May 24, 2002, Newsletter Issue #19: Reading a tape measure

Tip of the Week

A tape measure is not really as complicated as it first seems. Let`s go through it step at a time.
A standard American tape is divided into inches. Each inch is divided into sixteen equal parts. Some of the marks that represent different sixteenths are different lengths, though.
Let`s concentrate on an individual inch, say, the area between the 8 and the 9. The longest mark between the 8 and the 9 represents a half inch. There is only one of them.
The next longest marks represent quarter (one fourth) inches. There are two of them. The reason there are only two is that two fourths is the same as one half. The second fourth lands on the half mark, and the fourth fourth lands on the next full inch (in our case, the 9).
The next longest marks represent eighths. There are only four marks this length because the second eighth lands on the quarter mark, the fourth eighth lands on the half, the sixth eighth lands on the three quarter mark, and the eighth eighth lands on the 9 inch mark.
The shortest marks represent sixteenths. Two sixteenths lands on the eighth, four sixteenths lands on the half, etc. That`s not so complicated, is it?
Each one foot mark has a black arrow at the top of the tape with "1F", or "2F", or "25F", and so on. This makes it easier to find the foot measurements.
Some of the inch marks are printed in red. These happen every sixteen inches: 16, 32, 48, 64, 80, 96, etc. When you build a wall, the studs are often laid out every sixteen inches, or, 16 inches "on center". The red marks make it easier to find the sixteen inch intervals.
After using a tape for a while, you will begin to think like a carpenter. For instance, when you hear "11/16" (eleven sixteenths) your eye will go to the mark just to the left of the 3/4 mark because 3/4 is the same as 12/16 (twelve sixteenths).
Congratulations!!! You now know as much about a tape as most journeyman carpenters, and quite a bit more than most electricians.

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