Best Tape Measure? Stanley, Komelon, FastCap, Lufkin

What is the best tape measure for your purposes, Construction, Home Owner, DIY, or Woodworking? In this video, we compare several brands and try to decide which is the best! #best #tapemeasure #woodworking

SHOP HERE:
________________________________
OTHER TOOLS:

Follow Us on:
Instagram: @PatriotDIY

Thanks For Watching! Please Like, Share, and Subscribe!

0:00 - Intro/Overview
3:09 - Stanley PowerLock
7:00 - Lufkin Shockforce
9:21 - Stanley FatMax
10:40 - Komelon SelfLock
12:45 - Stanley LeverLock
14:53 - FastCap LeftyRightly
20:33 - FastCap AutoLock
21:10 - FastCap FlatBack
Accuracy Testing - 22:34
Standout Test - 24:45
Final Thoughts - 28:45

[To-Lo]

As long as you use the SAME tape for the entire project, it'll be work out perfectly. That's including a $2 one from Harbor Frieght. When you start changing tapes in the middle of projects is when slight variances start to show. Stick. To. One.

[nelsangelin]

One feature we like to look for in a tape is for the case to be used for a standard, easy read measure for inside measurement. Only a few will have the case read for inside measure as, 3" including the case. Cases marked for odd measures are hard to convert for direct inside measure.

[jpni]

You raised one of the most important topics on YouTube.

[F_viper_pilot]

The FastCap FlatBack should also allow one to measure around curved objected too, such as rounded archways for example.

[nsimpson]

I switch between the regular fastcap and the komelon, but I will be ordering the fastcap autolock right now

[ST-]

All of my tape measures are 25', and used for both construction and woodworking. 16' tapes may be okay for some construction like drywall or flooring; however, they are generally too short for construction when doing layouts.
Visibility is a big factor for me. The FastCap tapes have the least contract being black and white, so they are mostly a hard pass for me. I do have a Flat Back, because it can accurately measure around circles and curves.
I mainly use DeWalt and Craftsman tape measures, which are the same except for the case color. I'm pretty sure SB&D installs the same tape in both. They are black on yellow, and have the 1/8ths written out.
I do have a 25' FatMax, but the problem with it is that... well, it's fat. Very bulky compared to almost all other tape measures on the market.

[danielkelly]

There is (was) a tape measure out there that was great for woodworkers. The front was a regular tape but the back measured board feet. I don’t know if it is still available but I can’t find it on line. It is great when you go to the lumber yard to buy lumber.

[jeremyclaybaugh]

I always prefer a self locking 12’ or 16’. Performax from Menards and Bauer from HF are my first grabs. I have several other more expensive and they are just too bulky and not self locking.

[brandonhoffman]

I use my fatmax down to the 32nd ezpz. For the record thats what +/-, heavy/strong/light mean in my business.

Tight is right, keep it looking clean gentlemen! And ladies ofc, just never seen one in my trade...

[danielkelly]

For woodworkers why don’t any of the tap measures have a board feet scale on the back of the blade. There was one sold a while back but no longer available. This board tape measure is real handy when buying lumber . And I think most wood workers would like it if was available

[nelsangelin]

A prime purpose of the flat blade tape if to measure on a curved or for the perimeter of a round surface. You didn't mention that benefit.

[allenriff]

I like the Fast Cap tape measures, but have found they aren't all accurate. I do like the left/right and the flat back. What's important is the tape you start with is the tape you need to end with in woodworking.

[cyclops]

Komelon SelfLock 16 is 35 bucks on Amazon. That's ridiculous.

[carterscustomrods]

All of them are horrible. Fastcap are innacurate. Fatmax were good 20 years ago.
All of them have have flaws. I but tapes made in Japan or Germany now.

I'd pay $80 for a new (older) Fatmax

[youcanthide]

I'm a DIY/handyman guy 55 years old and doing my own shit for years. I've used many many tape measures over the years and they all have their pros and cons as far as I'm concerned and they certainly got incredibly innovated over the years. With that said I just ordered a 16 foot pro Carpenter standard reverse, although I'm sure some of the old-timers will find this gimmick for me. It's a game changer. Anyway, that's just my two cents.

[Jazzforyoursoull]

Carpenter here. Something about lufkin measures, and I've tried multiple models. They've always measured a bit off compared to stanley or dewalt, etc, measuring tapes. Usually just 1/64th-1/32nd compared to american-made. Might be something to do with the ends of lufkin measures being too loose and not accommodating for an accurate amount of play when measuring outsides and insides. Cutting cabinet parts and panels to perfectly accurate on my nearly-new stanley tape measures, and a couple dewalt tapes, I get them spot on the line and accurate within 1/128th of an inch with stanley/dewalts. With the multiple lufkins in the shop, the cuts always seem very slightly under using lufkin tape measures because of the end play, so reading those tapes it makes my cuts seem that far out compared to american tape measures.

The difference and variation within a 32nd doesn't exactly matter because it's within our standard, but it irks me when I want things to be perfect and we don't have a more proper metric as to which tape measure brand correlates to the exact measurements without whipping out a pair of calipers. It's pretty nebulous with how tape measures correlate to the size of materials on a finer scale carpentry-wise. As far as I'm concerned, I trust the stanley fatmax and dialing in my cuts to measurements based on their tapes for work in north america.

Great and informative video nonetheless

[tomdelese]

this video was very helpful especially since i never heard of fastcap and will now be purchasing one for my shop

[robhudsonnc]

The tape measures with the measurement variations could over longer distances be even further off. I use FastCap 12 and 16 foot ones primarily for woodworking and Komelon 25 foot for construction/diy.
.

[mariondorsett]

I think the best tape measure is going to be subjective to the person using it. I have the komelon high visibility 16' tape measure. I make the least amount of measuring mistakes with it, and it wasn't included in your tests :D

[afpitbull]

Yes, I have the 16' Stanley Leverlock. LOL I recently purchased two different versions of the FastCap. I also have the ToughBuilt ProBlade 35-ft Magnetic Tape Measure.