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Tape measure for woodworking and remodeling

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I recently discovered the best tape measure for woodworking and remodeling that I have ever found! They are made by FastCap.  I purchased a few different tape measures and I like them each for different applications.  They all have some really functional “on board” features.Best tape measure for woodworking and remodeling

They all have an integrated pencil sharpener.Best tape measure for woodworking and remodeling
“wipe off” note pad

If you need to make a note, there is no need to find a piece of paper, cardboard, a receipt, a scrap of wood… FastCap tape measures have a “wipe off” note pad so you can write directly on the tape measure.

Best tape measure for woodworking and remodelingAnd when that cut has been made you can either use a pencil eraser or just rub the face clean with your thumb. I don’t know what it’s made of, some kind of matte vinyl I guess but you can write and erase on this over and over and over…Best tape measure for woodworking

labeling

This baby has excellent labeling.  It labels the tic marks down to the 16th of an inch!  You know how many times I’ve heard: 13 plus a hair, 7/8 minus a tic…?  No more ladies and gents.  Red marks are 16’ths and the others are exactly what they say they are.  This is the first tape measure I’ve seen with 16th’s labeled.

Tape measure

Lefty/Righty Tape Measure

The  lefty/righty tape measure is great because when I’m standing at the miter saw, sometimes the material I’m cutting extends to the right and sometimes to the left, and no matter which direction I’m measuring I can easily read the measurement because the numbers are facing me on both sides of the tape.

Lefty/Righty Tape measure

Metric/Standard Tape Measure

The Metric/Standard tape measure has standard (Imperial) measurements on one side and Metric on the other.  This is especially helpful for me when using my Festool miter saw stand because the built in tape measure on the extension wings are metric.  I use the stop blocks all the time but need to know where I need to set in — in metric terms.  Also, when I’m trying to help someone across the oceans wide (ehem-Kristy), it’s useful to be able to figure things out in measurements I’m used to but see the metric measurement as well so I can explain in terms that their brain is used to.Metric and Standard tape measure

 

metric and standard tape measure - workshop fav.

Flatback Tape Measure

The Flatback lays flat on the surface so you can precisely transfer your mark to your material.Flatback measuring tape

 

Flatback measuring tape

It’s not always the big, expensive power tools that make cabinet building, remodeling and trim work easier.  Sometimes it’s the little gadgets that make all the difference!

Here are the Amazon links to each in case you are interested –(that’s where I ordered them from with free Prime shipping).

Lefty/Righty Measuring Tape   &    ProCarpenter Metric/Standard

Flatback Tape Measure

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Comments

  1. Thank you for the recommendation. I love the Lefty/Righty tape. I just bought 5 of them. You have heard me mention all the people that have offered help on my projects, well from now on that person will get a Lefty/Righty as a thank you. It is easier than trying to decide what kind of wine they like.:)

  2. Okay, that tape looks awesome, and your write up was great. It reminded me of an infomercial, “But wait!”

    • Yeah! It’s kind of hard to tell you about all the features without it sounding like that… and I thought it was funny!

  3. My husband bought one of these for me from Rockler a year ago and it has been glued to my hip ever since. These are fantastic tapes and Love, Love, Love the 16th marks. Great review and I whole heartedly agree!

  7. This is my first time here (I think I followed links that originally began with Between Naps on the Porch but I’m not sure…you probably know how THAT works!).

    We have a list of items that have to be in every room of the house (scissors, box cutter, bird cage, measuring tape). Dave probably has eleventy-seven measuring tapes but he didn’t have THIS one!

    I hope that was an affiliate link!

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