What is a Measuring Tape?
A tape measure or measuring tape is a flexible ruler used to measure length or distance. It consists of a ribbon of cloth, plastic, fiberglass, or metal strip with linear measurement markings. It is a common measuring tool.
How To Use Measuring Tape In South Africa
The true zero hook feature will keep measurements accurate.
The first inch on a tape measure is actually short by 1/16 of an inch, because the metal on the tang is exactly 1/16 of an inch.
So for measurements taken from the inside edge of an object, such as measuring the length of a wall from corner to corner, the tang slides back against the blade, and the metal of the tang is added to account for the “missing” 1/16 of an inch.
Round up to err on the side of larger.
When reading a tape measure, the edge of the object may fall between two lines on the blade. To avoid cutting too short, always round up to the larger measurement. At worst, you will need to measure and cut again, but that is far better than wasting a piece of material that’s 1/16 of an inch too short for your needs.
Use the housing for inside measurements instead of bending the tape.
It’s a common mistake when taking inside measurements (such as the inside width of a bookshelf) to pull the blade out further than necessary and then bend it to fit against one side of the object while the tang is pushed against the other side.
Bending the tape can lead to an estimate instead of an exact measurement. Instead, sit the base of the tape measure against one side of the object to be measured.
The curve of the blade improves tape rigidity.
Tape measure blades are slightly concave to increase the blade’s rigidity when in use. This curve lets the blade be pulled out further without losing stiffness, helping take longer measurements with more accuracy.
Use the serrated scribing tool at the end of the blade when a pencil is not at hand.
The dull serrated edge on the end of the tang can also be used as a marker. If you don’t have a pencil or marking tool handy, run the serrated edge back and forth across the material being measured to mark the spot.
Don’t mistake the nail and screw grab for a simple hole in the tang.
The tang also has a small hole in the end, just above the serrated edge, specifically designed to be hooked onto a nail or screw—very helpful when measuring a flat surface and working without a partner.
Simply insert a nail or screw to the side of the surface, grab the head of the fastener with the hole of the tang, and pull out the blade to take a quick, accurate measurement.
Is a measuring tape M or cm?
Tape measures come in both Imperial Units (inches and feet) and metric (centimeters and meters), featuring unit breakdowns for further accuracy.
How long is 1 cm on a tape measure?
Metric tape measures feature 10 marks to the centimeter. The smallest marks on a tape indicate one millimeter or 1/10th of a centimeter.
The large, bold markings on a metric tape measure indicate centimeters. The long mark in the center indicates a half-centimeter.