Why does the tip of my new tape measure seem loose?
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 The tip of my new tape measure seems loose. Did I buy a faulty tape measure?
 The tip on a tape measure always appears to be loose and this is intentional. The tip is actually designed to slide a distance equal to its own thickness so both inside and outside measurements will be accurate.
A lot of measuring tape blade tips on the market float in place with the help of two rivets; however, the backside of the blade doesn't have any extra support. If a blade with this type of  design retracts too fast, the tip could snap off when the blade breaks at one of the two rivets.
It's best to have a blade with a metal shield on the backside of the blade held in place by a third rivet (as shown in the image to the right) to help support the blade's end.
Another area of concern is where the tip rests against the case. If this area doesn't have an active built-in bumper  in the case, the tip could snap off because there's nothing to absorb the tip's shock after the blade retracts.
The active built-in black bumper shown in the photo to the right is located just under the blade at the front bottom of the case. The black arrow points directly at the built-in bumper.
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Knowing why a tape measure has a loose blade tip is just one small part of using a tape measure effectively.
To really learn the ins and outs of reading a tape measure and to gain insights into choosing the best one for you, consider purchasing my award-winning article, "Learn How to Read and Choose a Tape Measure." This article received the 2008 Vaughan/National Association of Home and Workshop Writers (NAHWW) Golden Hammer Writing Award in the Internet Category.
Available in both .pdf and hard copy, this 8-page article features 21 color photographs and provides outstanding information about using a tape measure to its full potential and purchasing a quality tape measure.
Click here to read customers' feedback. To purchase "Learn How to Read and Choose a Tape Measure," click here!
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Now that you know a little more about a tape measure and how it can work for you, I encourage you to take a look at a pro tape for your toolbox. We've been offering the easy-to-read EasyPoint ProTape with our own private label for years.
Assembled in the U.S., the EasyPoint ProTape has ergonomic rubber grips built into the case for a comfortable and secure grip. This tape measure has a 25-foot-long 1-inch blade, weighs just under 16 ounces, and features an easy-to-use thumb blade lock. Its large numbers don't require glasses to read and its lower scale is in 1/16-inch increments with printed fractions that start at 1/8 inch. An active bumper built into the case helps to prevent the tip from snapping off as it absorbs the shock from the tip after the blade
Click here to read customers' feedback. To purchase the EasyPoint ProTape, a fractional-read type measure by U.S. Tape, click here! |
Copyright ©
2008 LAF/C.R.S., Inc. All rights reserved.
Question answered by Leon A. Frechette.
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