Shop Vac & Tape Measures

[Midway Tommy]

My personality won't tolerate more than about a 1/64" variance, so, even though I have 25 or 30 tape measures scattered around the place, whichever tape I start a project with is the tape I use throughout until said project is completed. 

[oc1]

Anyone got a good saltwater proof tape measure?

Get a 5 ft. taylor's soft tape.  They're really inexpensive too.

[Gfish]

Ha! Never thought of that. I have one in my sowing kit(don't like to buy new clothes, would rather make carpet thread modifications/repairs). Too bad they don't make 'em as a spring loaded roll-up. But then the spring would corrode, maybe a plastic spring?

[jtwill98]

too bad they don't make 'em as a spring loaded roll-up

I think I mentioned they do make retractable measures.

I had the same comment on the spring possibly rusting.

[oc1]

Ha! Never thought of that. I have one in my sowing kit(don't like to buy new clothes, would rather make carpet thread modifications/repairs). Too bad they don't make 'em as a spring loaded roll-up. But then the spring would corrode, maybe a plastic spring?

The spring is always the first thing to go.  We have some Lufkin metal tapes with no housing any more.

Just throw the taylor's tape over your neck like a real taylor does.  It's an iconic look when sewing.

[Gfish]

too bad they don't make 'em as a spring loaded roll-up

I think I mentioned they do make retractable measures.

I had the same comment on the spring possibly rusting.

Gee, I "think" I must have passed over that one on page 1. My bad.

[Benni3]

I got a new snap-on and the paint peeled off first time it got wet,,,,, snap-on gave me a new one and i gave it away ,,, i use taylors,,very old wooden fold ups and the cheepest tape i can find,,,,,

[oc1]

What I like about the wooden fold-ups is the little brass piece that can extend out from the end for measuring inside distances.  A metal tape measure cannot do that quite as precise.

[JasonGotaProblem]

So when I asked about a tape that wouldn't rust out, I guess I should have been clear that I was referring to the spring, which is the first thing to fail. A metal ape that won't retract is dead.

I kinda wanna take a tape and roll it all the way out then put it in a bowl of corrosionX and retract it slowly. The. Blow out the excess and see how it holds up.

[oc1]

Please report back if you do.

[Midway Tommy]

Please report back if you do.

And good luck with that experiment. Let us know how much residual leaks out on other stuff.

[JasonGotaProblem]

Please report back if you do.

And good luck with that experiment. Let us know how much residual leaks out on other stuff.

Yeah that's my biggest concern here. There may be an extended "let it drip out" period where I'd have to leave it resting at different angles so it all can escape.

With that said my fishing backpack has 3+ tapes in it at all times. If one fails it won't hurt me. ...unless it cuts me or something.

This is starting to feel like more work than it's worth. But I'm still curious.

[Swami805]

For fishing I get those super cheap 6' tapes measures for a buck or 2
I went to Home Depot to get a new filter for my shop vac and saw the bucket head. Genius!!!  Clips on a 5 gallon bucket, weights hardly anything, wet/dry and about $25 which wasn't much more than the filter. I don't know if the still make them the 2 I have are going on 20+ years and still going strong

[jurelometer]

Please report back if you do.

And good luck with that experiment. Let us know how much residual leaks out on other stuff.

Yeah that's my biggest concern here. There may be an extended "let it drip out" period where I'd have to leave it resting at different angles so it all can escape.

With that said my fishing backpack has 3+ tapes in it at all times. If one fails it won't hurt me. ...unless it cuts me or something.

This is starting to feel like more work than it's worth. But I'm still curious.

Agree with Tommy.  You also need to do a laundry test   The tape itself never comes in contact with the spring, so I am guessing not much protective effect. You would just be creating a spring loaded Corrosion X  applicator.

If you cut the point off a small nail, heat it, and melt a hole in the case over the spring, you will be able to drip, or better yet spray a bit of the stuff right on the spring.  Plug the hole with a small rubber plug or a dab of grease.  I don't know if will help the tape measure survive any longer around saltwater, but at least you will be putting the stuff on the spring and the process is simple.  You could also just try to take one apart and give the spring a good grease coating.  This would be the most protective, but it might inhibit the spring too much plus the difficulty in snapping it all back together.

-J

[oc1]

I hope you didn't ruin that pretty tape.  Recoil springs are a beach to work on; be it a mower or tape measure.  Also, they have to be spring steel which is notoriously prone to rush. 

Maybe you could fill a metal tape measure with light pneumatic tool oil through the mouth, let it soak to penetrate and then empty and let it drip for a week or so.