Ken's Deputy 4,456 Posted January 24, 2022 Report Share Posted January 24, 2022 Come on, lads. This place is deader than our basic freedoms. Let's talk about something! I've just spotted my steel tape. Buried in a heavy job I was working on yesterday. Sadly, my tape is now Fukked! FUBAR. I'm tape shopping This was a Dargan 5m / 16ft. No wonder I so often found it that aggravating bit 'something missing' on bigger jobs! Amazon now shows me 8m / 26ft. was probably what I'd grown used to. That's on my list then But, what else is there? With so many steel tapes out there. So many brands. All looking so much of a muchness ... What may I be looking for, please? (Even just homing in on " Stanley " branded leaves it wide open). Suggestions and insights, please? I'm only an occasional DIYer. But, my tape lives right beside me, on this desk. It's probably my most used tool. Thanks. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken's Deputy 4,456 Posted January 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2022 Just to add a splash of colour. This is what a Fubar Dargan looks like! Ouch! Eh? 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
gnipper 5,945 Posted January 24, 2022 Report Share Posted January 24, 2022 I got a couple of Stanley fatmax tapes as they were on offer in screwfix when I was in there but I think a tapes a tape and they all go knackered pretty easy now. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Greyman 25,166 Posted January 24, 2022 Report Share Posted January 24, 2022 Just go into any BandQ, Wickes type of store unwrap a tape as you browse to measure something your thinking of buying then simply pop it on your belt/waste band when you leave, 6 1 4 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
lurcherman 887 12,670 Posted January 24, 2022 Report Share Posted January 24, 2022 8 minutes ago, Greyman said: Just go into any BandQ, Wickes type of store unwrap a tape as you browse to measure something your thinking of buying then simply pop it on your belt/waste band when you leave, Wickes is easy for a handful of screws lol Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken's Deputy 4,456 Posted January 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2022 This caught my eye, lads! I'm bloody sure my Dad had one of these in his tool box. And he's been dead over half a century now! Amazing the 'look' is still around! Pointless little red 'button' 'n all: For the sake of inclusivity though ..... The Amazon Deliverer (What we used to call a 'Postman') has just been. Of course, I reached for my Stanley Blade. That too got me thinking; Must have had This bloody thing since time began too. Barely recognisable, amongst the weirdly angled, black and yellow things of today. Am I missing anything? Should I go Fat Max? Or, will this do just as good at slitting sellotape? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLATTOP 3,655 Posted January 24, 2022 Report Share Posted January 24, 2022 I’ve got loads big ones little ones some have even fallen out of fancy Christmas crackers but this is my go to tape Stanley a name you can trust. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken's Deputy 4,456 Posted January 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2022 BB; I'm a sucker for a Stanley tool, mate. (Despite their now being as chink as 'Anything' else, these days! ) But, I Think I just stumbled upon a Fukking Strong contender! Look! Not only are Milwaukee ~ as far as I'm aware? ~ possibly the only remaining tool still Not made in chink (or Taiwan etc) But, look at the Shape of this thing! Biggest pain in my arse, Ever, with tapes? The fukking things falling over!!! Ye must've had that? There ye are, fifteen foot away from the body. And the fukking thing arbitrarily decides to flop over on its side. Or, worse? Fall clean off the fukking job! God, I Hate that!!! Looks like some genius has spotted that fault and answered my prayers, look! A tape like a toad. Squat as fukk and sucking the ground. Perfect! I reckon This bad boy would be hard to beat! 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ken's Deputy 4,456 Posted January 24, 2022 Author Report Share Posted January 24, 2022 Ahaa!!! Flats! So, you're obviously a bit of a connoisseur. What ye make of my Milwaukee? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
FLATTOP 3,655 Posted January 24, 2022 Report Share Posted January 24, 2022 12 minutes ago, Ken's Deputy said: Ahaa!!! Flats! So, you're obviously a bit of a connoisseur. What ye make of my Milwaukee? I’ve just looked above it’s a thing of ergonomic beauty, my lad uses Milwaukee drills and swears by them treat yourself as you say it’s been thought about and isn’t going to topple over which as you say is a sickener right at the crucial moment of measuring. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Chid 6,376 Posted January 24, 2022 Report Share Posted January 24, 2022 Any one who thinks a tapes a tape doesn't use it enough .. I tend to buy cheap ones for work because the measurements soon wear off , was using a Stanley fatmax one and it lasted no longer than the cheap couple quid specials the boss buys. I'm using a cheap Magnuson one now from Screwfix and it's lasted the longest out of the lot . 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kanny 19,331 Posted January 24, 2022 Report Share Posted January 24, 2022 55 minutes ago, baker boy said: Good enough for small jobs What I use 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
kanny 19,331 Posted January 24, 2022 Report Share Posted January 24, 2022 Just to add I replace my tape every couple of months, over the years I've used the cheapest to the most expensive, both extremes are false economy so I go middle of road , the Stanley stuff. 3 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Borr 4,478 Posted January 24, 2022 Report Share Posted January 24, 2022 As said Stanley tylon two for a tenner Screwfix. 2 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Daniel cain 42,804 Posted January 24, 2022 Report Share Posted January 24, 2022 Follow Greyman's advice not payed for a tape for a good 10 yrs Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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