Steel Long Tapes

A steel tape measure has a steel strip that’s anywhere from six to sixteen millimeters wide, and you can find them in any of the following lengths:

• 1 meter
• 5 meters
• 8 meters
• 10 meters
• 20 meters
• 30 meters
• 50 meters

Meters, decimeters, and centimeters are graduated on the strip, which is housed in a metal case that's equipped with an automatic winding device. The tape is extended from the case with a rotating handle, which can be rewound in the same manner.

On a standard tape measure, the biggest increment is in inches (which will usually have the largest number). As you go down in incremental value, the length of the mark will decrease. The largest marks will be an inch apart, the next one a half-inch, and so on. Most tape measures will measure in 1/16 of an inch, but some will go down to 1/32 of an inch.

Tape measures will often have black and red measurements that are printed on a yellow background, because it’s the best color combination in terms of readability.

There are two types of steel tape measures — one with a spring-return pocket, and a long tape measure. Spring-return pocket tape measures can be carried inside your pocket (hence the name), and they can measure lengths of up to 1 or 15 feet (0.30 to 4.57 meters). A steel long tape measure is encased in a larger housing, and it will have tapes in any of the following lengths:

• 25 feet
• 50 feet
• 75 feet
• 100 feet
• 200 feet
• 300 feet
• 500 feet

These steel tape measures are often used by engineers and builders who need to survey and measure large areas.

A black dot will appear on a steel tape measure every 19 3/16 inches, which is the typical spacing for I-beam “timbers.” Several wood manufacturers offer them to customers as a substitute for solid lumber floor joists, And because these manufactured beams can support more weight than standard lumber, they often have different spacing requirements. These markings can be used to space out these engineered floor joists in a way that will get the best results.

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Feel free to look at what we have at Engineering Supply, so you can find the best steel measuring tape for your specific needs.