When measuring with a tape or ruler, I find it best to start with the 1 inch and go off that as that would be a more precise starting point than the end which can get damaged.

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Throw 'em out and buy a few Stanley Fat Max like someone mentioned above. We have no issues with them at all. At one time, my men would buy these cheap POS tapes and I see them on the job. They twist, only to have to go back and do siht over again like hooking to measure a wall with the twisted tape coming off 15' down the road. What a waste of time. We buy them by the box.

Over the decades I've had many tape measures, a lot of them have give up with broken springs or torn tape, but I have never had one develope a twist like those. The only thing I would hazard a guess at would be jamming the end of the tape repeatedly.

Best
Les

Another for the Stanley FatMax, really good tape. My preference is the smaller 16' vs 25'.

FatMax is one of the best tapes I've owned. I have a Craftsman that has performed well too.

I have probably at least one tape of every brand out there. I must have around 20 or more.

My fave and everyday go to. Have one in every size

https://i5.walmartimages.com/seo/Luf...8&odnBg=FFFFFF

Time for a blue pill...

I get the 25’ Fat Max, as many times, I am measuring in feet. If I need to measure more than 25 ‘ I measure from one direction, make a mark and then measure from the other direction, to get the total distance.

Speaking of measuring, do you pull the tape with your left hand on the long end of the board and mark with your right? This way, the long piece is supported and when you cut it with a miter box or skill saw, the short piece falls off. Otherwise, you would measure and have to flip the board.

Of course measuring it this way, you pull past your measurement and your right hand crosses over your left arm, to mark it. Kind of awkward, but it’s the way I do it.

Have a friend that bought a HF tape measure, turns out it was 1” off at 20’. I guess if this is the only one used it would be consistent.

It's a feature not a bug. You know today's lumber is like that.

modern problems require modern solutions

I'd rather measure stuff with my Fat Max instead of my Stanley.

Hah! I have told the bozos at Home Depot more than once that the crap on the rack would be fine if I was building propellers…

Lol! :D

.

You must only work on small projects:D

Yes. Smaller, do-it-yourself type of projects.

I am a novice in these matters ... never knew such problems even existed. I have a dinky 100' POS for outside yard work .... and a 25'er that I've had forever .... as long as I don't lose it .... it'll be my last one.

It's name is Stanley.

Lucky me .... I had no clue ;)

ROFLMAO!

You guys bustin' out your Starrett for this job?

https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/...1000_QL80_.jpg

Looks to me like the end hook got caught on something and you or a helper tried to unstick it from a distance by twisting and pulling. It doesn’t just happen by doing it once, but it adds up after doing it multiple times.

I think we have a winner. This is the answer, 100%.

Oh siht, your DIY had me spitting coffee through my nose. Too funny