EdgewaterWW Posted May 11, 2014 Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 It's snowing in Denver and the gas is turned off because winter is over (?) in the shop/garage. So I'm surfing the web for ideas and maybe something cheap to buy. I love the FastCap web site and products, I have a hand full or two of their products. So I'm looking at the FlatBack tape thinking it maybe handy for layout. http://www.fastcap.com/estore/pc/viewPrd.asp?idproduct=150&idcategory=0#!prettyPhoto Does anyone use a flat tape (feedback please)? or do you just use a square or ruler or curved tape and just roll the edge over to make the mark? now I use a square if under 12" and curved tape for longer and roll the edge, but it's not always fun wrestling with the tape and having the hook pop off the edge. Hence I'm looking at this tape. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Byrdie Posted May 11, 2014 Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 I tend to use a flat metal ruler for measurements 12" or shorter and a normal (curved) tape for longer rolling it until the edge is flat. Curved tapes are nice if you need the stiffness to extend it over some distance but I can see where a flat tape like this would be nice. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dtrust Posted May 11, 2014 Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 I have this, and thought it would be a great idea when I bought it. Had it for over a year now, and it's my least used tape measure. It does work well in that it sits nice and flat for measuring. The problem is that it has zero stiffness, and so it's impossible to extend it out to the far edge of a piece. Turns out to be more trouble than it's worth, at least IMHO. Sounds good in theory, but leaves much to be desired in practice. If anyone ever comes up with a tape measure that is rigid so you can extend it, then lays flat to measure, that would be killer. YMMV Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted May 11, 2014 Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 I use it on a rough layout table where it is semi permanently affixed under plexi. (The table is a vinyl siding "saw table" with a custom extension to 11'. The tolerance is 1/8". Using it for such rough layout is advantageous because of the way it is not flexed under pressure. Away from the table however, a standard tape is ok to the 1/8" and much easier to use. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JoshC1501 Posted May 11, 2014 Report Share Posted May 11, 2014 I have this tape measure, and it does work well. I just don't use tape measures that often anymore, and when I do it is just construction type stuff, and this is worthless for that, as it has no stiffness in the blade. With that said... if you like and use tape measures in the shop you will probably love it. Josh Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
chopnhack Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 That pic. is not very flattering LOL 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
CessnaPilotBarry Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 Flat backs are great to have, as long as you have something else. The "regular 16' FastCaps are my favorites, but the flat back works where no other tape will. They're cheap enough to have a few to choose from... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cochese Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 I have one and the part closest to the end has crumpled, and makes the whole thing fairly useless. It's a bit like the picture - too limp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
missioninwood Posted May 12, 2014 Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 Ah, the Flatback. This is actually my favorite tape for working on the ground with my TS 55. I agree that it is not sufficient enough to be the only tape measure in your shop. But then again, I think I actually have a fetish for measuring tools. miw! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EdgewaterWW Posted May 12, 2014 Author Report Share Posted May 12, 2014 Thank you all for the replies. The vote seems 50/50. For about $8 I will pick one up and give it a try, I do have a few of their other tapes, the "standard story pole" is my go to tape and the "lefty/righty" (now called standard reverse) is the I use with my lefty nephew and brother in law. Like MIW said "But then again, I think I actually have a fetish for measuring tools." I think I do also, got about 16 tapes. But I try to follow the rule to only use one tape on a project. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T-astragal Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 I use it only for laying out arch lengths on curved parts. Steve Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted May 13, 2014 Report Share Posted May 13, 2014 That was the one thing I forgot. Arc and circumference are certainly easier. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stahlee Posted June 3, 2014 Report Share Posted June 3, 2014 I have a bunch of different FastCap tape measures and this is by far the most used. Yeah I don't use it for large layouts, but it's perfect for flat work. I'm a little surprised people don't use them much. The flat tape is also perfect to write on. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tpt life Posted June 3, 2014 Report Share Posted June 3, 2014 Honestly Stahlee, for small and flat I prefer a rigid steel ruler. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stahlee Posted June 3, 2014 Report Share Posted June 3, 2014 Honestly Stahlee, for small and flat I prefer a rigid steel ruler. Well you have a good point there. I use a Starrett for anything under 12". Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dewitteridder Posted June 4, 2014 Report Share Posted June 4, 2014 I have the tape you are showing above and I do like it because it makes marking a little bit easier. Something to keep in mind though is the front clip on it doesn't move at all. It is meant purely for pulling across a board to do measuring. Butting the end of the tape up against the inside corner of a box will actually give you an inaccurate measurement because the clip doesn't shift to accommodate for the thickness of the clip. So you will be off by about a 1/16"-1/32" of an inch. So for inside measurements you still have to have another traditional tape measure around. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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