Notch On Tape Measure End

CGID

Member
The hook on every tape measure I have has a horizontal slot in the middle of it and a notch centered in the bottom edge. I figure the slot is to hold the head of a nail which has been set at a measuring point. I could be wrong. Anyone know what the notch is for?
 
I think you are probably right. I've been using a tape measure daily for more than 40 years and never thought about the slot.
 
What D beatty said.....just try it out. Inside measure you push it against the vertical surface to get correct measure. Hooking it over the end of a board, you pull it tight for correct measure.
 
The horizontal slot in the end is to allow the end of the tape to be hooked on the head of a common headed nail placed where there is no other reference plane to measure from. This slot helps keep the tip from slipping off the nail.

The v-groove similarly helps keep the end of the tape from slipping off the head of a nail that is driven in line with the direction of measure. Sometimes useful where there is no other surface to hook onto.

Most of the responders are (correctly) addressing the sliding movement of the end of the tape. It is to allow both inside and outside measurements. Many years ago I worked with a guy who would take a hammer and punch to 'tighten' the rivets on the slide motion, claiming that the manufacturer had left them loose. It took several of us to convince him that the tape was designed that way!
 
Brings up one of my pet peeves...

My Father always told me to not let the end slam back into the case as it would stretch those holes out. Don't usually have a reason to loan a tape out, but it seems like every time I do the borrower has not learned the same lesson I was taught. I also find myself "educating" others when I see them do this with their own tapes. In actual practice most of us are not doing very fine work and the difference won't matter very often.

Kirk
 
Kirk,

I, too, cannot understand those that let the tape slam home.

Dad was a carpenter and made his living using those tape measures. He'd quickly remind you of the cost of a tape "refill".

Thanks for the reminder,

D.
 
You are correct, the notch is for hooking your tape on a small nail so you can swing a radius with a pencil on the top edge of your tape.
 
When making frames or door jambs, I use the notch to catch on the corner of the frame so I can measure diagonally to see if the frame is square. Without the notch, the tape keeps slipping off the corner and you would need an assistant. Works for me!
 

Yep the notch in the vertical metal is to hook onto a nail and the the metal hook is made to slide to compensate for the thickness of the metal for when takeing an inside or outside measurement.

Dad always has preferred using a carpenters rule for anything that is 8 ft or shorter. Its much more accurate. I has some of his that he bough back in the early 1960's.


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I don't know of any stores that sell "refill" tapes, although they can probably be found on eBay, flea markets, etc.
 
30' steel tapes cost less today than 12' ones in 1968 when I started my electrical apprenticeship.

Dusty
 

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