Festool tape measure review.

[RONWEN]

Combination tapes invite errors.  They should be imperial or metric ONLY with my preference being straight metric.

I'm shocked you fellas like the combination metric/imperial tapes.  If someone hands me one I want to throw it back at them, it drive me nuts flipping the tape around to get an accurate reading. ...

In my response above, I did complain about having to reverse the tape and having to read updise down.  Dual scale tapes would be much better if they give preference to metric.

 

[butzla]

I took Stoolman's comment as he doesn't have an issue with the tape locking but rather having to "push to lock it" preferring instead to "push to release the lock".  I also prefer a push to release locking mechanism.

That's exactly what I was trying to say.  "Push to release".  If you've tried the "Leverlock"  the Rockler one is 1000 times better.  When you push the button to retract, it zings back to recoil.  Let off on the button and it snaps to attention instantly.  And instead of metric on one side, there's fractions.  

I have a Fastcap imp/metric.  I hate the locking mechanism!  It's clunky.  

Bill, sorry I didn't mean to hijack your thread.  I'll check out the Festool tape measure too.  One can never have enough in my shop, ...the way I misplace them.   [blink]

 

[score0matic]

since we have sorta muddled this thread up.  the tape that I really have come to love is the Cheap lil white/ black rubber armored Komalcon that you can get at Menards for $5  It fits great in the hand the lines are crisp (unilke the Stanley) the lock works well  and the return spring is longlasting.  I keep one in every kit that needs a tape.  The fact that it is super cheep is just a bonus.

It is the same tape that Milwaukee and Klein sell under their own name.

Dave I dont think there is any thing different than the color.

Craig

 

[Bill Wyko]

Well, IMNSHO I prefer the standard system of measurement. I like the features and I prefer a small tape measure due to the fact that my projects are typically small as well. The only draw back is that it's black, black tools have a tendency to disappear quickly but that could be solved by cleaning up a little better. [blink] There is no cloud or anything else forming my opinion, I just like the tape and its features. For me, I use the Standard/Metric feature to my advantage. It's a quality tool, it seems accurate, it has great features and it helps me learm more about the Metric system. One of the other things as I said before, is that it came to be by listening to the need of the wood worker. Not many companies do that anymore. Bottom line is, it's a great tape. [big grin]

 

[kave]

What size is the included Systainer?

 

[Frank Pellow]

Well, IMNSHO I prefer the standard system of measurement. I like the features and I prefer a small tape measure due to the fact that my projects are typically small as well. The only draw back is that it's black, black tools have a tendency to disappear quickly but that could be solved by cleaning up a little better. [blink] There is no cloud or anything else forming my opinion, I just like the tape and its features. For me, I use the Standard/Metric feature to my advantage. It's a quality tool, it seems accurate, it has great features and it helps me learm more about the Metric system. One of the other things as I said before, is that it came to be by listening to the need of the wood worker. Not many companies do that anymore. Bottom line is, it's a great tape. [big grin]

There is nothing very standard about the Imperial measurement system.  It's an archaic system that has long ago been replaced by most of the world.  [poke]  [tongue]

 

[RONWEN]

Well, IMNSHO I prefer the standard system of measurement. I like the features and I prefer a small tape measure due to the fact that my projects are typically small as well. The only draw back is that it's black, black tools have a tendency to disappear quickly but that could be solved by cleaning up a little better. [blink] There is no cloud or anything else forming my opinion, I just like the tape and its features. For me, I use the Standard/Metric feature to my advantage. It's a quality tool, it seems accurate, it has great features and it helps me learm more about the Metric system. One of the other things as I said before, is that it came to be by listening to the need of the wood worker. Not many companies do that anymore. Bottom line is, it's a great tape. [big grin]

There is nothing very standard about the Imperial measurement system.  It's an archaic system that has long ago been replaced by most of the world.  [poke]   [tongue]

Agreed, The "standard" system is the metric system.  [smile]

 

[Neill]

There is nothing very standard about the Imperial measurement system.  It's an archaic system that has long ago been replaced by most of the world.  [poke]   [tongue]
[/quote]

Frank,

Kind of funny.  I was always a metric naysayer.  Since I got into Festool about 18 months ago, I find myself thinking metric even when I see an Imperial measurement.  If someone says 5 inches I'm thinking about 128mm.

Neill

 

[Wood_Junkie]

Some things are just based on 'traditions'...  I don't really love the inches and fractions, but I don't (yet) love the metric system.  I appreciate it's simplicity and consistency, I'm just not used to using it.
But, should the obivous benefits of the metric system also be applied to other *measures*?  The standard calendar needs some work then... forget all these silly months, and seasons and dates.

I full year (including the leap-year 1/4 day) comes to 525,960 minutes, and 31,557,600 per year.  Now, who's to say what a "second" should or should not be, but let's assume we keep it the same.  (BTW, I do like the interrelatedness of one cubic centimeter of water = 1 gram and tha'ts the basis of the metric system, but it's still arbitrary).  But we can't really monkey with the 1440 minutes (24 hours) within a day, as that is closely tied to sunrise and sunset, which is pretty darn quantitative. 

So, units of time, please.  A 'chip' will be defined as 144 minutes.  There will be 10 chips in a 'chunk', thus forming one sunrise to sunrise period (what we currently call a day... how archaic!).
A standard work chunk could be 3 or maybe 4 chips, with a 1 chunk chip in the middle (European style!!)
A week could be renamed as a heap.  A heap, unfortunately, will be 10 chunks.  Ouch, bad for weekend lovers.  Oh wait, there are no weekends.  Just chunks and heaps.
10 heaps will form a block.  10 blocks will be a metric bore.  There are no seasons.  No "months".  Because, we're just counting.

...Can you tell I'm bored at work?

 

[surfmirrors]

Hi Guys,

Having been a sheet metal worker in the past, i have some tape measures from Sweden.
They have the metric scale along the bottom, and a circumference scale along the top. If you wrap the tape around something cylindrical/round it gives you the diameter.
It also has a point on the end and another on the casing, to accurately mark your work.
There is a small hole to put in a scriber to scribe an arc too.
There is a sprung piece folded away that gives internal measurements too.
Finally, on both sides there is a lip for 90' marking so not reaching for you square all the time,

This a great on the job and very accurate.
I will post some pics this week.

 

[surfmirrors]

Hi Guys,

Tried to upload some pics, but as some of you will know, it isn't straight forward when using a computer/site.
Images are too big apparently !

Anyway, tape measure is made in Sweden by T.A. LJUNGBERG  it says TALMETER on the other side but i guess that's Swedish for tape measure.
The button has to be pressed to release the tape, and it's very strong, mine are  over 20 yrs old now, ok, not used in anger everyday, but still in mint condition.

Will see if i have time to sit in front of this laptop and 'resize' some images...

 

[riha]

Hi Guys,

Tried to upload some pics, but as some of you will know, it isn't straight forward when using a computer/site.
Images are too big apparently !

Anyway, tape measure is made in Sweden by T.A. LJUNGBERG  it says TALMETER on the other side but i guess that's Swedish for tape measure.
The button has to be pressed to release the tape, and it's very strong, mine are  over 20 yrs old now, ok, not used in anger everyday, but still in mint condition.

Will see if i have time to sit in front of this laptop and 'resize' some images...

Here ya go, here is a link with info about the "talmeter", by the way, talmeter is not the swedish equivelent for "tape measure", it is just a brand name.

http://www.talmeter.co.uk/howto.asp

 

[GPowers]

I got this tape measure in the other day from Shane for my work in sysnotes. When I first picked it up I realized it had some different thing about it than most tapes. First it had a window on top so I could read inside measurements by butting the back of the tape to the inside of 2 surfaces and get a correct measurement. I saw this feature win the contest on cool tools. I had also seen a person submit a way of making a tape a compass for drawing arcs. This feature is also included in this Festool tape measure. Another feature that I like is that it has metric and standard measurements. This is a good way to learn the conversion from one to the other. I feel that this tape measure was developed by Festool paying attention to the needs of the real world of wood workers. There's just too many company's that try to knock off tools like the TS-75/55 or other individual tools when they should be paying attention to what we the wood workers themselves are looking for. It's not a single feature, it's a system of tools. This tape measure is another fine example of a system of tools as a whole not just a pick and choose of features. We as wood workers need a system that flows from one tool to another and that has features that lend to fast results without sacrificing quality. This is why I use festool over so many other brands. From their tape measure to the guide rail system and so much more. It's a fluid way to organize your work systematically. (This is not a paid review. Just my NSHO [big grin])

Everyone should have one of these tapes for sure. [wink]

Sorry to burst your bubble, but I have a tape measure that is 20 to 30 years old with all the features of the so called new and improved Festool one.

 

[JohnDistai]

The fandom over such trivial items really is pretty ridiculous.

 

[Peterm]

The fandom over such trivial items really is pretty ridiculous.

Well, not if it's something you use every hour of the day to make your living... I bought the Festool tape measure when it first came out as it had features I hadn't seen on a tape before, but have long since abandoned it in favour of Talmeter measures. IMO the Festool tape felt really cheaply made, the return spring was poor, the blade too thin, and as others have mentioned, the scales are the wrong way round, certainly for right-handed folks living in a Metric world....

@Surfmirrors; Talmeter tape measures are great - there have been a few threads about them, you'll pull them up if you do a forum search - my personal fave is the black 3-metre measure with the 25mm blade. I have the full set, but this is the one I use most

Cheers, Pete.

 

[surfmirrors]

well done riha for posting that talmeter link..
peterm, i agree with you about the talmeter tapes, they are very accurate i find, and the spring is as strong as ever 20 odd yrs later.

 

[Winchester]

Dual read metric/imperial tapes are crap. One or the other. Most times when you need to measure an edge you can only do it in one direction so you're stuck with whatever units are on that side of the tape. Half your measurements can be metric and half imperial.  [mad]

I don't like any tape measure that you have to hold down with a lever.  I've always been a fan of the Stanley "Leverlock" ...it works in reverse, you need to press down on the lever to release the tape.  Then I found  this beauty at Rockler.  It works just like the Leverlocks but way betta.  Only 4 bucks too and the green is a dead match Festool green to boot.  I recommend adding one to your next Rockler order.

I use the Komelon Stainless Steel Self-locking tapes. They stay out and then retract when you press the button. I used to like the leverlocks better than normal tapes but they can be annoying sometimes if you press down or lean on it by accident and the tape retracts.  [tongue]

 

[iandoug]

I recently purchased a Festool tape measure and have since had the opportunity to use it on numerous occasions.  In my humble view, this tape measure does not measure up to the Festool quality of many of their products.  To Festool please don't let your marketing department cloud your focus towards best quality.  I don't know whether or not this item is sourced from another manufacturer or not but I suspect it is the case. Please, Festool "stick to your knitting", you certainly don't need to "borrow" any other manufacturers product.l  If you want to market a tape meaure then make one in the Festool stable and I am sure it will be best quality.  Based on your modus operanti, you don't need anyone else

 

[tbellemare]

It's a BMI tape. If you look on the scale just to the right of the 2" label, it is marked there.

Tom

 

[EcoFurniture]

I have used mine now for almost three weeks in a shop setting. I really like the size! So far it's absolutely accurate. Measuring inside dimensions is very easy with this tape, especially deep inside a cabinet! The only thing I don't like, is the weak spring /retract mechanism. Other than that, it's works just fine.