Which type of tape measure do you prefer?

[Herr Kutz]

Which type of tape measure do you prefer and why?

1. Auto locking
2. Manual slide lock

The only two I have purchased so far have been auto locking with a button to recoil the tape because I use them when I travel for work, and in case I leave them on site I like to get near the cheapest one that still has a decent ability to extend the tape without breaking. The cheaper ones with other decent qualities (think $5-8) all seem to be auto locking.

 

[Yakk]

Slide to lock for me, too used to it.

 

[lxskllr]

Slide to lock, and Lufkin is the only brand that matters.

 

[herm0016]

I like the Milwaukee 25 foot for framing, decks etc. And have a 16 foot Stanley for smaller stuff. The large end on the Milwaukee can get in the way sometimes.

 

[Greenman]

I have the Milwaukee 16' 25' and 30' tapes, and hate all three of them. Stanley 25' is always a good choice, but the quality has been on the decline for a couple years. Stabilla 25' is what I carry now.

 

[natto fire]

I have the Milwaukee 16' 25' and 30' tapes, and hate all three of them. Stanley 25' is always a good choice, but the quality has been on the decline for a couple years. Stabilla 25' is what I carry now.

I liked the coating on the blade of the Milwaukee ones I had, a 16 and 25 ft. The scale part was kind of neat, but in the end worthless because I know multiplication. I have a 25' magnetic Stanley FatMax now, and had a 30' non-magnetic one before trying the Milwaukee tapes (the 16' one came free when I bought one of their cordless tools). I also have a Milwaukee composite folding rule, and it is very well made, although was not cheap.

I think Lufkin has declined in quality a lot more than Stanley has. My dad swears by the DeWalt tape measures, but other than the wide head, I didn't see anything special about them.

 

[lxskllr]

I think Lufkin has declined in quality a lot more than Stanley has. My dad swears by the DeWalt tape measures, but other than the wide head, I didn't see anything special about them.

You might be right regarding lufkin vs stanley. DeWalt reel tapes are utter garbage, and there's no reason they shouldn't be. Because a company makes some kind of construction equipment, doesn't mean they're qualified for all of it. Their keel is garbage too. It's soured me on the whole brand. They whore their name around for a cheap buck, so why should I trust them to find good Chinese manufacturers(sigh...) for their drills? Milwaukee too. They have no business making tapes, and I won't try them.

 

[harvey_markAZ]

For instance, I like using the bottom of the tape when I’m at the miter saw measuring from the left. But if I’m at the miter saw, I’m also in the shop where I have half a dozen full sized tapes and probably a full sized tape on my belt because I’m working on a project.

 

[twinrider1]

My Craftsman 25' is autolocking and I guess I'm just used to it. Squeeze to extend, release to lock. Squeeze to retract.
I was just looking at tape measures and saw that they don't even make a 1", 25' tape measure anymore.