Fast-Cap Rules

[Mike Goetzke]

I know there have been posts about the best tape measures but I have a question about the subject rules. I really like the Stanley lever lock tape measures but I hear a lot of good things about the Fast-Cap rules so I bought a couple. I really like the tape scales on these rules better but am I the only one that doesn't like the way the tape retracts almost violently? I know there is a lock button but many times I just hook the end on something and lift when done and the tape comes screaming back at me. Maybe this is because I'm used to the Stanley lever lock feature. Anyone else have this issue?

 

[ChuckM]

The fast retraction happens to other tapes of mine, including the Lee Valley ones. But my problem with one of the Fastcap rules is that the lock failed, meaning it won't hold the tape in any desired position. I'll see if I can unscrew and fix it.

 

[leakyroof]

The only knock I have with the FastCap tape measures is I've had two of them leak what ever lube is inside, out of the rule, making a small mess where they sit/left them. These are in my basement shop, so excessive temps are not the issue, just a breakdown of what is I believe grease breaking down internally. Never taken them apart to see what's causing it. I dunno..

 

[Michael Kellough]

The only knock I have with the FastCap tape measures is I've had two of them leak what ever lube is inside, out of the rule, making a small mess where they sit/left them. These are in my basement shop, so excessive temps are not the issue, just a breakdown of what is I believe grease breaking down internally. Never taken them apart to see what's causing it. I dunno..

It might not be internal goo, the several FastCap tape measures I bought in their early days have all turned icky (and been tossed). The rubbery overmold exuded the plasticizer (or whatever) and I didn’t want to touch them anymore. They also had poor coordination of the hook with the tape increments so I didn’t use them much anyway.

Hopefully there have been improvements since then. My favorite feature was the ability use the tape as a story stick since the surface accepted pencil marks so well. I did keep using those that left space for my marks even tho the hook was out of wack.

 

[Crazyraceguy]

The only one I have any experience with is the Flat-back. They are great for measuring around a radius, which I do, with some regularity. The retraction is a bit much, but I don't deal with is often enough to be bothersome.
A 16' Stanley is my daily and I use a Bosch laser for the really long stuff.

 

[ChuckM]

I should add that I won't recommend the Fastcap tapes because the rubber friction that holds the tape will deteriorate over time, and the tape doesn't get a hard lock like a regular Stanley or Lee Valley tape that has a button to lock down the tape securely. The locking design isn't a good one (though the scale itself is good with imperial and metric and is writable).

After taking apart the defective tape I mentioned in my last post (the left one in the photos), I found that a spring was missing and went ahead and fixed it.

 

[smorgasbord]

The metric side of the dual Imperial/Metric tape measures suck, with the markings not going all the way to the edge. Imperial side is OK. I've seen this on the one I own, as well as in a couple YouTube videos. If you do metric, you'll hate these Fastcap tape measures.

 

[ChuckM]

Is your tape different from mine? All markings extend to the edge.

 

[smorgasbord]

Yeah, mine looks different. Will be a while before I can take a photo of it, though.

 

[SoonerFan]

I only have one Fastcap Imperial/Metric tape that I purchased years when I started to convert to metric. I don’t use it much now. I checked just now and mine is like Chuck’s with markings to the edge.

 

[leakyroof]

It might not be internal goo, the several FastCap tape measures I bought in their early days have all turned icky (and been tossed). The rubbery overmold exuded the plasticizer (or whatever) and I didn’t want to touch them anymore. They also had poor coordination of the hook with the tape increments so I didn’t use them much anyway.

Hopefully there have been improvements since then. My favorite feature was the ability use the tape as a story stick since the surface accepted pencil marks so well. I did keep using those that left space for my marks even tho the hook was out of wack.

True, I ended up tossing my 'Green' rule years back for this ^^^ and the leakage, which as you noted, could have been that Overmold all along. Interestingly, neither Imperial/Metric 'Yellow' rule that we own ,have changed in the Overmold or leaked any internal stuff out . One lives in the shop and the other is upstair for household usage. Maybe later production on both of them?

 

[smorgasbord]

FWIW, for us enlightened metric woodworkers, the Tajima Class 1 tape measures are simple and accurate.