If you’ve made it to this point in your life and you don’t know what the tiny markings on the ruler or tape measure are, do not be worried. This article is for you. In the Museum I work at, I was a teacher of college students on how to hang artwork. From over twenty dozen, only two could read the tape measurement. Unfortunately, schools don’t seem to teach this critical ability. Learn all you must know about how to understand a tape measure and ruler. This includes knowing both imperial and metric (fractions) measurements.
Stanley, Starrett, and FastCap tape measurements. Each of them has distinct markings. This particular version of FastCap is referred to as”the Story Pole Tape Measure, and it is blank on one side and allows you to make your marks with a pencil and erase them later.
What is a tape measure?
Do you remember being taught to use the ruler back when you were in school, don’t you?
A tape measure, also known as a measuring tape, is an adjustable ruler. It’s bigger than the regular ruler and is much more convenient to use when measuring a large area or an entire piece of wood. Like a ruler, it also has markings at various intervals to help you measure.
Tape Measure Basics
Tape measures are a straightforward instrument. It is composed of four components:
Case: The case which holds the tape. Most issues come with an attachment clip to secure the device onto belts. In addition, most patients come with a measurement on the bottom of their edges that informs you precisely how wide this case is. This permits you to make an inside measurement like in a window frame and use the chance to complete the size. In this way, you can get an accurate reading without bending the tape to the frame’s corner and making assumptions.
Tape: A slightly curly metal tape that is flexible and has markings for feet, inches, and fractions of an inch. Some videos come with regular (Imperial) and measures in metric.
Hook: The metallic piece is loosely secured to the top of the tape to allow hooking onto the edge of aboard. It is important to note that the hook slides between two places. This allows for a slight adjustment to the size of the hook. This ensures that you’ll get the exact measurements regardless of pulling the tape away from the edge and pushing the turn towards an angle.
Lock The thumb slide is a lever or mechanism that, once engaged, will stop the tape from retracting. Use the lock when writing multiple dimensions within the same area.
Different tape measures are available, and which should I employ based on the task at the moment.
There are many different types of measuring tapes available, each specifically designed to be used for other purposes;
Surveyors tape – Located inside a drum, usually 50m+ in length, to set out and measure big things such as foundations.
The laser distance measure is often employed by surveyors again; I have mine to measure walls, etc., to estimate carpentry work quickly.
Digital Tape Measure A tape measurement equipped with a display for digital measurements is used to make rough measurements while making a quote.
Average tape measure Available in lengths ranging from 3m up to 25m. lightweight enough to be carried the tool bag. This is the one I use the majority of my time for carpentry work.
How do you read a tape measure?
Drawing of a ruler that illustrates every part of an inch. Notice the dimensions of graduations that appear on the tape vary depending on the fraction. For example, 1/2 is the most extensive, followed by 1/4, 3/4, and finally, the eighths, 16ths, and the smallest are thirty seconds. These divisions are most commonly used. However, you can also get the tape measure that is tenths or hundredths. I have an edging square that divides an inch into 100ths.
The stair calculator uses thirty seconds. Stair calculator and other situations like that to ensure accuracy is accurate. When cutting 16 stair risers, and you’re 1/16th of an inch off for each stairway, you’re missing by a full inch by the end. Even the 1/32″ out will result in an error rate of 1/8″!