Hard to find a decent tape measure? (specifically, the hook)

[ToolbeltDandy]

Does anyone else agree that the hook at the end of a tape measure should be completely fixed with no play whatsoever? Only my granddad's old tape measure is like this; all other tape measures I've encountered, regardless of price, have a loose hook that will give a slightly different measurement (by two or three millimetres) depending on whether the tape is compressed or under tension. Does that not bother anyone else?

I suppose a reasonable work around might be to use epoxy to try to fix all the hooks on my tape measures in the correct places, but I do wonder why, if they were able to fix them in place decades ago, why they don't now.

 

[Burnerman]

Thats intentional, surely...depending whether you are taking an internal measurement or an external one.....the free play is in accordance with the thickness of the tape material.
John

 

[HERTS P&D]

I was told that they are loose so that when the tape is 'snapped' back the end doesn't break off.

Andy

 

[crank39]

The play is intentional as burner says and is there so you can take internal and external measurements, you will find the movement in the hook is the exact same as the thickness as the hook.

 

[Stivino]

The play is intentional as burner says and is there so you can take internal and external measurements, you will find the movement in the hook is the exact same as the thickness of the hook.

Ditto, with a wee edit

 

[ToolbeltDandy]

Thanks guys! That explains it! Thank goodness times have moved on since the crap the sold as a tape measure decades ago!

 

[crank39]

The play is intentional as burner says and is there so you can take internal and external measurements, you will find the movement in the hook is the exact same as the thickness of the hook.

Ditto, with a wee edit

It was late

 

[^woody^]

I can imagine the OP wanting to buy one of these in the shop "no, broken ... no, broken ..... no, broken .... no ...."

Stanley FatMax tapes have the best hooks, and are the best tapes for that matter

www.stanleytools.co.uk/product/146972

 

[ToolbeltDandy]

I can imagine the OP wanting to buy one of these in the shop "no, broken ... no, broken ..... no, broken .... no ...."

Lol! That's pretty much exactly what it's been like every time I've encountered a tape measure! I've been checking every make/model I've come across.