As a hobbiest my skill sets are starting to advance and I am starting to do more complex work which is requiring more precise measuring and marking.  I am looking for some good instruments that will last will remain true.  I am teaching myself to use the metric system so I would like them to be in metric.  Any suggestions which types to own and good brands and places to purchase them.  Thanks for the help.

Starrett, Woodpecker, Incra and Lee Valley.

John

Bingo!!!  Woodpeckers (http://www.woodpeck.com/measuringhome.html) have some very nice and accurate metric measuring devices.  

 

I was also looking for metric measuring devices recently. Being a cabinet maker I do everything in metric but it is difficult to find metric stuff here in Canada as well. I have been using the fastcap 32mm tape for about 8 months now and love it. I recently purchased the cabinet makers rulers from lee valley. Only draw back is the are only metric on half the ruler and standard on the the other. They are fairly cheap though I bought all 5 sizes from 6" to 36" for about $45 cnd.  Untill I find something better they will have to do. I want to also mention that the fastcap tape is in MM not cm which is amazing. I can not express how much I love this tape for that reason. It is just so much easier to use, I wish I could find a set of stainless rulers with only MM markings on them.

Ethan

Another +1 for Incra T-rule. Great device.




I did a google search and came with many of the stainless steel rules. Try searching for 150mm (or 300mm) steel rules. Here is an all metric on Amazon:
http://www.amazon.com/General-Tools-300mm-Precision-Stainless/dp/B00004T7SY

The reviews were't great. Even though they complained of the pocket clip/T-square I suspect the overall quality was poor which led to the complaints.

There are other choices with the google search. 

Hmmm...I thought Canada was much further along in the metric system than the US??  Canac Cabinets, which was/is a Canadian company supplied all the cabinets for a project I built in Las Vegas in 1996, and everything they had was layed out in metric.  Their salesman used to come out for field verification, and he'd leave me a discrepancy sheet with comments like "sink drain needs to move 75 mm to the left".   I told him that if he didn't give me the comments in Imperial measurements, I couldn't get the corrections made, because no one had a metric tape!

+1 on Starrett tools. Check out their combination squares. I bought two from fine-tools.com. One with a 300 mm blade (33MH-300) and one that's 150 mm (10MH-150). I use the small one a lot - very handy.

- Kristian

So it comes with "red" tape 

Sorry, couldnt help myself 

You can buy the Pro Carpenter True 32 5m from Amazon USA.
Or at Fastcap USA itself.

Try true 32 site http://www.true32.com/CategoryProductList.jsp?cat=Tape+Measures.
Not sure they will be cheaper but it's worth a try.
Tim

Plus one

Although I like the company FastCap, those tape measures, which are made in China, have poor manufacturing quality control.  I've had to go through a couple of boxes to get 1 good one most of the time.  I think I have 5 of the models, but not the True 32 yet.  A majority of each box aren't accurate when compared to a 24" or 600mm machinists rule and I've seen a number of them with smudged or missing printing.  That's why it's also important to pull out the entire tape and check the printing.  You're paying for it.  It might as well be made right.

I have a Hilti PD42 that I really like - the form factor is much smaller than the bigger Distos, and the optical sight works really well.

Let me warn you, this is going to be a rant post, but beyond venting, I think it might have some value to others with the products or those considering buying them.

I have several Fastcap tape measures.  I don't have the "True32".  I found 3 while considering about writing this post.  They are the Lefty/Righty, the Metric/Standard and the Flatback.  If you go back through this thread you'll see my post about the problems I've had in picking out Fastcap tape measures.  Even thinking I've done a good job selecting a decent one, I've found that I should have been more thorough in my selection.

Today is a good example of that.  I needed to make some custom window jamb extensions for an Anderson casement.  The window jamb has a 3/8" wide by 1/4" deep groove on the top, bottom and sides to accept a jamb extension.  I took detailed measurements with my Festool folding rule at the job, then adjusted my table saw with my Fastcap Lefty/Righty tape measure to rip the edge of my 5/4 boards to make the required tongue.  At first I couldn't understand how I wasn't getting the tongue in the correct spot and the thickness was off.  I was getting very ticked off at myself for not getting the math correct in my head, so I thought.  Multiple passes and readjustments to the rip fence, yet I was still having the same problems.  I need to be very accurate to get the correct reveal between the jamb and jamb extension plus have a snug fit between the tongue and groove.

Something made me check the rip fence to blade measurement with my trusty Stanley Fat Max tape I mostly use for framing.  I constantly check that tape for accuracy to at least 1/32" even though that's excessive precision for framing requirements.  The Stanley showed me I was 1/32" off from where I thought I was and all my measurements on the jamb extensions that I ran thru the table saw showed they were off.  Compared the Fastcap tape against the Festool folding rule and THERE IT WAS.  The tape showed a 1/32" difference when pushing in the hook for an inside measurement, yet it was perfect on pulling out the hook, comparing it to the folding rule as in an outside measurement and the Stanley was dead-on with the folding rule for both inside and outside measurements.  Same results when I repeated the check against my Lufkin folding rule and the many Woodpeckers measuring tools I have.

I wasted some material and a lot of time AGAIN.  I do think Fastcap is a good company with excellent customer service, but I think they are seriously lacking manufacturing control over their Chinese made tape measures.  I am going to contact Paul or Leanne about this issue and post their response.

I know I should have just used a folding rule to adjust the table saw's rip fence, but I didn't.  Also, for anyone thinking this, yes I could have just put my adjustable tongue cutter bit in a router or router table and made one pass as opposed to the four passes required on the table saw, but I left some required tools to do that on the jobsite and I've done this many times with just the table saw, so that's what was on hand to work with.

My Flatback tape measure (at least for outside measurements, I didn't check inside measurements) varies, so in comparision to my 2 folding rules and my Stanley tape, it's accurate in some spots and off in others.  My Metric/Standard reads 1/32" or 0.75mm high for outside measurements.  Didn't bother checking inside measurements on that one either.  If they're off on outside measurements, they sit on the shelf anyway.

Meanwhile, does anyone know of another brand of "True32" type tape measure that does have the accuracy required for precision cabinet making?

Guy,

Unfortunately it's not as easy to find the Stanley and other brand (non-Fastcap) metric tape measures here.  Sometimes I spot only one and in a small length amongst a sea of imperial tapes.  I was mainly interested in one with the 32mm markings as that would offer both requirements in one tape while using the Festool system for cabinetmaking and I've never seen or heard of one other than the Fastcap.

There are at least two guys (Starrett employees) that sell blems on e-bay.  I've seen satin chrome metric scales of various lengths go at reasonable prices.  If you don't see what you want up for auction just send a message & will probably accommodate you.

I've bought a Tajima tape recently and i think it's the mutt's nuts. Currently using an imperial tape though so i can't speak on metric markings. Good solid build and easy to read, best tape i've had to date

Hi,

Something to keep in mind  is that it is not just the accuracy but the measuring devices need to be consistent. If you are switching from tape, to folding rule, to square when measuring, they all need to be in sync with each other. Just because the measuring tools are accurate doesn't mean they will work together.

If you need real precision then make sure they sync up or don't switch from one to another.


Seth

Yes.  That's why I check my big Stanley tape measure against the others frequently (like a round robin method) and so on.  I find "cross measurement continuity" is important for me.

I suppose a metric tape would be good for me for my own projects but I can't consciously be the only one using metric on a site full of Imperials. I was using a dual scale tape for a while and had to ditch it just coz there was too much different scale crap on it.

I have a few sets of the Veritas Bar Gages that I made up for various length ranges -- they work great for marking multiple pieces the same.

I found metric only tapes on their site.
The last two here in the G-series

Stayed up late last night/early this morning searching out tape measures for some odd reason, but I also found that Lufkin (Cooper Tools) Lufkin, makes a metric folding engineers rule and a lot of metric only or combo imperial metric tape measures.  Still no 32mm versions.

Darcy,

You're in too much of a rush.    Check back through the thread for my responses to Fastcap tapes.

I think he was looking for a NON-FastCap product.

Ken, is this what you are looking for ?

http://www.google.co.uk/products/catalog?hl=en&xhr=t&q=stanley+fat+max+tape+measure&cp=21&rlz=1R2DKUK_en-GB&bav=on.2,or.r_gc.r_pw.&biw=1030&bih=667&wrapid=tljp1306788732109032&um=1&ie=UTF-8&tbm=shop&cid=4822554380664813302&sa=X&ei=hQPkTd2bLIPA8QOBndWXBw&sqi=2&ved=0CFwQ8gIwBA#

It has inches also but i just look at the metric part of mine 

Bummer thought i sussed it    Never seen one with 32mm increments ?  Are you sure you get such a thing ?

Jay:
Couldn't agree more. 
Tim

Funny, I have been intensively using the Fastcap True32 tape and an old Starret combination square on my current project. I only wish that Starret was Metric :\  My father-in-law gave me the Starret and it just oozes quality. The angle head was hugely useful.

I concur with Tim regarding the Fastcap tape. The curvature is a bit too much, always slipping off when I try to rotate the tape edge close to the stock so I can mark it. I wouldn't try to make fine furniture with it, but it's an adequate measuring tool for general projects or home improvement.

I have personally been happy with the FastCap tapes and have been meaning to get a true 32 model.  One thing to note for those who have never used these tapes, the flat back versions are designed to take outside measurements - not inside measurements.  The tape hook end is firmly riveted. 

Peter

I'm glad to see Fastcap on here and responding.  Like I said previously, they are a very good company with excellent customer service in my experience.  I did not get a chance to talk with them and Kreg told me during our conversation today that Paul is in Germany.  I'll probably just send him an email as I'm in no rush to resolve the tape measure issues at the moment.

Just my confirmation, but I also recall seeing the 32mm incremental markings on the length of the tape of the True32.  I didn't recall specifically what those markings were and I didn't recall that the True32 came in both flatback and curved standout blade styles.  I own a lot of Fastcap products (still have a wishlist for more) and the only ones I've had a problem with on a regular basis have been the tape measures.  Hopefully I can help in them in resolving this, otherwise I'll just be staying far away from that part of their product line.

Anyone who knows me, knows I tell it like it is.  I don't sugar coat anything, whether I pay for something or it's given to me.  Quality has always been very important to me and I feel that if I don't give my true feelings about something, then I'm part of the problem for the lack of quality and improvement.  I can be loyal to companys without being blindingly loyal.  There is a difference.