Dealing with a tape measure that snaps back too fast

I was framing a wall and the tape measure kept snapping back hard. I put some electrical tape on the case to slow it down. What do you guys do to stop this?

3 comments

3 Comments

wendyk561d ago

Actually, the electrical tape trick is a solid fix for getting work done now. @carter.laura has a point about the spring, but not everyone wants to take apart a tool for a simple framing job. Sometimes a bandaid is all you need to finish the wall.

carter.laura1d ago

Ever check if the spring inside is just too strong or worn out wrong? Most folks just try to slow the tape, but maybe the real fix is opening the case and bending that spring hook to change the tension. You can even buy a replacement spring for a couple bucks if it's shot. Putting tape on the case treats the symptom, but messing with the spring fixes the actual problem. It's like, why just live with a bandaid when you could adjust the engine?

wendy39130m ago

Hey @carter.laura, do you get a thrill from surgery on tiny tape measure springs? Last time I opened one up, a spring piece launched into another dimension behind my workbench. Sure, bending the hook fixes it for good, but that's like rebuilding the engine when you just need to drive to the store. Sometimes a bit of tape is the smart move if you don't want to spend your afternoon hunting for metal bits.