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  1. #1
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    Default Internal measurements - Easy way

    I’ve had one of these sitting around for ages but just realised how handy they are for taking internal measurements.




    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

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  3. #2
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    Default

    With an accuracy of +/- 3mm I wouldn't be trusting that for much. Measuring a cavity for a cupboard to go in? Sure. Measuring the inside of said cupboard for shelf length? No way

    If you want accurate internal measurements with a tape, get yourself a Hultafors Talmeter

  4. #3
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    Dec 2019
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by elanjacobs View Post
    With an accuracy of +/- 3mm I wouldn't be trusting that for much. Measuring a cavity for a cupboard to go in? Sure. Measuring the inside of said cupboard for shelf length? No way

    If you want accurate internal measurements with a tape, get yourself a Hultafors Talmeter
    3mm of timbermate haha. Good point not for precision work


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  5. #4
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
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    se Melbourne
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by elanjacobs View Post
    With an accuracy of +/- 3mm I wouldn't be trusting that for much. Measuring a cavity for a cupboard to go in? Sure. Measuring the inside of said cupboard for shelf length? No way

    If you want accurate internal measurements with a tape, get yourself a Hultafors Talmeter

  6. #5
    Join Date
    Jul 2015
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    Default

    Quote Originally Posted by elanjacobs View Post
    If you want accurate internal measurements with a tape, get yourself a Hultafors Talmeter
    Can I be the newbie and ask... because I have seen the Hultafors stuff, and don't doubt it's good.

    But - as long as we're talking non-cheap-and-generic rubbish (e.g. Stanley, Milwaukee, Lufkin), is there really any real world difference between those and a Hultafors? I'm always prepared to pay for good quality tools, but this is a question I have often thought about, and never asked. Very keen to hear thoughts on this, and hoping I haven't sparked a war!

  7. #6
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    Quote Originally Posted by Midnight Man View Post
    But - as long as we're talking non-cheap-and-generic rubbish (e.g. Stanley, Milwaukee, Lufkin), is there really any real world difference between those and a Hultafors?
    It's been a while since I was in the market for a new tape, but, unless something has changed in the last few years, there are a few unique features the Hultafors has.




    • For internal measurements, there is a retractable extension at the back that simply adds 100mm to the reading that's indicated (in the picture it's showing 41mm, or 141mm for internal), instead of whatever weird imperial equivalent all the others make their cases. The tape also has red numbers in brackets at every 100mm to make sure you don't mess it up.


    • There is a scribing point under the case, so you can use it as a marking gauge and there's a small hole in the tape at 100mm to use as a centre for scribing circles.


    • The back of the tape is a pi-tape, so you can measure the diameter of something by simply wrapping the tape around it.


    • The tape is push-to-release, not push-to-lock, so you can never forget to lock your measurement and the lock is EXTREMELY secure and will not slip unless you force it to.


    I'm not normally one for gimmicks and "extra features" on a simple tool that's worked fine for the last hundred years, but I've found these to be genuinely useful.

  8. #7
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Perth WA Australia
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    828

    Default

    I'm all for buying tools that i use regularly, given that I'm not a cabinet maker, so making internal measurements is something I probably do once a year if that.

    So I do the following:
    - Grab something of known dimensions or measure/cut something to a known dimension. I use a 6" square.
    - Butt this up against one edge
    - Use your tape measure to measure from opposite edge to the square, add 6" and you're done!

    Obviously requires bit of math, but I'm sure we can all handle that.

  9. #8
    Join Date
    May 2010
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    Not far enough away from Melbourne
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    Default

    Thumbs up for the Hultafors 3 metre tape.

    Those little extras come in handy. I use them more than I thought I ever would.
    I got sick of sitting around doing nothing - so I took up meditation.

  10. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2011
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    My go to tape is the Hultafors Talmeter.
    Very often I just use it to measure the length and without doing any adjustments, then mark the item to cut. Very easy with the scribe points.

    If I need to find a center point, again I have no trouble by using the scribe points.

    With other tape measures, I always had problems with internal measurements. Trying to add 75mm is hard enough, but when the body is rounded where are you measuring to?

    As others will testify, once you start using it you will like it.

  11. #10
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    Default

    Thanks for the pointers and info folks - looks like I'm off to Google to find a place to buy one... those genuinely do seem worthwhile improvements to a tape measure!

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