FastCap – Tape Measure Review

[JLB builders LLC]

The Stabila and the Fastcap combo imperial / metric tape look great. Id like to check out the Fastcap with the little black dots that mark 32mm and marks for the standard Cabinet heights. I have been happy with my Husky that I did a review on last year but always searching for the perfect tape.

Question from a Trim carpenter stand point. Why 16 feet tapes? most trim I use is 12 or 16 feet so why not have a tape that goes to 18 feet? Gives a little extra tape for when you need to bend into a corner and still have enough tape to keep from having your hand jammed in the corner blocking your view and struggling to pull the last few inches out of the tapes housing fighting the return spring.

 

[Julian Tracy]

Every specialty Fastcap tape I've bought had a crappy belt clip - spring steel is a poor quality - stretched out, wouldn't grip anymore.

JT

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Funny about Julian's comment above.  I bought the Stabila 16 foot tape measure at JLC Live this year.  As Tom Bellemare said, it does feel like a quality tool.  After using it all this time, I think it's no better than the FastCap tapes (and you know what I really think of them).  The steel used for both the blade and belt clip is very poor in performance.  The tape easily gets kinks in the blade and the belt clip spreads apart too easily.  I've frequently taken the clip off to squeeze it tighter.  That lasts a second or two.  Can't recommend the Stabila tapes to anyone.  Back to the drawing board for the engineers at Stabila.  I can say that I never had these two issues with my Stanley Fat Max tapes, not that they're perfect in other regards.

 

[Uffe Kaagaard]

Talmeter

TALMETER - Hultafors marking measure - Taking measuring further.
http://www.hultafors.com/uk/products/about-our-products/tape-measures-with-precision/talmeter/

 

[tbellemare]

As Tom Bellemare said, it does feel like a quality tool.  After using it all this time, I think it's no better than the FastCap tapes (and you know what I really think of them).  The steel used for both the blade and belt clip is very poor in performance.  The tape easily gets kinks in the blade and the belt clip spreads apart too easily.  I've frequently taken the clip off to squeeze it tighter.  That lasts a second or two.  Can't recommend the Stabila tapes to anyone.  Back to the drawing board for the engineers at Stabila.

If you don't mind, Ken, I'd like to make sure this gets passed on to those at Stabila... Their tapes are made to hire, if I'm not mistaken.

Tom

 

[Ken Nagrod]

As Tom Bellemare said, it does feel like a quality tool.  After using it all this time, I think it's no better than the FastCap tapes (and you know what I really think of them).  The steel used for both the blade and belt clip is very poor in performance.  The tape easily gets kinks in the blade and the belt clip spreads apart too easily.  I've frequently taken the clip off to squeeze it tighter.  That lasts a second or two.  Can't recommend the Stabila tapes to anyone.  Back to the drawing board for the engineers at Stabila.

If you don't mind, Ken, I'd like to make sure this gets passed on to those at Stabila... Their tapes are made to hire, if I'm not mistaken.

Tom

Tom,

Don't mind at all.  At least their levels have been superior to everything and on par with Levolution.

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Talmeter

TALMETER - Hultafors marking measure - Taking measuring further.
http://www.hultafors.com/uk/products/about-our-products/tape-measures-with-precision/talmeter/

We've talked about this brand in the past.  I think it was JMB who first posted about them.  I believe their products are NAINA, however they could be imported without restrictions like Festool has.  BTW, got inches?  [poke]

 

[builderbob]

Talmeter

TALMETER - Hultafors marking measure - Taking measuring further.
http://www.hultafors.com/uk/products/about-our-products/tape-measures-with-precision/talmeter/

That's a pretty sweet tape!  Almost makes me want to evacuate imperial measuring!

B

 

[Peter James]

+1 That looks real functional. Like a Fastcap tape and Accuscribe in one!

 

[goforbroke442nd]

Ok, here's a really newbie question regarding tape measures.

I recently picked up a few of the Fastcap tapes at my local woodcraft.  I wanted some metric and metric/imperial ones and ended up with two of the flat, non metalic types (which both happen to be in white cases).  These are the "limp" type rulers which lie flat are are similar to tailor tape measure but in rolled form.  One is only metric, and one is metric/imperial with story board.

I went with these because it seemed like in all the metal curved rulers, there was give on the hook at the start of ruler.  I found that almost all my metal tape measure have this give, and it really bothers me since I'm not sure if I should be measuring it pulled right, and what to do for inside corners.  This came up more recently when I was trying to square up the guides on my mft.  I later picked up a woodpecker square.
I noted that for the flat tape rulers, there was no give at all.

Should there be no give on the end hook of the metal tapes?  or, how is it properly used when trying to do precise measures?  normally i've just started the measure 1" in when I'm trying to be precise, but moving from home improvements towards furniture, I guess I'd like to clear up this nagging question...

thanks in advance!

 

[IWT-Tom]

The hook on most tape measure is supposed to move.  It is to allow for internal or external measurements. Pull tight for outside measurements and push in for internal.

The FastCap FlatBack is different.  You wouldn't use it for internal measurements as it's meant to lay flat for marking panels (or cylinders)

There is a video explaining it

FlatBack Tape Measure Overview

All that said, moving the start of the measurement to the 1inch mark (not that I recognise that archaic system ), isn't a bad idea.

 

[goforbroke442nd]

Ah, makes sense.  So the edge should only travel the amount of the width of the hook?  It seemed to me that the movement was always more than just the width of the hook.  Will check this out my tapes against the woodpecker ruler.

Thank you for clearing this up for me!

Q:  What should I look for in hook design/durability that indicate higher quality metal tape measure construction?

 

[IWT-Tom]

Accuracy is what you are looking for.  The FastCap tapes are very good IMO.  I'm not sure what other brands you have over there.  I'm waiting for some samples from Hultafors that are supposed to be good.

 

[goforbroke442nd]

Accuracy is what you are looking for.  The FastCap tapes are very good IMO.  I'm not sure what other brands you have over there.  I'm waiting for some samples from Hultafors that are supposed to be good.

ok, accuracy,  [big grin]  maybe I walked into that one....

but what I meant was, is there a way to distinguish whether the metal end hook will remain "accurate" in its movement during usage and over time.  I already went ahead and got woodpecker rulers for accuracy.  What construction elements make a great tape measure?

 

[Steve R]

Accuracy is what you are looking for.  The FastCap tapes are very good IMO.  I'm not sure what other brands you have over there.  I'm waiting for some samples from Hultafors that are supposed to be good.

ok, accuracy,  [big grin]  maybe I walked into that one....

but what I meant was, is there a way to distinguish whether the metal end hook will remain "accurate" in its movement during usage and over time.  I already went ahead and got woodpecker rulers for accuracy.  What construction elements make a great tape measure?

Just like all moving parts they can and will wear. Also how they are used will determine wear. Some people can get years out of a tape others might get weeks. Use your Woodpecker to check the thing every so often. Also If you measure it and you mark the wood you want to cut with the same tape.... it will fit even if it is in Cubits.

Cheers,
Steve

 

[Ken Nagrod]

Accuracy is what you are looking for.  The FastCap tapes are very good IMO.  I'm not sure what other brands you have over there.  I'm waiting for some samples from Hultafors that are supposed to be good.

ok, accuracy,  [big grin]  maybe I walked into that one....

but what I meant was, is there a way to distinguish whether the metal end hook will remain "accurate" in its movement during usage and over time.  I already went ahead and got woodpecker rulers for accuracy.  What construction elements make a great tape measure?

I suggest you do a search on the FOG for FastCap or Fast Cap tape measures.  Especially since you're bringing up Woodpeckers rules and accuracy.  Read the gamut, then decide for yourself.

 

[RONWEN]

Ok, here's a really newbie question regarding tape measures.

I recently picked up a few of the Fastcap tapes at my local woodcraft.  I wanted some metric and metric/imperial ones and ended up with two of the flat, non metalic types (which both happen to be in white cases).  These are the "limp" type rulers which lie flat are are similar to tailor tape measure but in rolled form.  One is only metric, and one is metric/imperial with story board.

I went with these because it seemed like in all the metal curved rulers, there was give on the hook at the start of ruler.  I found that almost all my metal tape measure have this give, and it really bothers me since I'm not sure if I should be measuring it pulled right, and what to do for inside corners.  This came up more recently when I was trying to square up the guides on my mft.  I later picked up a woodpecker square.
I noted that for the flat tape rulers, there was no give at all.

Should there be no give on the end hook of the metal tapes?  or, how is it properly used when trying to do precise measures?  normally i've just started the measure 1" in when I'm trying to be precise, but moving from home improvements towards furniture, I guess I'd like to clear up this nagging question...

thanks in advance!

The "give" is the thickness of the metal hook so they read correctly on both inside and outside measurements.

EDIT:  Whoops, I failed to notice page #2 & the question was already answered.  [embarassed]

 

[IWT-Tom]

I don't know how others work and it depends on the type of work you are doing.  But I prefer a good ruler wherever practical.  Though the FlatBack kind of gives me both.

 

[goforbroke442nd]

Accuracy is what you are looking for.  The FastCap tapes are very good IMO.  I'm not sure what other brands you have over there.  I'm waiting for some samples from Hultafors that are supposed to be good.

ok, accuracy,  [big grin]  maybe I walked into that one....

but what I meant was, is there a way to distinguish whether the metal end hook will remain "accurate" in its movement during usage and over time.  I already went ahead and got woodpecker rulers for accuracy.  What construction elements make a great tape measure?

I suggest you do a search on the FOG for FastCap or Fast Cap tape measures.  Especially since you're bringing up Woodpeckers rules and accuracy.  Read the gamut, then decide for yourself.

A good suggestion.  Did the search, but didn't see too many posts regarding accuracy of "Fastcap" tapes...are there known problems with the accuracy?

On the QC side, when I was playing with the various colored rulers at the local WC, the back clip did pop off one of them.  Either the screw was never included or it came off when I slid the ruler off the display.  Looks like the company itself is almost festool-like in replacements, and since I'm a hobbiest, not too concerned about being "out in the field" when this happens.

There are a lot of choices I see when it comes to tape measures from Stanley,Husky,Stabila, Kojima...too bad the festool version was not as clearly superior in this area!  Feeling like with all the research for all the various shop tools, too much time studying and not enough time making!

add:  Before the fastcap, my go to ruler for the past few years has been a little green komelon.  Still like that one, so know that I know why the metal hooks move, I look into getting the fastcap version in metric. 

 

[Steve R]

Accuracy is what you are looking for.  The FastCap tapes are very good IMO.  I'm not sure what other brands you have over there.  I'm waiting for some samples from Hultafors that are supposed to be good.

ok, accuracy,  [big grin]  maybe I walked into that one....

but what I meant was, is there a way to distinguish whether the metal end hook will remain "accurate" in its movement during usage and over time.  I already went ahead and got woodpecker rulers for accuracy.  What construction elements make a great tape measure?

I suggest you do a search on the FOG for FastCap or Fast Cap tape measures.  Especially since you're bringing up Woodpeckers rules and accuracy.  Read the gamut, then decide for yourself.

A good suggestion.  Did the search, but didn't see too many posts regarding accuracy of "Fastcap" tapes...are there known problems with the accuracy?

On the QC side, when I was playing with the various colored rulers at the local WC, the back clip did pop off one of them.  Either the screw was never included or it came off when I slid the ruler off the display.  Looks like the company itself is almost festool-like in replacements, and since I'm a hobbiest, not too concerned about being "out in the field" when this happens.

There are a lot of choices I see when it comes to tape measures from Stanley,Husky,Stabila, Kojima...too bad the festool version was not as clearly superior in this area!  Feeling like with all the research for all the various shop tools, too much time studying and not enough time making!

I started this tread /review of FastCap tapes. I have found all my my FastCap to be spot on to each other and every other tape I have. Some people say they are junk. My experience has been they are great.

Cheers,
Steve