
(or slightly concave if you want)
6 Make a bowl depth gage. Cut a length of wood 3/8 x 3/8 x 12". Put
a thin slot in the center parallel to the sides. Cut the tape to a
point at the 10" mark (or 20" or 30" or 40" part so no subtracting is
necessary) and make it as long as your deepest bowl. If the tape
points projects through the wood 3" when the wood strip is against the
rim, the depth is 3". When the slot is thin the curve side to side in
the tape blade keeps it from falling out, but it will slide when
gently pushed.
7 ???? TELL US YOUR IDEAS ABOUT MEASURING TAPE USES.

SAFETY WARNING. A short piece of measuring tape can be bent in a "U"
shape or a coil. When suddenly released, the SPRING will fly. Your
eyes are in the most danger.