Black and Decker ATM100 25-Foot Autotape Auto Tape Measure

Product Information

The Bosch GLM 20 Blaze laser distance measure is an excellent example of a simple but highly accurate digital measuring tool. And for many people, that’s all that’s needed. This digital laser measure doesn’t include a protective case; our test model’s screen got scratched Standout blade. The tape itself—known as the blade—should stay straight and firm when extended in the air. Cheap blades bend easily, denting and dipping in places. Quality blades, made of steel or fiberglass, should literally “stand out” for 6 feet or farther before bending. Metal blades coated with nylon are highly durable and versatile. Tang. The metal end-hook at the tip of the tape measure ensures an accurate reading, but too often the tang is the weakest part of a tape measure. When shopping, make sure the tang looks and feels solid without being static—there should be a slight in-and-out movement (called “floating”) when you tug it gently. You’ll notice that when the tang hits a wall or solid object, it pushes in slightly. When you hook the tang around an edge, it pulls out slightly. The tang is designed to float to compensate for its own width, providing consistent and accurate measurement. Magnetic tangs act as an additional tool—assisting a solo measurer when measuring a metal object. The spring mechanism of a tape measure is actually a long flat coiled metallic material. Not all types of metallic material are able to generate spring property, however, steel commonly is. As you pull the tape out, the spring characteristic will be getting higher, and it is used to retract your tape automatically.

Much like laser levels, some digital tape measures are capable of storing and sharing measurements and data between devices. Select products come with a certain amount of storage capacity, storing between five and 20 measurements. Some brands offer a paid subscription for keeping many measurements stored, and some offer storage for an unlimited number of measurements. In addition to calculating surface area and volume, the Makita outdoor laser measure tape will also calculate the missing side of a triangle if the user enters the measurements of the other two sides (known as a Pythagorean function). We used this feature to calculate the third side of a triangle by entering the distance of the other two sides. It took a few tries, but a flashing diagram on the tool’s screen walked us through taking each measurement, and we finally got it right. We liked the ability to measure up to 65 feet at the push of a button. We loaded two AAA batteries (included) in the Bosch and started testing. This no-frills digital tape measure is as simple as it gets—we pushed the button on the front to turn the unit on and then pressed the button again when we were ready to measure. The DeWalt DW099S digital tape measure allows users to calculate both the surface area of a square or rectangle and the volume of a cube. This is where the DeWalt shines! We followed a blinking diagram on the LED screen that prompted us to take specific measurements, and then the tool calculated the volume of the area, using the measurements we entered. This is a great feature for anyone who needs to calculate volume in the field. In both our 6-foot and our 20-foot measuring tests, the Dremel was slightly less than ⅛ inch off, which is pretty good. However, it excels in its wheeled adapter that measures curves.

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Standard digital tape measures will be accurate within ⅛ to 1/16 of an inch. Q. How much does a digital tape measure cost? Fibreglass long tapes, however, usually come in an 'open reel' design where the blade is wound around a reel held together by an open frame. Closed Reel Tape Measures – Advantages

This was the most complex digital tape we tested, and the Pythagorean feature might not be used by most, but overall, we found this to be a highly accurate tool, and we’d rather have the feature and never use it than need it and not have it. The Makita comes with a protective canvas case and loop for carrying it on a belt or tool pouch.

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Getting precise measurements is essential for many projects, even ones as simple as hanging art or estimating how much wallpaper will be necessary for a specific room.

Tape measures sold in the United States feature measurement increments in inches and fractions of inches—the imperial measuring system. Some (not all) of the newer measuring tapes also offer metric measurements. This is handy when building, assembling, or installing materials that come with metric instructions. In addition to the other accuracy features mentioned above, a few more considerations may apply. Everything about the Craftsman 25-foot tape measure points toward quality, and this tool is made to stand up to high use. We noted the quality of this tape measure during the initial inspection. The case is made from heavy molded polyethylene and features a partial rubberized grip along the top and bottom edges. The belt clip is made from polished solid steel, and the metal blade is nylon coated for durability and rust resistance. While most digital measuring tapes will calculate length in feet with a laser, some options also accurately measure distance in inches and meters with precision. Some digital tape measures include a laser as well as a tape measure for short- and long-distance calculations in inches, feet, and meters.

Tape Measures

Once all testing was completed, the testers assigned each tape measure a score of 1 to 5 in categories of accuracy, durability, ease of use, performance, and value. These scores were added to the testing results and the numbers were tabulated to choose the top-scoring tape measures.