I bought a cheap open reel surveyors type tape measure, but I'm not sure
how to use it.

Top part has a handle grip section, and at the opposite end is a kind of
pointer.

Like this:

http://bigslickdeals.com/images/cham...apemeasure.jpg

One side of the tape measures in feet and inches and zero is at the tape
end. Other side measures in metres and cm but zero is about 32cm from
the end of the tape.

How am I supposed to use this tape meaure. In particular, I cannot
fathom how to use the metric side of the tape measure. Thanks.

"Rich" wrote in message
...
I bought a cheap open reel surveyors type tape measure, but I'm not
sure how to use it.

Top part has a handle grip section, and at the opposite end is a kind
of pointer.

Like this:

http://bigslickdeals.com/images/cham...apemeasure.jpg

One side of the tape measures in feet and inches and zero is at the
tape end. Other side measures in metres and cm but zero is about 32cm
from the end of the tape.

How am I supposed to use this tape meaure. In particular, I cannot
fathom how to use the metric side of the tape measure. Thanks.

Either there is a reason that metres scale starts 32cm from the tape end
or it's a production fault. I just don't know.

Rich wrote:


How am I supposed to use this tape meaure. In particular, I cannot
fathom how to use the metric side of the tape measure. Thanks.

Set up the tape so that zero is at the mark from which you want to
measure?



--
"S'ils te mordent - mords-les"

We were somewhere around Barstow, on the edge of the desert, when the
drugs began to take hold. I remember "Rich" saying
something like:

One side of the tape measures in feet and inches and zero is at the tape
end. Other side measures in metres and cm but zero is about 32cm from
the end of the tape.

How am I supposed to use this tape meaure. In particular, I cannot
fathom how to use the metric side of the tape measure. Thanks.

I'd suppose it would be useful if you're measuring from a stick in the
ground, to wrap the blank around the stick.

"Ziggur" wrote in message
...
Rich wrote:


How am I supposed to use this tape meaure. In particular, I cannot
fathom how to use the metric side of the tape measure. Thanks.

Set up the tape so that zero is at the mark from which you want to
measure?


Yes, that is what you are expecxted to do.

I've been told that a while ago the industry made these sorts of tapes
because the ends become scuffed in use and it was helpful to put zero
point further down the tape.

On Jun 23, 12:50*pm, "Rich" wrote:
I bought a cheap open reel surveyors type tape measure, but I'm not sure
how to use it.

Top part has a handle grip section, and at the opposite end is a kind of
pointer.

Like this:

http://bigslickdeals.com/images/cham...apemeasure.jpg

One side of the tape measures in feet and inches and zero is at the tape
end. Other side measures in metres and cm but zero is about 32cm from
the end of the tape.

How am I supposed to use this tape meaure. In particular, I cannot
fathom how to use the metric side of the tape measure. Thanks.

Have you never used a ruler where the scale starts a little way in
from the end?

MBQ