Fastcap tape rulers

[Kevin Stricker]

I have a couple Fastcap rules and both suffer from a weak tape clamp.  The one is about a year old and got lots of use (green lefty righty) the other is about 1 month old and is their new pro carpenter design.  I really like the readability, pencil sharpener, shape, and 32mm marks.  If I can't lock a tape down so I can make an accurate mark it is pretty useless to me. 

I used a 16' Husky for a couple years, but always was battling with the imperial/metric measurements.  I think it is due to the width of the tape, but found myself marking from the back side often to get a good imperial measurement.  The hook while good is also deadly on finished materials. The belt clip is on the weak side and the tape tends to pops off at the worst times.

The 16' Bostich is a great general carpentry tape, with better visibility and hook design than a Fatmax.  It's standout is also excellent.

 

[Sparktrician]

The 16' Bostich is a great general carpentry tape, with better visibility and hook design than a Fatmax.  It's standout is also excellent.

Concur on the Bostitch 16'.  It's dead-nuts on the money with my reference standard rule, and that hook is one that just doesn't slip off. 

[smile]

 

[morts10n]

I tried the Fastcap tape measures but didn't like them because the rivet plate for the hook obscures too much of the of the first inch. Stanley 16' are my go-to, especially since a bought 8 of them at Home Depot for $1.99 ea. ( obviously miss-marked but their loss, my gain).  I'm curious about the Tajima ones, though.

 

[Bill Chang]

I've been using Tajima tape measures for the last year and it's held up very well.  Black on off white is easy to read under all lighting conditions, neon pink highlights every 12", small back diamond on 16" spreads, metric and imperial on the same side for select models, smooth spool, good hook, nice rubber armor.  Dropped it a couple times no problems.

Unfortunately not made in Japan anymore.  Might try and find some on my trip over next time to Asia  [eek]

 

[JIM C]

I will be calling Fast Cap.  I have a few of their tapes and they all work fine except for the fact that the black rubberlike coating on the body makes black scuff marks on the wood being measured.  This is very difficult to remove.
I don't like that!

JIM

 

[magellan]

I have used Lufkin tapes for over 30 years in commercial construction.  Steel erection and layout. I find them to be pretty well made.  I've only seen them with Imperial measurements.  In my shop I have one metric rule that I love and would like to have another.  I received it at one of FELDER's open house's in Delaware.  They were giving them away as you entered.  It's perfect for the shop it 16' that's all I need and it's well made.  Maybe I'll have to go to another open house

 

[BJM9818]

I'm still a huge fan of the Fat Max 16'.  For my most recent project I bought a fast cap and festool tape. Not a fan of either. To small and fragil.

The orange place a few times a year has a 16' & 25' fat max together for $19.99. Just picked up three sets yesterday. Can never have to many.

 

[fdengel]

I have one or two of the Fat Max tapes - I generally prefer those for more construction-oriented stuff and the Fast Cap ones I have for woodworking.

 

[ear3]

I'll just add my +1 on the Tajima since this thread has been revived.  What I like is that the tab nests a little ways inside the body, so there's much less chance of it denting/warping if you drop it on the ground (which I do all the time).  Also the tape has a significant amount of tension on it with the lock off, such that the body hugs the opposite edge of the board, leaving both hands free to make a perfect mark.

Gang,

I highly recommend Tajima tape measures.  I made it my mission a few years back to find a good tape measure... and I did!

 

[coug]

FastCap does have excellent customer service, but you must understand (or accept) the way their products are.  They seem to be hit or miss with the importance to them of keeping manufacturing costs extremely low and parts/design costs extremely low, all for efficiency.  They like to run a lean, profitable machine.  I'd venture to say that for the amount of people actually contacting them about tool failures compared to sales, it's probably such a small percentage that they don't mind sending those other couple of tapes your way -- barely affecting their profits.  That can be viewed in both a good and bad way.  Personally I would like them to put more thought and quality into their products and get a tighter quality control out of their manufacturing overseas.  I'm sure not everyone shares my feelings though.

I agree with this.  I checked my fastcap against a rule and it was off 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch.  Changed to another brand and it was dead on.

 

[jaguar36]

  I checked my fastcap against a rule and it was off 1/16 to 1/8 of an inch.  Changed to another brand and it was dead on.

Same here, I was having an issue with some boards not coming out the right length, after lots of investigation I finally realized my fast cap tape measure was off by 3/32".  I then went and checked every other tape I had, and they were all spot on, including the dirt cheap freebee ones I've gotten, the craftsmen ones, Stanley and lufkin.  Tossed all the Fastcap tapes in the trash and won't be buying anything else from them.

 

[grbmds]

Love the Fastcap Flatback tape for measuring short distances. The Flatback allows the tape to lay flat on the wood and, because of that, gives a much more precise and accurate measurement. I found they are very accurate when compared against my Woodpeckers rules and squares. They come in a metric/imperial version and that's handy. The most annoying thing about these tapes is that they don't last very long. Since I am not a full-time woodworker, they don't get very heavy use. I'm on my 4th and 5th in the past 5 years. One drop on the floor usually destroys the return mechanism. Fastcap is always willing to replace them free of charge. However, it's just kind of annoying that they need to be replace so often. Fastcap has great service, I agree. The tapes aren't one of their higher quality products however.