This morning I was fiddling around with a tape measure, and frustrated when it wouldn’t reel in properly. I figured the tape must be kinked or something, causing it to get stuck inside the casing.
I decided to open the casing up to fix the tape measure (big mistake). The spring that winds the tape back up is apparently a series of coiled copper strips inisde the reel. I figured I’d slowly unreel the tape measure out then carefully reel it in so it wound smoothly. However, unreeling it without the casing just made it worse, and the reel assembly popped loose. I couldn’t pop it back in place with my hands so I figured I’d just take it completely apart and reassemble it.
At some point, I removed whatever barrier/resistance existed to these coiled metal strips from completely unwinding. The tape measure exploded in my hands, sending razor-sharp strips of metal flying in all directions. Genius I am, I also decided to do this while in shorts, so now I have tiny cuts all over my hands and upper legs :smack:
I also spent a good while sweeping up all the sharp pieces of metal so I don’t accidentally step on them. Who knew these things could be so dangerous? :dubious:
I once dropped a tape measure from about 120 feet in the air, onto a steel floor below. I watched it fall all the way down, almost in slow motion, and then marveled at the fireworks-like display that ensued when it reached bottom. I almost wished I had another one to do it again.
Fortunately, there was nobody working down below when it happened. They probably would have spoiled the visuals.
Dang! Yeah you don’t fuck with springs under tension. You should sue the company that made the tape measure for not warning you about it. (Just kidding!)
So, now you need a new tape measure. There are some new variations since the last time.
The Lufkin Quik Read has big numbers in line with the tape, instead of crossways. It has all the increments labeled, so you don’t have to count those tiny marks. On one edge it’s in fractions, and on the other edge, it’s in decimals.
If you want a tape that won’t fold up when you measure an open space, the Stanley Fat Max is a good bet. I think you could use it for a fishing pole. To set the hook, just press the release button!
There’s another with a magnet on the end hook, strong enough to hang it from the ceiling. I forget the brand.
My boss has one of these tape measures for quickly finding the center of things. (We mainly use it for centering lettering on signs.) It is teh awesome.
My dad (an architect) once dropped his tape measure from a fair height while taking measurements in a building. Just like the OP, the tape measure exploded when it hit the floor.
He hung the resulting metal tangle hanging from the ceiling of his office; it was quite a marvelous abstract sculpture.
