LEXIVON tape is only 16 feet lo

2021/05/21

The LEXIVON tape is only 16 feet long, but its just the ticket for small jobs that dont require a longer measure. From what we could tell, in most ways its identical to the G-25 (same blade, same size, same tang, almost the same locking switch), so it appears that the additional cost is because of the spaced-out over-mold aesthetic. This durable tape measure features imperial measurements in 1/16-inch increments as well as centimeters. If not, it wont be missed. The thumb-operated blade lock is smooth, strong, and easy to operate with one hand, unlike some other more cumbersome models. After dropping, extending, and scrubbing the blades of 19 different tape measures with 60-grit sandpaper, we found that the best one is the classic 25-foot Stanley PowerLock Tape Measure. Some homeowners may find a FatMax to be overkill for occasional measurements, but for demanding workwhether youre a tradesperson or a homeowner doing a renovationweve found that its actually more manageable than similar tough tape measure designs from competing manufacturers. If you need a longer tape measure, depending on your needs, it may be worth investing in a 100-foot tape measure like this Komelon. We independently review everything we recommend. Stuart Deutsch of ToolGuyd also reviewed the PowerLock and the only fault he had with it was that he felt the smooth design of the case and sweaty hands dont mix too well. The numbers are easy to read, and the tool features a dual blade-locking system that impressed us. For this guide, I read what few reliable articles I could find online (there arent many) and talked to two other tool experts: Clint DeBoer, editor of Pro Tool Reviews and the writer of a very thorough 12 tape measure showdown, and Mark Clement, licensed contractor and co-host of the MyFixitUpLife radio show. The amount of movement should equal the thickness of the tang to ensure accuracy for both styles of measurement.2. Although this tape measure comes with only imperial measurements, it improves over some tapes in that incremental fractions are printed along the bottom edge of the blade. One handling issue that we had with these tapes is that the over-mold extends down from the case and covers the sides of the tang. They help the user locate the center of studs (as long as the structure was built in compliance with standard codes). This acts as a shock absorber when the tang comes slamming back into the case. The PowerLock has a blade stand-out of 7 feet, 10 inches, which is on the upper side of the limit indicated by Clement and DeBoer. The hook-under forks on the Ryobi 25-foot tape measure tang are a boon for hooking the tape beneath the bottom edge of an object, such as the underside of a tabletop. The ones with greater standout lengths received more points. It seems as though they literally catch the wind and the tape comes crashing down in a really thin heap of loud, flaccid steel.. It demonstrated rigid blade standout to just over 7 feet, making it a very decent tape measure for the price point, all things considered. When we dragged the weighted sandpaper over the PowerLock, the coating showed some surface scratching, but the printing remained fully intact. A really nice additional feature of the PowerLock is that the tape case is marked for inside measurements. Larger tangs can cause other problems as well. By Andrana Lefton and Glenda Taylor | Updated Mar 18, 2022 2:01 PM. DeBoer said that he primarily uses a 16, but he feels safer knowing that he has a 25 close by. Plus, it comes with a clip for easy carrying on a pocket or belt. The theory is that you can easily press a finger against the tape to control how fast it retracts as well as brake it and hold it at a certain length. Get the Komelon 300 ft. tape measure on Amazon and at Walmart. Small black triangles appear every 16 inches on many measuring tapes to denote standard 16-inch on center (O.C.) Doug Mahoney is a senior staff writer at Wirecutter covering home improvement. Last, with its long 50-plus-year history, the PowerLock is also something of an icon. Were familiar with reel tape measures and DeWalt products, so we had high hopes for this specific tooland we werent disappointed. Those looking to find the best tape measure for a specific project are likely to have some questions. DeBoer had a similar experience with the DeWalt 16-foot version, but he didnt test the Big J. This is a nice touch, but we also found that it had one of the weaker blade locks of any tape we looked at. The tape is self-locking as well, making it well suited to anyone who doesnt want to take the extra time to set the lock manually. It had the toughest blade of any tool we tested, its locking mechanism and belt clip were easy to use, and it combined a stable, wide base with a blade thats a quarter of an inch slimmer (and therefore flatter and more convenient) than your typical 1-inch contractors tape. Another category of measuring tools is the laser distance measurers. Its a basic tool whose pared-down simplicity makes it light, tough, accurate, easy to handle, and affordable. My experience is that tapes below $8 or $10 arent worth the cheap plastic theyre made of, and no tape measure is worth more than $20. It sure is handy, but you dont need it. For my Popular Mechanics piece, I dropped a Stanley FatMax 25 feet onto asphalt and it only showed some scuff marks.1, Another thing to look for is the design of the tang (the metal hook at the end of the tape). We actually heard it laughing at us. DeBoer, in the PTR roundup called the FatMax the rugged ubiquitous tape to beat.. This indicates the quality of the tang as well as its relationship with the tape blade. The tape started recoiling with even the slightest movement. Along with the button-stop system, blade durability was a weak point for the FastCap, as was the thumb-operated belt clip (it works like a snack bag clip and is tedious to use). We performed this three times with each tape.

While researching for this piece, I didnt include or exclude any tapes based on this feature. In that situation, I want to be able to give the tape a tug to make sure its securely hooked.

The most successful feature of the FastCaps is the erasable writing surface that sits on the side of the tape. For instance, it engaged at 4 feet, but the blade slipped a bit at 20 feet. The tang features a fold-down spike that can be fitted over a nail or screw head, and the Komelon comes with a separate bright orange spike for pushing into the ground to determine the origination point. For a Popular Mechanics article, I threw tape measures off a garage roof onto an asphalt driveway to test for durability. Clement used the term headache and DeBoer called themunwieldy. What happens is the tangs are so large that they catch on everything except what you actually want them to hook onparticularly the ones with top hooks that extend above the tape. Ive seen it go off scaffolding, down stairs and off roofs. This jobsite standard has proven its durability on countless occasions, and its wider 1-inch blade not only stands out unsupported farther than our pick, it also has a tougher coating and a larger tang that can grip an object from more positions than our pick. It comes with a standard blade lock, but then it has something else that we found to be innovative and a little ingenius: a pressure-sensitive button on the bottom of the case. It winds at an easy pacenot too quicklybut it doesnt take a long time, either. Stanley has a 25-foot auto-locking version of our upgrade pickFatMax with a unique tang-extension system. It also has a wider tape (1) and a greater stand-out (we got 11 foot, 3 inches). As Clement said, The blade of the tape measure almost always goes first. Thats because over time, grit, dirt, and debris enter the tape through the mouth and grind against the blade as it gets extended and retracted over and over. The tang on the PowerLock is minimal, but very effective. The PowerLock features a stainless steel case and comes with a strong blade lock that holds the extended blade firmly without slipping. According to the press release, [users] can connect the over-sized hook attachment for framing applications or remove it for standard applications. Although the tool likely has the FatMaxs durability, the added cost and the unusual tang put it out of the consideration here. Rather than the user needing to manually press a blade lock, the Komelon secured the blade in place by itself. The flexible fiberglass blade is coated with a rust-resistant coating that gives it some stabilityit didnt flip this way and that in the wind as some reel tapes are prone to doing. Its an excellent tape measure for anyone who wants to use both imperial and metric measurements. The FatMax has a top-hooking tang. nextec craftsman battery led flashlight capacity built DeBoer also picks up on the cost analysis in the PTR piece. We awarded points for durability and the quality of materials and workmanship and noted when a tape included both imperial and metric measurements. Keep it clean.. Learn more. The onboard pencil sharpener is also a nice touch, again, for the carpenterbut probably not useful to the home user. Plus, its fast and easy. Yes, its as fun as it sounds. The tapes bold black whole-inch numbers are large and easy to read against the muted yellow background. The tape comes with the standard graphic notations every 16 and 19.2 inches. The Zabiki comes with a 3-rivet tang for durability and features a sturdy case with a partial rubberized grip. A couple of the tapes, including the recommended PowerLock, are available with a dual metric scale, so if thats what youre looking for, you should be able to track one down easily enough. Theyre useful in construction settings but are unnecessary for your everyday tasks. DeBoer pointed out that the blade also rubs the point of entry every time it retracts. Every tape has a slightly different tang, and both Clement and DeBoer warned against large ones. The Milwaukee tape measure features a 3-rivet tang with hook-under forks that allow the user to snag the topside or the underside of the item being measured. Some (not all) of the newer measuring tapes also offer metric measurements. Still, its plenty accurate for calculating the width, length, volume, and area of rooms for appraisal purposes or to estimate paint, carpeting, or wallpaper. We were pretty impressed. This is a standard design on tape measures, and when clipped and unclipped repeatedly on a pocket, it starts to fray the fabric. Somewhere along the way, most likely for cost reasons, Stanley stopped making them out of metal and started making them out of plastic. Two other tapes tested, the DeWalt and the Johnson Big J, have locking switches that are so stiff they literally take two hands to operate. Compared to most of the 1 tapes, the tang on the FatMax is small. Small black diamonds appear every 19.2 inches, another standard spacing for wall studs or floor joists, although 16-inch O.C. As with all the tapes we tested, the Milwaukees measurements were spot-on. FastCap tapes are available with a variety of marking styles, from the standard 1/16 scale to the Lefty/Righty explained above. Any time you consistently need long measurements, one of these can save you a tremendous amount of time.

He lives in a very demanding 250-year-old farmhouse and spent four years gutting and rebuilding his previous home. I can hold the [PowerLock] in my hand, pay out tape, and bend the tapesay for measuring across a floor or from floor to ceilingin a fluid motion without having to readjust the tape in my hand..

If youre interested in more on these tools, Tools of the Trade has a nice round-up of the pro models, choosing the Bosch GLM 80as their overall favorite. Its also on the pricey side for a 1-inch tape. While DeBoer doesnt advocate always going for the longest stand-out, he also uses stand-out as a quality marker. Following this advice often requires the use of a tape measurea flexible cloth, metal, or fiberglass ribbon of variable length with measurement markings. Still, the measurements are highly accurateslipping notwithstandingand we could use the green button to lock the blade manually. All 300 feet of lime-green fiberglass tape are neatly wound around a center spool and held in place by strong molded polyethylene arm supports that keep it snug and evenly wound. We noted the quality of this tape measure during the initial inspection. Its an interesting feature, but as mentioned earlier, most people familiar with tape measures unconsciously do this already just by sliding their index finger forward and braking the blade at the mouth of the case instead. With tape measures, 25 feet is the most common length, although some are as short as 12 feet, and others are 30 feet or longer. Instead, you need to pull it straight out. We personally tested the best tape measures on the market to see if they lived up to their manufacturer claims. And while were interested in performance here and not historical status, the fact that the PowerLock was good enough to be packed on the Apollo 11 lunar landing mission means that its probably good enough for your kitchen drawer. It also features graphic markings every 16 inches and 19.2 inches, making it well suited for installing or pinpointing standard-spaced framing members. Theres no locking a blade in place or wondering if it will retract too quickly and snap a hand. With its ergonomic locking lever and durable blade coating, it was a contender, but the fact that its as tall as the PowerLock and as wide as the chunky FatMax made it difficult for smaller hands to grasp and use comfortably. They also sell tapes that have no rigidity in the blade, so they lay flat on your workpiece. The Milwaukee name is nationally known for high-quality construction tools and accessories, and the Milwaukee 25-foot self-lock tape measure is no exception. If youre hanging the tape in order to mark shelf heights or you have the blade locked at the right length to check a rug dimension in a few different rooms, you dont want the lock to release and start retracting every time it gets bumped. Stud marks make hanging pictures and installing shelves much easier, allowing you to anchor the nail solidly. If you want a wider, tougher tape and dont mind a higher price and a bigger, harder to manage tool, the Stanley FatMax 25-foot tape measure is a great choice. Anything less than an inch, though, is going to be flimsy, while the fatter blades (those above the 1-inch mark) make for a much bulkier tool. Tape width generally ranges from inch up to 1 inch. A big-pawed carpenter on a jobsite, though, could find a lot to like about this one. It features a smooth rubberized overmold, a steel belt/pocket clip, and hook-under tang forks that allow the user to snag the upper or underside of the item being measured. For a tape to have a long, productive life, the most important factor is blade durability. The following models all made the cutbut keep readingeach one comes with some upsides and a few downsides. We were impressed by the rubberized overmold that gives the Ryobi tape measure a soft, nonslip surface. It has held up despite numerous drops, and weve occasionally checked it against the Lixer tape measure calibrator and it remains accurate. We looked at how well a tape performed for its intended usage. Our standout test showed the Zabiki could be extended to almost 6 feet before it bent. This is an excellent feature for those who dont want to engage the blade lock by hand (some are quite stiff). Taking a cue from DeBoers article in Pro Tool Reviews, we tested all of the tapes against a Lixer Tape Measure Calibrator, which checks the accuracy of both the pull and push measurements. The PowerLock comes with a 3-rivet-reinforced tang for accurate measuring, and the blade features imperial-only measurements in -inch increments. As stated earlier, the PowerLock has been around for over 50 years and the one thing that has changed over time is the case. The stand-out of a tape is the distance that the blade can extend unsupported from the case and not collapse. We extended each one out to its maximum lengthsomething that may not happen in general usebut it was necessary to test how the ends of the blades were connected and whether pulling on them would pull them out of the case. First, the magnets are usually so powerful that they stick to everything, so dont even try to take a measurement near your refrigerator.

Both DeBoer and Clement agreed that a tape measure that can stand out unsupported for 7-8 feet is more than enough for at-home use. Any of the tape measures that earned a spot in our lineup can be considered to be among the best models available. TheKesonwas a nice compact unit, but had its failings. Anyone whos been cut by a metal tape blade that retracted too quickly will appreciate the pressure lock on the LEXIVON. A detachable piece turns the standard FatMax tang into a much larger one. We prefer a minimum of 25 feet for a tape measure most of the time, but the LEXIVON is a welcome exception. For this guide, we only looked at tapes with traditional locking buttons. Still, using the PowerLock for a carpentry project, we were comforted knowing that it is 100 percent dead-on accurate. Yeah, its a tape measure its what you expect, one person said. Those looking for a quality compact tape measure need look no further than the LEXIVON 16-foot tape measure, which comes with both imperial and metric measurements and graphic markings to denote 16-inch and 19.2-inch standard framing measurements. You can easily lock the blade with one hand. This mega distance can be helpful on a jobsite, but its really unnecessary for the home. When the lock is engaged, it should be strong enough to withstand that level of pulling and tugging. The FastCap tapes that we tested,the Old Standby and Lefty/Righty, have a similar feature, but its a button at the bottom of the case rather than a cutaway. None of the Johnson tapes performed well in the abrasion test. While this was a feature that took many other tapes out of consideration, the tang on the FatMax is designed differently. The Tajimas and FastCaps got high marks for their compact size, but they each have their own flaws that well get to in a bit. The people we asked to handle the tapes had similar experiences. In our research, we found that many longtime users of the PowerLock wistfully long for the days of the metal case. Get the Komelon 25 ft. tape measure on Amazon, at Lowes, and at Walmart. As mentioned in the How we picked section, for the Popular Mechanics article, I tossed one from a height of 25 feet and as I wrote then, the FatMax showed only scuff marks. Its our pick after 50 hours of research and three annual updates to this guide.