The most important tool - the measuring tape. What is your choice?

[Khaunshar]

Hello everyone,

After a couple days of looking around, I find myself amused that nobody ever talks about the most-used tool aside from dice, the measuring tape.

And, additionally, the very different levels of quality for them. In particular here in europe (non-british, that is), finding measuring tapes that have inches on them is not easy or commonplace at all, and as I just found out, online retailers ship modified tapes of american/british products that REMOVE the inch measurements from the tapes (most noticably, Stanley Tools, but I get to that in a second)

So far, I know of two products made by tabletop companies:

The "Red Tape" by Games Workshop has a nice autolocking feature, but the spring wears out quickly, and after a few months mine is not really able to hold its tape anymore. It also comes with a very silly look and does not feel nor handle all that well, meaning I have to buy a new one every so often due to wear, and I dont even like the looks!



More rare is the Gale Force Nine measuring tape, it comes in dark blue and yellow. Made for larger hands apparently, this one has so far been quite good, with a good, firm lock in place. Unfortunately, several people I know, and myself, have had a problem of a small piece of plastic that allows the edge of the tape to be gripped and pulled out to break off and go missing, making it very fiddly to use.



I recently came across the Stanley FatMax Xtreme Blade Armor. Its a beast of a tape, heavy, chromed, and as I sadly found out, despite their customer service telling me the opposite, this 20 Dollar/Euro tape does NOT come with inches. I have used it for a bit of DIY construction and its maybe too big, heavy and manly to be used for the tabletop (its 32mm wide!!!), but it sure does come with the psychological advantage of being able to threaten your opponent with it without having to throw your expensive behemoth.



Then there is the new, limited, Servoskull tape from WH40k, 6th Edition. I havent even SEEN that one yet.



Any other recommendations for good, dependable and nice-looking tape measures?

[Blighted Tyrant]

Avoid the Seroskull tape measure it is tat, poorly made and I've seen three break so far and not like 'oh no I've dropped it down the stairs' more 'ops I dropped it like three inches on to the table top'.

GW reds are relatively inexpensive, I tend to buy one every few months, cheap and get the job done. Although I live in the UK so pretty much any tape measure has inches on, I don't care for the witchery you lot talk about, these centimetres and the like.

[tjhairball]

My advice is to go to hardware stores rather than gaming stores for measuring tapes.

But you have reminded me I managed to break my last ruler, so I went and bought a keychain-sized Stanley measuring tape - 3' long, 1/4" wide tape, TINY, in other words - for $4.85 on Amazon.

Bet it lasts a while, too. My last one - the 10' model, same 1/4" tape diameter - I owned for quite some time before the actual tape somehow broke at the half inch mark, and I'm rough on things. I like using the smaller tape because I don't like how the larger measuring tapes knock models all the way across the room if you trip the unlock button by accident. Also, small tape measures fit easily in a dice bag.

[scout's honor]

I have the Gale Force Nine tape, and I'm very pleased with it. Size is about right, in the sense that anything I can find that's significantly smaller is something that can't be depended on to last longer than a weekend of gaming in my experience - others may be more lucky in that regard. You can order it from Firestorm Games in the UK I believe, if you're looking for an online option for a tape measure that has inches on it.

[kolonelk]

My last tape measure came from the dollar store. It was pretty good, just a plastic casing, had cm and inches on it. I used it for several years and it mysteriously vanished about a month ago - it did live in my gaming bag, but has decided to run off.

[Iff]

I have been using a tape measure from a cheap "dollar-store" as well, for the last couple of years. Surprisingly, they hold out very well. And even if I lose one at a tournament, they're cheap to replace. If you're Dutch, check Xenos or Wibra.

[MagnustheJust]

I bought a few cheap plastic housing tape measure at a local hardware store for $3.50 each a couple years back, so I would not have to switch them from case to case. They are 16 feet, and have both metric & standard increments shown on them, and are bright orange so I stop misplacing them on the table...

[Murkhadh]

This tape measure but is hands down the best warmachine tape I have ever used. I go out of my way to buy them at lowes. (I think mine is yellow though but same thing)



Its locked until you press the button to draw it back in. and its not too big or too small.

[PG_Azhdeen]

Local flea market, cost me £1 ($1.50). This was to replace one of my spare tape measure which I carry on average 3 for PG duties

I have to argue a point though on the title of the thread, the most important tool in any game - the Mind

[Overread]

UK based so I've never seen a tape measure that didn't have cm and inches on its strip; I tend to just use any old one as a result as they all pretty much do the very same thing - measure out with auto retract and a locking switch. I've not even really noticed much difference in comfort with them, but then again gaming tends not to have you holding the measure for vast amounts of extended time to really get the benefit out of a more erganomic grip.

I'd tend to assume that measures aimed at builders might be a better build grade than gamer ones; however a cheap measure from any source is likely going to be pretty standard in quality - that said Blighted Tyrant are your reds breaking every few months? If they are maybe its time to buy a slightly better, longer lasting tape measure. Outside of losing them or treating them badly they should last ages (esp as you're typically only measuring short distances with them in gaming).

[Blighted Tyrant]

that said Blighted Tyrant are your reds breaking every few months? If they are maybe its time to buy a slightly better, longer lasting tape measure. Outside of losing them or treating them badly they should last ages (esp as you're typically only measuring short distances with them in gaming).

I think I've had one break on me, I tend to lose them a lot. I'd says I average a new Red tape measure every four months lol.

I use to have an awesome Halfords mini tape measure, but someone lifted it at a tournament a while ago.

[mo8ius]

I was using this and just switched to a Servo skull. It might not be as good, but the emperor wills it.

[tjhairball]

This tape measure but is hands down the best warmachine tape I have ever used. I go out of my way to buy them at lowes. (I think mine is yellow though but same thing)



Its locked until you press the button to draw it back in. and its not too big or too small.

That's the model my friend has, IIRC. I've knocked over so many models with them, they retract with a lot of force, so if you're not careful - or accidentally bump the button - wham.

[Blighted Tyrant]

I was using this and just switched to a Servo skull. It might not be as good, but the emperor wills it.

Get out, don't even put your coat on...just...just leave!

[Joke disclaimer]

[tiannor]

I used to have a tape measure from a hardware store since warhammer 40K 2nd edition, that's approximately 20 years ago. The stopper-thingy on the end of the tape broke a few months ago and it sucked itself in like a hermit crab to never see daylight again. Man I was a sad panda that day, I felt like losing a beloved pet.

So now it's a new one from the hardware store and I hope it suffices for the next 20 years

[StaticMoot]

This is the exact tape I use and I love it. The auto lock is really nice and hitting the button to retract it makes it quick to use.

This tape measure but is hands down the best warmachine tape I have ever used. I go out of my way to buy them at lowes. (I think mine is yellow though but same thing)



Its locked until you press the button to draw it back in. and its not too big or too small.

[Murkhadh]

That's the model my friend has, IIRC. I've knocked over so many models with them, they retract with a lot of force, so if you're not careful - or accidentally bump the button - wham.

umm be careful?

also the longer lengths do retract harder and are larger and more clumsy, be sure to get the 12 footer.

[WarpedWolf]

I had one of the flexible cloth tape measures for years. Great for measuring when you had to make a turn, etc. Spring finally gave out on me in the middle of a game a couple of months ago, and my wife plopped a GW red down on the table next to me. The only quibble I have with it is that it's a little bulkier than I'd like. Other than that, I've found it to be a reasonably good tape measure.

I've seen and handled but not used the servoskull tape. Frankly, I find it a bit gaudy, but I can't comment on its service as a measuring tape.

[Kamahin]

I have one of the little black and white PP ones. I won it at a steamroller last year as a mini prize for being the first one that round to complete a two hand throw.

[Khaunshar]

I just found the laughably obvious solution to not getting imperial measures in europe... order them from amazon.co.uk !

/slap self

I d love to be able to get a look at the PIP measuring tape, and am deeply saddened they do not sell that one commercially. I think there is a market for high-quality, nicely designed warmachine measuring tapes, as GW is currently showing with their crappy yet pretty skull tape.

[mongoose1]

This happens to be my weapon of choice
BMI Quicky they are small strong and come in inches!!

[gunslingerpro]

2/3rds of my FLGS seem to enjoy the Stanley Lever Lock 12'. Longer than you neet but sturdy, durable, etc. I love mine.

[Carrington]

My 'Family Hobby' measuring tape recently died on me. Fairly nice plastic-case tape from a long-departed Cambridge gamestore. Sad to see it go.

[Nion]

Lowe's in-store brand makes a small tape measure for $2. It's the small keychain one from this set, though it's not available separately online, only in store. The low price is enough to offset the horrible fact that you have to step into a Lowe's to find one. I've even bought extras to hand out at the game store, the only problem is you have to remember to check them before you buy them, about 1/4 of the ones I bought had faulty springs.

[bloodstrike]

2/3rds of my FLGS seem to enjoy the Stanley Lever Lock 12'. Longer than you neet but sturdy, durable, etc. I love mine.

This, for many reasons:

• It's small, so it will fit in your bag next to your cards, dice, etc. Most of those fatter tape measures end up needing their own pocket in the standard model bags, or require you to carry additional bags just to have your tape measure with you. If I can't put everything I need into one bag, I don't bring it.
• As with other tape measures mentioned in this blog, it auto-locks the tape out, and only retracts when you push on the lever, making measuring much easier.
• CHEAP! You're going to loose it, or break it - or better yet lend it to somebody and never see it again. At the average store you can get one of these for less than $2 (sometimes $1). That's cheap enough that I have one in each bag that I own (Warmachine, Hordes, Malifaux).

[doom_reaver]

Measuring tapes are something that I've never given a second thought to really. I've three factions so I bought three of the B&Q own brand tapes for each of my transport bags. I'll agree that you're better off buying tapes from the local hardware store rather than the gaming store. Now that i think of it I dont like auto locks... They always seem to wear out, break or malfunction I remember once that the autolock spontaneously failed on an old tape of mine causing it to snap back on one of my models so I just don't trust them. I prefer the ones that you manually clamp in place.

[WiLDRAGE]

I've used the same dollar store tape for over 7 years now. Never let me down except when I forget it in the wrong Battlefoam case.

[Esper]

2/3rds of my FLGS seem to enjoy the Stanley Lever Lock 12'. Longer than you neet but sturdy, durable, etc. I love mine.

Yup, that's the one I use. I've had it for about 4 yeares now, and the locking and retracing mechanism are both very solid. This is my second tape measure. The first one I bought was a generic brand, but the locking and retracting mechanism gave out on it about a year after I bought it.

[Murkhadh]

2/3rds of my FLGS seem to enjoy the Stanley Lever Lock 12'. Longer than you neet but sturdy, durable, etc. I love mine.

I used this one before I found the lowes one, its not bad but the lowes/komelon one is easier to release.

[J. Beatnik]

Leverlock for me.

[Poppabear40]

2/3rds of my FLGS seem to enjoy the Stanley Lever Lock 12'. Longer than you neet but sturdy, durable, etc. I love mine.

Same one I use. Small, fits in my tokens box. Auto lock, never had a problem. I have had 3 gf9 tapes and all of them won't retract any longer. Not from heavy use...

[PG_Alviaran]

2/3rds of my FLGS seem to enjoy the Stanley Lever Lock 12'. Longer than you neet but sturdy, durable, etc. I love mine.

Right here. I have three of them stuck in different bags.

The GF9 ones used to be my favourite but they wear out really fast and it can no longer lock. Leverlock all the way. (I think I've been using them for over a year now with none of them having any problems)

[Kade]

I use a 16 foot Stanley Fat Max. I have had this thing for about 8 years and its still going strong. I use it for gaming and I use it for any construction projects I have around the house. It works as well today as the day that I bought it. The reason that I love my Fat Max so much and will never switch to another tape measure is the fact that I can measure any distance I want on the table and I don't have to worry about it going limp and hitting models on the table. The Fat Maxes are designed to go out 11ft without breaking (13ft on the extreme fat maxes). This is a little more important in other game systems where measuring 60+ inches is needed.

That and i like that the tape is sturdy enough that I can poke my opponent from across the table and its doesn't break.

[CrookyKnows]

I have had the GF9 measuring tape for about 3-4 years now and I haven't had any issues with it. I find it to be perfectly adequate for my needs. The only reason I bought that model in particular was because it was the only measuring tape they had in the store and I needed one.

[CeltKhan]

I bought a cheap, $1 tailor's tape from Hancock Fabrics, looks a lot like one of these.

It's small and flexible enough to fit between models, which is great for measuring close distances. With metal tape measures, you're hovering it over models, causing parallax issues, or putting them WAY too close to models. I get real nervous whenever I see one of those retracting razor blades anywhere near one of my paint jobs.

[Alzer]

2/3rds of my FLGS seem to enjoy the Stanley Lever Lock 12'. Longer than you neet but sturdy, durable, etc. I love mine.

I use one of these as well. I think mine is a 16' The press-to-pull on it is great and I've been using mine for probably 6 years now. Spring is still goin strong. I've dropped it down stairs and it all it said was "is that it?"

[Septimus]

I've had a Canadian Tire Mastercraft tape measure for the past few years. Durable, reliable and good for gaming and other projects. I'll shill for it.

[Adurot]

I've only had one GW Red tape break, and it was where the very tip of the tape eventually wore out and snapped off. Never had a spring go bad on me yet. Been using the new Servo Skull aka Asphyxious Head tape and it works just as well as the red, but gets a lot more people comment on how cool it is.

[JTY]

I use screw together sticks:



1'' long, a set of 14'' costs £10 from Products For Wargamers (in the UK, I imagine they can be found in the States as well).
Traditionally they are used for historicals and the like (hence why they also sell them in 40mm lengths which is a base width for games like WRG, DBx and FoG, and measurment is done in widths), but I've found the invaluable for WM&H, where exact measurement matters and is hard with large models overhanging bases.
Nothing, honestly nothing, annoys me more than someone who 'sky measuers' with a tape measure and declares distances in or out as it suits them.
''I'll just measure that myself mate and we'll have no argument''. If the stick rolls, it's out, if it touches, it's in.

Never had an issue with using them, and a surprising number of people ask to borrow them at tourneys when something crucial crops up on their table

[blackbeardfreelance]

Can't say enough good things about the Stanley Leverlock 12'.
Only problem I've had is making sure I get home with mine as it's the most common style among our gaming group.
Liked mine enough to buy my wife one for her Trolls and cryx and my brother one for his khador when he started playing.