That contractor who taught me how to read a tape measure in 20 seconds flat

I was framing basements for a guy named Mike in Cleveland about 6 months ago, and he pulled out his tape and showed me the "add 1/16th for the blade thickness" trick. He said, "You're burning time if you hook it every time, just eyeball it from the 1-inch mark." Has anyone else picked up a tiny habit from an old timer that actually cut their field time?

2 comments

2 Comments

rose_young1mo ago

Why would you ever eyeball it from the inch mark? That just adds an extra step and a chance to misread. The blade thickness trick is solid but only if you're hooking it on something solid, not just taking a guess. Have you ever had a tape where the hook was bent or loose? That kills the whole point of the add 1/16th rule. I always check my tape against a ruler first thing, every time, before I start measuring. Saves a headache later when nothing lines up.

mason_knight1mo ago

Exactly. You mentioned it kills the point if the hook is bent, and that's the thing. I've actually started using a different method entirely. I grip the tape hook against the edge of my workbench or a square, but I pull it TIGHT so the hook is fully extended. Then I mark my cut. The key is that I NEVER use the hook for inside measurements unless I'm burning an inch. For outside measurements, I'm pulling it tight and trusting the 1/16th slop only after I've confirmed my tape's hook is perfectly square. Most people don't realize that even a brand new tape can have the hook slightly bent from the factory. I'd bet money half the frustration people have with tape measures comes down to that hook being a few thousandths off from day one. Check it against a combination square, not just a ruler.