One day, three tape measures...

[danrush]

It all started out as a nice, easy Friday.  Cut and install some backing plates for the crown job that is to start on Monday.
The only tough part; a run of cabinets 10' tall.  ( Usually, if I can't reach it with a 4' step ladder, I don't want the job)  But I brought along a 6' step. All's good. 

I decided to get the tall stuff done first.  My first pull on the tape, and whoops there it goes.  Bouncing along the stone floor, leaving pieces behind with every acrobatic flourish.  No worries, I have a spare in the truck.

After an hour or so, all going well, it's time for a break, off to the porta potty, then a cup of joe.  Yep, as I'm buckling my belt, plop.  I watched in disgust as my new tape waived goodbye as it sunk to the lower depths of it's new home.

Now it's back to the truck.  Not for a tape, but a trip to Home Depot. ( hey how many spares should one need? )  You know how big box stores are, 43 racks of humidifiers, but not a decent tape in the tool isle!.  I picked one for the day, good enough for backing plates.  Doesn't have to be perfect.  Back to the job.

Here's my MO for cutting blocking and other rough boards.  I pull the tape on the board, line up the Kapex's lasers to the tape, remove the tape and cut.  Not precise, but quick.  I know you see it coming...  I cut the board, and the tape at precisely 22 1/4". 

I will finish the blocking on Monday!!!

Dan

 

[JohnDistai]

Hopefully you have the weekend off to "recuperate"?

 

[danrush]

I'm going to the tool store for a GROSS of new tapes!!!!

Dan

 

[score0matic]

Dan
I know you have read the recent "urgings to be kind to one another here"  and not to tease and belittle others on this forum........Boy you must have a ton of faith in the Basic Goodness of your fellow FOGers to post this  [big grin] [big grin] [big grin]

Craig....Who wants to be a Smart Alac so badly.....

Ps.  Cute story

 

[Brice Burrell]

Nice story, we all can relate. I worked for a guy that needed the saturation approach for pencils and tapes. He'd drive my nuts, he'd show up everyday with a tape or pencil. You'd go to his van and literally trip over them. 

 

[Jonhilgen]

I can somewhat relate...first pull of the tape this morning and wheee!!!The first 24" come out and the other 23' roll up quite nicely inside never to be seen again.  Not to worry, a fellow who was standing around watching me all day (he was being paid by the homeowner to stand and watch since they are out of town) has a tape measure I can borrow.  He brings me a 16' foot Task Force tape measure with the first 8" or so bent so I can't get a decent read on it.  I'm too far away to get to the Depot or Lowes, so I'm stuck using it all day. 

Not as bad as your story...but at least your tape didn't  splash up and hit you when it hit the bottom!

Thanks for the comic relief.

 

[peter halle]

Dan,

I feel for you brother.  A little known fact - but true - is that the leading cause of cell phone replacements for men is just what happened to tape #2.  But because I like you, and as someone who has posted an embarrasing moment or two here - I want to thank you for educating us once again.  

As a moderator I am tasked with attempting to help my fellow Fogger, so I have a solution for you.  A tool for your arsenal:

[attachimg=#]

Peter

 

[peter halle]

Dan,

I found your "GROSS" of tapes:

[attachimg=#]

Not quite 144, but still gross. [poke]

 

[Corwin]

Dan,

I feel for you brother.  A little known fact - but true - is that the leading cause of cell phone replacements for men is just what happened to tape #2.  But because I like you, and as someone who has posted an embarrasing moment or two here - I want to thank you for educating us once again.  
...
Peter

Yeah, if you were to have rescued that tape, it would likely forever be known as tape #2.    [scared]

 

[PaulMarcel]

Not as bad as your story...but at least your tape didn't  splash up and hit you when it hit the bottom!

Uhg, now we know... it didn't splash cuz it hit 'dirt'...

 

[woodguy7]

Ah well, as peter said about most common things to happen.  I lost 2 cell phones. !st the same as tape no 2 & the 2nd dropped in a mug of tea  [eek]  I wouldn't have thought it was possible.  [crying]

Woodguy.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I once lost 3 hammers working on the same house [eek] [mad]

 

[Inner10]

I feel your pain, I just about start everyday with a new box of pencils and sharpies...don't lend me your pencil ever!

One of my first attempts at cutting drywall resulted in about 3 cut tapes. LOL [embarassed]

 

[richard.selwyn]

I don't want to own up to how many tapes I take to site (OK well, usually 4, but I have sawn through one and had a second one break on the same day)
I don't have a cell phone any more.  My overalls have a nice little pocket in the leg where the cell phone fitted perfectly.  If you shook the overalls upside down (or were in the porta potty) it wouldn't come out.
My wife loves doing loads of washing.....
I now borrow her phone.
Richard

 

[bruegf]

Three tapes in one day is enough to piss a guy off!!  But better the tape than fingers.

Fred

 

[bruce-ter]

A local store carries fastcap tape measures at ridiculous prices, 16 foot for $1.49.  I have 3 more in the car just in case.

 

[WarnerConstCo.]

I once lost 3 hammers working on the same house [eek] [mad]

I was cleaning my garage sunday and found one of those hammers in a almost empty box of coil nails, that was under about 6 other things.

I either have too much stuff or not nearly enough space. [cool]