Tools you wish you'd bought sooner...

[Sporky]

Anyone know if there's such a thing as a tape measure with at least a 3m standout/snap length that isn't a huge chunky beast? I suspect that nature of such a thing means there isn't.

I only need 5m total.

[M11rph]

Stanley Fatmax is probably about as small as you'll find. The ladies will be impressed by the bulge in you trousers...

https://www.screwfix.com/p/stanley-fatmax-8m-tape-...

They do a 5m version too, would guess it has the same dangle length*.

• [ Only applies indoors, any breeze and dangle length cannot be guaranteed. You'll look like a water diviner as the tip describes a seemingly random path, but it's secretly seeking out any live electrics to jolt you back into showing it respect].

[Sporky]

Ta - I have the 5m if that. I was hoping someone had invented an unobtanium version at half the weight and bulk!

[NewChurch]

Sporky said:

Anyone know if there's such a thing as a tape measure with at least a 3m standout/snap length that isn't a huge chunky beast? I suspect that nature of such a thing means there isn't.

I only need 5m total.

Vice versa tape.

[M11rph]

There's a project farm video if you are truly bored! https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6517aSbzlyE

Here's the relevant bit...


Klein for the win, but not physically much smaller than the Stanley.

https://www.amazon.co.uk/Double-Sided-Measure-Magn...
_________________________________________________
Perhaps it's time for a Laser Measure? Those Photons don't care about gravity (much). Bosch below, but cheaper are available, depends on the tolerances you're working to.
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Bosch-Professional-060107...

[Sporky]

I have a laser too - tape measure is for measuring existing projection screens and so on. Stuff you can't do with the laser, and the standout length us useful because there often isn't anyone to hold the other end.

That chart is most useful - thank youl

[Mr Pointy]

Sporky said:

I have a laser too - tape measure is for measuring existing projection screens and so on. Stuff you can't do with the laser, and the standout length us useful because there often isn't anyone to hold the other end.

That chart is most useful - thank youl

Folding ruler? Rather chunky though:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Presch-Folding-Rule-Angle...
https://www.bmi.de/en/products-gauges-workshop-mea...

[Sporky]

Interesting odea, but I think that's bigger and heavier than the Fatmax.

[Captain Answer]

While we are talking about tape measures.... any one else been sad enough to air tag one so you don't keep loosing it?

[skwdenyer]

Sporky said:

I have a laser too - tape measure is for measuring existing projection screens and so on. Stuff you can't do with the laser, and the standout length us useful because there often isn't anyone to hold the other end.

That chart is most useful - thank youl

Have you tried one of the phone-based measuring apps? Might be enough resolution for you.

As regards length of protrusion, how much would you pay for a longer one? I have an idea for how to do it technically, but it would probably be £100 per unit to buy. Should I be heading for Kickstarter?

[loudlashadjuster]

I use my phone all the time now, perfect if you only need a rough measurement of a wall etc.

Wouldn't use it for anything where even mild accuracy is needed though.

[Doofus]

loudlashadjuster said:

I use my phone all the time now, perfect if you only need a rough measurement of a wall etc.

Wouldn't use it for anything where even mild accuracy is needed though.

If you only need a rough measurement (and I can't think why you would), why not use fingerpsans?

[wolfracesonic]

[donkmeister]

Mr Pointy said:

Sporky said:

I have a laser too - tape measure is for measuring existing projection screens and so on. Stuff you can't do with the laser, and the standout length us useful because there often isn't anyone to hold the other end.

That chart is most useful - thank youl

Folding ruler? Rather chunky though:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Presch-Folding-Rule-Angle...
https://www.bmi.de/en/products-gauges-workshop-mea...

The thing that makes my teeth itch about those is not knowing if the markings assume the ruler is flat against the piece, or raised up at one end by the thickness of one section of ruler.

Yes, I know the difference is less than the error bars of me placing my pencil mark, and probably comparable to the errors due to tape bendiness (technical term) but I can pretend those are insignificant and not worry about them... The folding ruler problem is just so visible and obvious!!!

[gfreeman]

Promised Land said:

The same could be said about this country, why do we still use mph, mpg etc but buy Dino juice in litres? Sign measured in yards. Distances in miles.

Yet car weights are in kg and boot spaces measured in litres.

Don’t get me started on tyre sizes.

The building trade is still riddled with both imperial and metric, it will never go fully metric like everything else here won’t do.

Personally I can and do work with both, not on the same item but I can use 1/16ths, 1/32nds etc fine.

The sheer number of old buildings has affected the reliance on imperial measurements living on. Although standard door sizes are still 2’6” x 6’6”. A lot of sheet material is still 8’x4’.
When I first started in the industry I encountered a lot of sites where the structural, roads and sewer drawings were in imperial measurements and the architectural drawings were metric. Poor bricklayers on refurb projects moaning the most as the standard imperial measurements for a brick was 9x3x4.5” imperial, which went to 225x75x112.5mm for metric - slightly smaller. Reclaimed bricks rocketed in price or you had to pay a lot more for new “specials”.

[Mr Pointy]

donkmeister said:

Mr Pointy said:

Sporky said:

I have a laser too - tape measure is for measuring existing projection screens and so on. Stuff you can't do with the laser, and the standout length us useful because there often isn't anyone to hold the other end.

That chart is most useful - thank youl

Folding ruler? Rather chunky though:
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Presch-Folding-Rule-Angle...
https://www.bmi.de/en/products-gauges-workshop-mea...

The thing that makes my teeth itch about those is not knowing if the markings assume the ruler is flat against the piece, or raised up at one end by the thickness of one section of ruler.

Yes, I know the difference is less than the error bars of me placing my pencil mark, and probably comparable to the errors due to tape bendiness (technical term) but I can pretend those are insignificant and not worry about them... The folding ruler problem is just so visible and obvious!!!

This one lays flat to the surface:
https://www.hultafors.com/articles/contact-meter-a...
https://www.amazon.co.uk/Hultafors-Contactmeter-Fi...

[loudlashadjuster]

Doofus said:

loudlashadjuster said:

I use my phone all the time now, perfect if you only need a rough measurement of a wall etc.

Wouldn't use it for anything where even mild accuracy is needed though.

If you only need a rough measurement (and I can't think why you would), why not use fingerpsans?

On an 8 metre wall?!

I quite often have to measure a space to see which combination of hardware (displays etc.) will fit in. Knowing that something is 5.2 metres ± 5% is enough for that

[RZ1]

Looking for some advice on a folding work bench, something similar to this

https://www.screwfix.com/p/mac-allister-folding-wo...



Anyone used anything like this and recommend one?

[The Gauge]

^^ I have that exact Mac Allister workbench, very useful and portable for when you need a work surface somewhere, very sturdy and quick to unfold & fold back up.

[DocJock]

I'll second that.

Mine gets loads of use in the decent weather as an outdoor workbench too.