Self Locking Tape Measures

I don’t really know if I like self locking tape measures like US Tapes Pro-SL or Komelon Self Lock

It could just be habit for me, when I extend a tape measure and push the button I expect the tape to stay extended, not snap back. Do you use a self locker and do you like it? How long did it take you to get used to it?

I like them quite a bit. Just depends on what project I’m doing if I use it or not. A lot of times, this design makes more sense than the typical tape measure. I use a 16′ or 25′ Fat Max for items requiring a lot of reach (measuring signs, etc.) and a 25′ Stanley Lever Lock or 16′ Komelon Self Locker (like you posted) around the house.

I don’t like the self lockers. They’re ass backwards and too against the grain for me. Has anyone used Klein tapes? If so how did you like them?

Conductor562 wrote:

I don’t like the self lockers. They’re ass backwards and too against the grain for me. Has anyone used Klein tapes? If so how did you like them?

Hmmm, where have I seen those before?

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I prefer 1″ wide tapes for out in the field I most commonly carry a Stanley Fat Max in either 16′ or 25′ I have a Fastcap Pro Carpenter with a standard reverse blade on my bench at home in the shop. I can’t keep track of all the tapes I do have, they, like utility knives, seem to follow me home from the supply house on a regular basis.

I agree with the self lockers being backwards, I think the concept might be a good one though, I just can’t break my old habit of pushing the button when I want to lock the tape though.

I’ve used the self-lockers for years and never find myself confused or accidentally retracting it instead of locking it. It’s actually a really good design and to me it makes more sense than the standard design.

That’s a pretty uncanny resemblance I do say.

Conductor562 wrote:

That’s a pretty uncanny resemblance I do say.

You could match the other models up if you cared to, same companies….

I like the fractional tapes. Seems to take some of the thinking out of it. The Dewalt with the 13 ft. standout isn’t offered in a fractional readout. The 10 ft. standout is, but I hate the lock button on it.

Bahco stainless steel in my job self locking, magnetic and water proof is a list of things a tape measure must have.

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I haven’t seen any stainless bladed tapes for a long time. I haven’t really been looking either.

Much better, and this has the measurements on both sides so works any way up. 🙂

Wayne Burgess wrote:

Much better, and this has the measurements on both sides so works any way up. 🙂

Bahco tape measures are a little pricey here in the states, and most people don’t want anything to do with metric on their tape measures, and almost all of Bahco offerings that I see have metric rules on them.

Most over here have both metric and imperial because old guys like me still like to measure bigger stuff in feet and inches 🙂

Wayne Burgess wrote:

Most over here have both metric and imperial because old guys like me still like to measure bigger stuff in feet and inches 🙂

Almost everyone I know in construction is totally clueless when it come to using metric. The only people that I know that have any understanding are mechanics that work on Japanese or European vehicles, people involved in the sciences (biologists, chemists, etc.) and druggies. People in general in the U.S. don’t like change and can’t be bothered to learn about what the rest of the world does.

I kinda like this one…

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Don’t think they make these anymore…

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Conductor562 wrote:

I kinda like this one…

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That’s the Komelon Monster MagGrip

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Conductor562 wrote:

Don’t think they make these anymore…

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And that is the Komelon 25′ Speed Mark Gripper

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Sounds like you like Komelon which is stil available.

Ok, we have established that Komelon makes a shit ton of tape measures. I really like the looks of that Gripper Speed mark

Makes sense that Komelon has a private label program

I use this one quite a bit when installing signs. Takes the guesswork out of finding the center of a door or window.

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I like this one 🙂