**This post may contain affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase using one of these links. Since you’re dealing with a gal that struggled in this department, I will break down how to read a tape measure as simply and easily as possible. My lack of patience (and oftentimes lack of attention to detail) were the main reasons why I didn’t take the time to actually understand what each notch on a tape measure represented.īut there were only so many times I could use phrases like “two notches above half inch”, before I knew it was time to understand how to read a tape measure. Classes include professionally produced videos taught by practicing craftspeople, and supplementary downloads like quizzes, blueprints, and other materials to help you master the skills.If you are a DIYer, a woodworker, a seamstress, or any kind of home project extraordinaire, knowing how to read a tape measure is key to the success of most projects.Ĭully used to laugh at my inability to accurately read a tape measure. MT Copeland offers video-based online classes that give you a foundation in construction fundamentals with real-world applications. If you prefer to mark with your right hand and hold your tape measure with your left hand, you can special order a left handed tool. Most stores will only carry tape measures that read correctly while the body is held in your right hand. In a pinch, you can use your tape measure as a straight edge if the mark doesn’t need to be 100% accurate.If you are measuring alone, tap a nail into the outside edge of the surface and use the hole in the pull tab to anchor the tape to the surface before taking your measurement.This is best done in pairs so get someone to help you out holding the other end and make sure the person reading the measurement knows that the person pulling the tape is burning an inch. Then take the measurement and subtract one inch. Instead of using the pull tab as the edge, place the tape measure so that the one inch line is exactly at the edge of whatever you are measuring. To measure a length as exactly as possible for detailed finishing work or expensive materials where you really only have one shot to get it right, try the “burning an inch” method. Slowly disengage the lock to allow the tape to coil back in safely rather than letting it snap back in with too much force.Mark your surface with the measurement as close to the tape marking as possible, or record on a notepad if you are in the planning stages. Then engage the lock if your tape measure has one, or hold the tape in place with your hand to secure.Either hook the pull tab on the edge of the surface or press it flat to the inside of the surface. To get an accurate measurement, it’s important that the tape lays as flat as possible against the surface.How to use a tape measure to measure things accurately This makes measuring center-to-center on studs especially convenient. Note: Tape measures made specifically for framing jobs will come with numbers marked in red so that you can easily locate common 16 inch stud intervals.
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