absolute top tip

[mr brown]

been thinking about the best tip of all for self builders. i love tips , they can save you time , money and anguish ! having fitted out many vans , and houses of course, i've dealt with every trade, except plastering-i just can't do it .
so - woodwork , metalwork , plumbing , wiring, etc etc , what's needed in every case ?
NOT a crappy , bendy , rubbish tape measure !
one of these- don't be tight , this is a vital, basic bit of kit ,get 2 ,you'll be glad you did https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Stanley-...433878&hash=item3fb9b7d940:g:FZYAAOSwKqNcYvE2
, and when you're on a step ladder spooling out your tape to measure the length of your van and your rubbish tape collapses after being out only 5 feet - think about it !

i've got 3

 

[nabsim]

Does it come with instructions for younger users Nigel, they don’t know what Imperial is lol look at me gone out when I use feet and inches

 

[trevskoda]

Nigel they use lazers these days,do try and keep up.

 

[St3v3]

I have had fat max stuff and it's really good, but for tape measures I moved to these:

KOMELON KOMMPT516E PowerBlade 5m/16ft Tape Measure

The 16' Powerblade II is Komelon's latest upgrade to our Powerblade tape line. This tape features high visibility paint on the blade that makes it easier to read in all types of light. It also features larger printing to aid in readability and ...

www.toucantools.co.uk

Same strong blade, but numbered on both sides and has a magnetic end. Usually a good bit cheaper too.

8m length also available

 

[mr brown]

hi St3v3- just checked one of my tapes , it had a standout of 3m66, what's yours ?

hi Nabsim - metres and centimetres are things invented by johnny foreignbloke for when something isn't an exact number of inches long- very useful i heard

 

[St3v3]

hi St3v3- just checked one of my tapes , it had a standout of 3m66, what's yours ?

Not sure how you've measured it, but with the body in my right hand, and the tape supported in my left, it was out to 3.5m unwound from the body.

 

[Lee]

Not sure how you've measured it, but with the body in my right hand, and the tape supported in my left, it was out to 3.5m unwound from the body.

See Steve it doesn't quite measure up to a Fatmax.
As you know length is everything.
?????

 

[mr brown]

Not sure how you've measured it, but with the body in my right hand, and the tape supported in my left, it was out to 3.5m unwound from the body.

not bad -and a lot cheaper. i did it just sticking out of the tape body with no support

 

[St3v3]

.
As you know length is everything.
?????

Yea, whatever tripod.

 

[Deleted member 4202]

Or just go to Ikea and get cardboard glass carriers - don’t need to cut handle off as fit exactly !

 

[Wully]

I have a fat labour dose that count

 

[Pudsey Bear]

And for the lefties out there https://www.anythinglefthanded.co.uk/acatalog/left-handed-diy-tape-measure.html I bought it to use on my table saw, handy to measure for cuts with the writing the right way up, even though I'm right handed.

 

[time4t]

Even though I'm right handed, I usually hold the tape in my left hand & pencil in my right hand, so a tape that can be read from any way you want is a jolly good idea!!

Phill

 

[rory4881]

As a diy guy that works in an office my top tip that I’ve found useful is the quality of drill you have.
When I started my build I had a couple of cheap drills that were oversized and underpowered with poor battery charge.

I picked up a dewalt drill and impact driver set.
I can now work for much longer and the speed of work has definitely increased too.

For the awkward spots to work in the van the shorter impact driver is a lifesaver!