Powerlock 33-212 Measuring Tape
Thin profile tape measure fits in pocket
I think I began regularly carrying a tape measure when I started working on the high school stage crew, 45 years ago. I started with one snapped to my belt, but that often got in the way and meant that I was either not carrying it or looked like much more of a nerd than I was comfortable with.
Somewhere along the line I found this 1/2″ x 12′ Powerlock and it totally clicked for me. Yes, it has a belt clip, but that is easily removed; what you end up with is a 2 3/16″ x 2 3/16″ case that is just a hair over 3/4″ thick. Fits comfortably in my left front pocket along with my loose change. I am never without it. Never. Unless I’m not wearing pants.
Always having a tape measure with me means that there is never any reason not to take an accurate measurement, check a dimension, or accurately make a cut in the shop or studio. Carrying a 12′ tape means that I can easily check the length of most dimension lumber I’d normally buy at the lumberyard. I usually peel off the label right away so that I don’t get any adhesive inside my pocket as the label wears off.
This particular tape doesn’t have a metric scale; I don’t need one, and it just gets in the way for me. The first 12″ of the scale is marked in 1/32″ divisions. It also doesn’t have a decimal scale as some of the Powerlocks do. One of these lasts me about two or three years. I suppose at that point I could replace the tape, but it seems to make more sense to me just to get a new one with a new tape, a fresh spring, and a nice new shiny case.
For a while they stopped making them with a metal case and the cases were chrome-plated plastic. The last couple I bought have had metal cases, so that’s a nice return to a better product (the plastic cases were a little fatter and the chrome plating quickly wore off). The True-Zero hook slides back and forth so that the reading is accurate whether you are doing an inside or outside measurement. The first 1/2″ of the scale is difficult to read (that’s where the True-Zero hook is connected). if I need to measure something that’s less than 3/4″ or so I line up the tape at the 10″ mark.
Note: I have bought the last few at the local hardware store, and they’ve had the metal cases. he comments in the Amazon link indicate that the case is plastic, but the description says the case is die-cast metal (as does the current description on the Stanley website). So, not sure exactly what someone ordering from the Amazon link might get.
08/15/16Stanley 33-212 12-Foot PowerLock Tape Rule ($10)
