Tape measure

[Tim Brennan]

My Festool tape measure stopped retracting so I took it apart but cant put it back together.

Has anyone successfully reassembled one of these or should I give up?

 

[Roseland]

I did, but it took me hours!  It still doesn't retract as well as it should and, since it's not very accurate (see other posts), it just lives in the drawer unused.

Andrew

 

[NHSP759]

That's really sad. I bought mine six months ago and it never retracted all the way. I bought a Metric Fastcap, it was a lot cheaper and is dead on accurate.

 

[wow]

I think I found the instructions, and it's only four steps:

1. Collect parts in box. Make sure you've got them all.

2. Find source for Hultafors TALMETER Marking Tape Measure

3. Order or purchase above item.

4. Place Festool tape and box in garbage can (or 'bin' if you speak metric!)

[big grin]

Seriously, I have never had success repairing a tape measure. YMMV

 

[Sparktrician]

I think I found the instructions, and it's only four steps:

1. Collect parts in box. Make sure you've got them all.

2. Find source for Hultafors TALMETER Marking Tape Measure

3. Order or purchase above item.

4. Place Festool tape and box in garbage can (or 'bin' if you speak metric!)

[big grin]

Seriously, I have never had success repairing a tape measure. YMMV

Concur on the Talmeter!!!  Great tapes!!! 

 

[wrightwoodwork]

If it don't work I just throw it in the bin.

 

[SittingElf]

Talmeter tape measure available on Amazon for $24.75 including free shipping.

Hultafors Talmeter Tape Measure - Amazon

Cheers,

Frank

 

[VW mick]

Wow I like that .'if you talk metric'

Can we get those in double metric in the uk ..?

 

[jimbouk]

Mick, its tools has double metric in 3m

 

[overanalyze]

I really like this little guy from BMI. It has both metric and inches.

 

[40grit]

How to:

 

[wow]

First, [member=40269]40grit[/member] [welcome] to the FOG!

Great first post. Loved the use of the Festool drill to tighten it up. Certainly would not have worked that well with a different brand, huh?!

[thumbs up]

 

[Tyler Ernsberger]

I am very hard on tape measures and the best one I have found is the Stanley Fatmax.  It has a hold out of 13ft, not many tapes can do that.  Being a professional carpenter I use my tape all day long and found the Fatmaxs hold up very well.  I agree with WoW, not worth repairing a broken tape.  I date all my tapes when I buy them and I have a couple that are 4 years old and still work great considering I use them everyday. 

 

[DB10]

The Stanley Fat Max's have lasted the longest for me too.
mine can take quite a bashing and I find that once A tape measure starts to not retract properly or snags when you pull it out, then it's time to just throw it away.

 

[rst]

I also use the Stanley's for door and glazing work but use the Hultafors in the shop for precision work.  I always check new tapes against my existing to insure markings are identical and it's amazing how far off different tapes can be.  In glass work we only guarantee to the 3/32 because of the range of differences in measures.

 

[Gary in Texas]

I moved to the Fast Cap tapes a few years ago, have many and so far have withstood the abuse.  They have them in lefty or righty, imperial and metric, and so on....

 

[Phil Beckley]

How to:

Hi
I just followed this to repair 2 tapes in the Festool U.K training area - cool post and thanks [big grin]
rg
Phil

 

[erock]

I moved to the Fast Cap tapes a few years ago, have many and so far have withstood the abuse.  They have them in lefty or righty, imperial and metric, and so on....

+1

The Festool tape is junk. 

Also, I found Hultafors to be a very nice tape measure.

Eric

 

[NHSP759]

+1 Eric. I hate mine. Buuuuut.....my Fastcaps are awesome...I just got the Square One and the Burn One in Metric/Imperial. Awesome tapes.

 

[Ed Bray]

I got given a Festool Tape Measure as a 'Secret Santa' item from another forum, I was really chuffed to receive it until I checked it against other measures, it is not even close to being accurate, even against it's own scale. I must admit, had I bought it I would have sent it straight back.

Festool are supposed to be synonymous with precision tools and if they can't get something as simple as a scale on a tape measure correct or even consistent along its length it is a poor job.

On the other hand and as a positive note I do rather like using my Festool folding rule.  [wink]