13 Tape Measure Tips!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Find lots of plans, templates, and products on my website here: bit.ly/2JqP7C6 Thank you for supporting what I do!

[@simonhopkins3867]

Lovely photo of you in the thumbnail. 😊

[@LogHouseFarm]

The vertical marks on the back is a good idea.

[@shawnkarvonen]

Finding center Say 10' put hook at 10' and read # at center bend of tape.i use this alot.

[@ebutuoyebutouy]

Awesome pretty TX lady. Looking forward to the opening. Stay safe.

[@davidolds1972]

Great tips...thanks..😊

[@EdwardTHC]

35 seconds into this video and I have to say: I've watched April for years. Everytime i do, I either learn something, or learn how to do something. This is by far one of the most value giving / valuable KZbin channels I know of. Always qaulity material. Here's to you April.

[@AprilWilkerson]

: ) Aw thank you so much for the kind words. I really appreciate them.

[@sairasarah]

Great Ideas thanks!

[@spokebloke1]

@@AprilWilkerson and thanks for keeping the length sensible - a lot of channels drag things like tips videos out and make them waaaay too long, but this was a really valuable couple of minutes. Greetings from Lithgow, Australia.

[@canonman223]

@@AprilWilkerson April, what brand of clamp is that at 1:35 into the video? I'm looking for that one.

[@allancastelli9610]

April, thanks so much. That measuring from corner to corner tip will save me a lot of headaches.

[@sstacey9169]

Congrats! I found myself binge watching your videos in the garage. Awesome tips! Now to carefully word to my wife what I've been doing all day! ;) Keep up the great work. Subscribed. Love those tape measures too.

[@slightlychaotic8988]

I am amazed! After 20 yrs of various wood-working around the house, you taught me 9 new helpful things in less than 10 minutes. Thanks very much to you and to Luskins!

[@ambsquared]

A lot of people don’t know that the hook moves for a reason. To measure with it hooked on something the hook moves enough to compensate for the thickness of the hook and the inside of the hook is zero. To measure with the hook butted up against something, the hook moves in so the outside of the hook is zero.

[@SwervingLemon]

Yes, but make sure that's actually a feature of your tape. It's not always by design, and sometimes it's just fatigue on a crappy tape measure.

[@smitty4321]

@@SwervingLemon no, it is by design

[@mikeabbitt8309]

Swerving Lemon, it’s the ‘crappy’ tape measures that don’t have the sliding hook.

[@jeremyspecce]

I think I saw a video where someone glued it so it wouldn’t slide 🤣

[@kan-zee]

cool..didn't know that one..either. thanks for sharing

[@tonyaddy7825]

Awesome !! 45 years using tapes .... Learn something new everyday!! Thank you for sharing!!

[@jameshuggins4300]

Same here!

[@redgar6467]

Thanks April. What a deal I stumbled on after seeing this video. Lowe's had a two pack Shockforce Nite Eye 16' and 25' for $25 bucks!!!!. Went on the app to order it and price went down to $20 for a two pack!!!!. Great tips!!!

[@marksnyder2232]

Loved the tip about measuring from both sides of the internal doorway opening. Since you have a sponsorship from Lufkin, one thing I'd love to see is a tape measure accuracy test. Many years ago I read an article where someone took a full case of tape measures from one manufacturer and did some checking how well their measurements coincided. Roll printed stuff, like tape measures, can have measurements creep back and forth over their accuracy range, so may agree at 5 feet, be off a good bit at 9'-6", and back to agreeing at 14 feet. This is one part of the reasoning behind the old adage to use as few measuring tools as you can on any project. Different tools, as well as similar tools and even identical tools from the same production run, don't always agree. I think the article also had another part where they compared a few tape measures from other brands. The last time I looked for this, I wasn't able to find the article any more, but the topic was rather interesting and made an impact on how I work. Others may find this topic informative, as well, and it could be quite interesting to show visually.

[@krmodels]

Great tips thanks April, even at 64, I can still learn new tricks, like the angling of the tape to break the dimensions in equal sections, bloody brilliant.

[@angeloiezzi7054]

I am not a professional (by any stretch of he imagination) but I do my own home projects, (remodeling each room, building a garage, etc). Been doing it for 30 yrs now. I can honestly say your first tip ( making the board into a manageable number) I never thought or heard of. And the "10 in" in for measuring between the door is simple minded, and yet it is genius. THANK YOU!!! keep the videos coming. Love them.

[@michaelgartner6663]

Never too old to learn new things. Thank you and stay safe.

[@maintenancebynathan2150]

You're gonna love that "Nite Eye" color format in 40 years when you turn 60! Great video. Instead of starting your measurement at 1" I use 10" so I can get the 10 line right on the mark. Thank you.

[@chrisgraham2904]

Finding your perfect tape measure is more difficult than one might think. I have tape measures that measure in inches only and metric only and a combo that measures both. One American standard tape divides inches into tenths instead of eighths. Most only lock in position when you slide the lock button, but one remains open when extended until you push the button to retract it. One has a magnet incorporated into the lead tip. Some have a tip that extends to the sides allowing the tip to hook perpendicular to a board being measured. Of course, they come in various lengths, but also various widths. Various qualities and impact protection are available. Now the "Nite-Eye" colour looks very interesting. My search continues....

[@glencrandall7051]

I already knew most of these but several had slipped to the back of my mind and a couple were new to me. This was a great refresher for me and probably new information for many. Thank you for sharing. Have a great day and please continue to stay healthy.

[@BearCreekWoodworking]

The great thing about this woodworking community is that we learn from each other. While I already knew some of these useful tips. I still learned a few new ones that will save me time and make me more productive. Thanks April!!! However, even though I already have a large collection of tape measures I can see now it's time to buy another one...lol. The Nite Eye tape looks very intriguing to me.

[@judas587]

I love this woman . She is so creative and intelligent

[@soyythomas]

Me too. Fan from Kerala

[@Matt_Hatt3r]

She's like the Martha Stewart of woodshoppers 😄

[@stephendelassus5462]

I'm not sure I've ever commented on a youtube video, but I felt compelled. The VERY FIRST ONE blew my mind. And several more were really incredible. Great content.

[@garynovak7977]

Hey April. We had an OLD Stanley tape measure give out (easily 35 years old) and I remembered this video. I bought a Lufkin Nite Eye because I liked what I saw here. Thanks for the video and tell your sponsor you made a sale. :-)

[@terryday6193]

I discovered April about 6 months ago and I am hooked. I just bought the 2-pack nite eyes at Lowe’s yesterday. Purchased at my local Lowe’s, $29.99 for a 25’ and a 16’. Same price for a 25’ tape alone. Already used it and I love it. Tried the techniques in the video and they are great. Keep up the good work April.

[@dipseadiver]

Some great tips there. Especially like the one concerning division of a panel by placing the measure at an angle that makes division easy. Thank you.

[@afisher555]

No 4 is new to me! Cheers. I am very experienced, but there is always something to learn in woodwork. Cool!

[@DonDegidio]

Hi April, All very good tips. New one for me was the magnet on the end to retrieve the nut. You and your entire stay safe.

[@curtwhite876]

Didn't think I would get much out of this one, but I love the channel so I clicked the play button. The first tip had me hooked. What a great collection of tips and tricks. Looks like I might need to buy a new measuring tape...

[@bernieh6571]

Thanks April.... Even if I've been carying a measuring tape on my belt for years..... a few good tips I didn't know about !

[@rennaker331]

Unrelated comment. Just want to say thank you for your content once again. You have succeeded in your career thus far in amazing fashion. A joy to watch. I hope you and your family have a blessed future and all of your endeavors are fruitful. In these trying times to come here and watch something productive and engaging is a blessing. Have a great day..... love your work and enthusiasm.

[@deannadeleon1882]

Thank you so much, I always learn how to build a better diy game when watching your examples. Could I beg for you to do a series on useful tips for saws? Perhaps one on skill saws another on jig and table saws etc? The helpful hints you've shown gives me lots of ways to be safer as well. I love the use of clamps as extra hands, that's never been shown to me before, and hadn't occured to me, who knew? I'm such a novice but your videos inspire me to do bigger projects. For my birthday this year my husband bought me a compressor and nail gun!!! After we followed you chicken coop video for inspiration for our own design we realized it would have gone much faster with compression tools ad used in your shop. Since then and i have built (on my own) a new composting crib in under an hour, and next will be a rabbitry with its own run design, inspired again by your chicken coop. Last but not least your videos have help my husband and I communicate construction from your point of reference. He's a union taper with lots of knowledge and journey men's terms, I am able to point to your videos and say, "I mean what April just said-showed there". Thank you for following your passion and being such a great teacher, you're a natural! Can't wait for the next show!!! We will be watching 💖💯 P.S. any chance you could show a girl how to make her own usable broom with a natural tree limb wood handle, like manzanita or willow? I have seen videos on how they're made centuries ago, but I'm not looking to go into business making them so not planning to buy a ton of antique broom making equipment. Your video where you made a bench and end table from your first milled wood planks made me think if anyone could show what I wish to learn, with outside the box adaptations, April could. I just know so many folks that would love to know that very same project. Thank You.

[@davidconaway2830]

Love the diagonal trick as well as the magnet! Thanks!

[@danielwebster7766]

One I do is write my name on the back side a few feet out,then when someone thinks it's his tape you can surprise them,also you can make a note pad by writing on the back side of the tape if there is no numbers on it,great video,now I want a new tape, thanks for all you do

[@rickgaine3476]

I typically don’t like infomercial videos, but I have to support Lufkin. 25+ years ago, my dad ran over my Lufkin 25 ft tape with his Nissan Pathfinder. It smooshed the case. I thought it was done for. I took it apart, popped the case apart, screwed it back together, and I still have it today. It doesn’t retract as well as when new, but it was built tough even 25 years ago. I can only think the newer offerings are even better. I definitely support Lufkin. I ofcourse still have my old Stanley taps 40+ years old made out of metal instead of plastic. I don’t think anyone makes tape measures out of metal anymore. In Home Depot, I was asked if my Stanley tape was mine or if I was trying to steal it. Given all the skuffs on it, I found the comment funny. I told the store person to find me one like it on the shelf and we’d talk. Nice jobe and tips in the video.

[@mikerafone4736]

thanks april and hats off to cresent for great updates on this old standby

[@peglor]

One feature on some tapes that is a huge improvement over standard is automatic tape locking. You pull the tape out and it just holds in position extended without you having to lock it. Then you push a button where the locking slider usually is to allow it to reel back in. If this was how tapes worked initially, I doubt if anyone would be looking for manual tape locking. The only issue I've had with my automatic locking tape is that the lock doesn't hold well if you get grease on the tape - not a big problem in carpentry, but I was working in heavy engineering where there was a layer of grease on a of of parts. Wiping the tape clean fixed the problem when it did occur anyway. Since the brake acted on the concave side of the tape and the convex side was usually contacting anything I was measuring it wasn't common, even though rolled up the concave and convex sides of the tape are against each other..

[@chrismorton9736]

Hi April, I watch your channel frequently and when I saw the tape measure tips it reminded me of something from nearly 40 years ago. There is one other tape measure use I’d like to mention although this is not a practical use but just a bit of trivia . FYI this will only work with an imperial tape measure… 1: Extend the tape a few inches just beyond 120 inches. 2: Loop the end of the tape measure so the end of the tape measure now lines up with 120 inches. 3: With the two sides of the tape measure now side by side the dimensions on one side will be aligned to the dimensions on the other side. 4: What this is, is a poor man’s “birthday calculator”. The 120 inches represents the current year 2020 so when you align the two sides together the corresponding number is how old you will be this year. For example, if we use 96 inches as the year “1996” the you will be 24 years old in 2020. Conversely if we use 24 inches as the year you will be 96 years old in 2020. One thing to note, the loop of the tape is the only place where the persons age and date of birth match. Have fun…..

[@TxMesquiteman]

When checking for square on diagonals, take half the difference between the two measurements and either subtract it from the long measurement or add to the short one. Leave your tape on the second diagonal and shift the frame until the dimension matches your calculation. You can double check if you like. This method saves a lot of back and forth.

[@mikecarter6758]

Thanks April! These are great tips for me as a new woodworker. I’ve already experienced the frustration of having not checked each of the tapes in my shop for agreement.

[@petem6291]

April great video the older I get the more i appreciates BIG NUMBERS on a tape measures it cuts down on mistakes I have a thing about buying tape measures . my next one is you guessed it a Lufkin my dad always used the Lufkin folding tape measures. Thank you for taking the time to make this video.. Pete M

[@cameronl62]

My tip is when working on smaller projects (anything less than cabinetry and construction), ditch the bulky 25' tape measure. I use 6', 9' and 12' measures with narrower blades. Much easier to carry and use. That steep curve in the 25' blade may help with extended stand-out, but makes marking accurately a pain.

Wow! Great tips! I need a handyperson like April!

[@chip812]

To double check that you've divided a difficult fraction in half correctly, fold the tape toward itself and hold the end on the measurement you needed to divide. The half way mark is centered in the bend of the tape.

[@johnboleyjr.1698]

All these years, and I'm just now learning about tip #1. That is so simple. Also, the "Dark Mode" tape measure is my new favourite. That was so satisfying, and eased my OCD.

[@planetruth3807]

Awesome video... I use a trick for measuring over head, just out of reach, either on a wall, ceiling, or a floating object like a rectangular duct, a lot. Hold the hook end in one hand and the measuring tape body in the other. Extend the the tape, swing it upward across the area you need to measure. Using a clear and easy measuring point to start with on one end, such as the 2', 3', 4', etc. and pushing the tape up to stretch across your area. Subtract your distance of your start point from your total. No need for a ladder...

[@donaldgarmon7368]

Wow, This is Cool April! I have used the Stanley Powerlock tapes for a long time, but I'm going to check these out! Thanks!

[@ralphwoodard609]

Great set of tips April. I did not realize holding the tape at an angle would work, but I guess it does. Thanks

[@2H80vids]

I'm *still* thinking about that one. I *think* April's right enough though. You can't measure the board, or measure a distance into the board but I think you can split it into equal parts, regardless of how many parts, or the angle of the tape. I think. I'm still not entirely convinced about the maths though.😁 Too early for me.

[@choahjinhuay]

This was the best tip for me.

[@rontiemens2553]

Fantastic presentation. Thank you! I ordered the tape measure using your link. Hopefully Lowes will give you a cut of the $!

[@halfaber7776]

I liked your tips and tricks! Thank you! One thing I learned about burning an inch or a foot from a friend of mine in the steel industry... He recommended burning 10 inches... And since then I am less likely to forget the inch that I burned or the foot I burned... The tens are just easier for me to remember for some reason. I like your fractions to inches tables as well... The Stanley 12 footers I think still have them on the back... I have always liked Lufkin Texas though! I also like your thirds moving to the diagonal! ... Still learning journeyman

[@robb4751]

picked my night eye today and love them.

[@alaskanken2132]

Great tips. I also use my tape to do quick subtractions by taking the total length and bending the tape over to find the deficit. I hope that this will help someone ✌🇺🇸

[@jarelbeatty2656]

Retired cabinet maker here. I use mine to do some complex addition and subtraction. Say you have 27 5/8 and want to add or subtract 9 13/16. Hold the end of the tape on 27 5/8 and look back down the tape to 9 13/16 to get your subtraction number. If you want to add then hold the 9 13/16 on the 27 5/8 line and look up the tape to the end of the tape and it will be on your answer.

[@jimwesselman]

If your tape measure isn’t long enough then put the hooks together and you can get a longer measurement! Great tips!

[@AprilWilkerson]

Ooh, I love that one

[@michaelmayer9189]

Well, I didn't think I needed another tape, but now I know what I am doing first thing in the morning. The contrast on the Lufkin should be easier on the eyes here in sunny Florida. Thanks for the tip.

[@glentuchscherer968]

In Canada, tape measures are clearly marked for 16 "0C.The "black" diamond is the quick reference to 19.2 inches which is needed for the spacing of floor joists.

[@Dusty-Builds]

The 3, 4, 5 method also works with combination of numbers. I recently used 3 groups of 7 (21") 4 groups of 7 (28"). to come up with 5 groups of 7 (35")

[@kylemusser3698]

My favorite tip/trick: The end of the catch hook is sharp to use as a scribe tool

[@Andrew-mx6jy]

Good tips! I love the easy suggestion for angling the tape to find more divisible dimensions. I have heard that one before, but for some reason it never seems to stick in my head! Also - if I could add a tip myself - I always epoxy a little pencil sharpener onto my tape measurers. My daughter admitted to me that she used to think I chewed my pencils, because of pocket knife cuts on all of the tips of my pencils. 😂

[@regularguy9264]

I believe the diamond markings are for I-joist layout. Also, check out the Lee Valley left handed tape. Yup, it's actually a thing.

[@funkymojo111]

That's where I ordered mine.

[@stephenrickettsNL]

Great video. Leaner a few new ones. Another thing to note, not so much a tip, but to check that the hook at the end is free to move along the groove so that it measures accurately when pushed up against as well as when hooked and pulled from. Great work as always.

[@davidmcduffie1398]

Thanks April, I always wondered what that diamond was on the tape for and what it does !!!

[@barryirby8609]

Great tips. Been using a tape a long time. 3,4,5 works and so does 5,12,13. The tilting the tape thing is useful if you are installing siding, building a fence with horizontal boards (Who would do that?) or installing roof shingles and one end is a little different from the other. Say one end of the wall is an inch taller that the other. Mark off the tall end then tilt the tape and mark off the short end. Looks much better than a little sliver. Thanks for the video.

[@markklein437]

April, thanks for this informative video. I picked up a couple of useful ideas but the big ticket item was the Lufkin tape measure. For over 30 years the 25 foot Stanley Powerlock has been my ONE AND ONLY tape. I wouldn’t have any other. But that Lufkin just had some really cool innovations. That’s going on my shopping list. Lufkin should pay you for that. I’ll bet they sell a bunch that they otherwise wouldn’t have.

[@kallenyc]

When she says that Lufkin "sponsored" the video, that means she got paid. She's a skilled woodworker AND business woman! 😉

[@Matt_Hatt3r]

That formica (not sure of the spelling) trick would have come in handy for me yesterday. Great idea! Same with the one about dividing the material into sections by measuring an easily divisible number!

[@uilmusje]

Thanks April, for these handy tips.

[@greenstoogeslawncarellc7801]

I’ve learned so much from this woman! Thanks April ! I’m actually from the TOH era LOL... I hardly ever watch them anymore... thanks for all you do!

[@RobotRiedingerEd]

TOH is still the best home improvement show on TV. Instruction instead of fake drama. And yes April is an inspiration.

[@blasty290]

I use metric tape measures to find the center of a board. So much easier to divide a whole number in half than a fraction.

[@britdude4508]

Your tips are always worth watching. You always seem to enjoy what you do. An absolute pleasure to watch! It doesn’t hurt that you are an attractive young lady,!

[@noferblatz]

Great video. As a handy guy, I use a tape a lot, and some of your tricks I already knew. But the one about slanting the tape on a board to get proper divisions was a new one. It will save me a lot of pesky math in trying to work those kinds of things out. Thanks.

[@jimanddiana4103]

Nice work April. We are big fans!

[@WSallai]

Did not know what the diamonds were for on the tapes, nice to know. The Lufkin through hole to make circles is a very nice feature. I really like that the numbers on the reverse side are vertical, a very useful feature along with the low light coloring. My next tape measure is definitely going to be a Lufkin.

[@AprilWilkerson]

I agree, those are really handy features! Glad you found it helpful. Thanks for watching.

[@ron827]

You are an amazing person in many many ways. Thanks for sharing "Tape Talk".

[@upsidedowndog1256]

These are great tips, thanks for posting them. I have found where possible a yard stick is most accurate, tape measure tricks such as these will expand my use of them.

[@gilbertdare5921]

To mark a quick line around a cylinder, stretch tape around, leaving both ends loose, tighten tape around cylinder and trace edge of tape making sure topull tape tight.

[@LogHouseFarm]

The vertical numbers on the backside are a nice idea!

[@adamtki]

I thought it would show metric numbers.

[@daveshallbetter6693]

Thanks for the tips! I'm going to check out those Lufkins! Even easier tip #9- 2" blue painter tape!

[@grh4721971]

April, what is the use of the table with all of the holes? Bending wood?

[@A.R.B.J.]

That was a lot of very practical advice in an amazingly short period of time.

[@andrewmcgillivray1881]

great video! thanks. i also insist that every crew member uses the same tape measure model, type and brand. that keeps measurements consistant. also, check if the inside measurements (with the hook pushed in) are accurate. the swedish brand „hultafors“ makes excellent metric tape measures. btw, when we switched to metric in canada years ago, mismeasurements (eventually...) dropped to almost zero. now i find inches and fractions tedious.

[@Duality6469]

Wow, i have always struggled with dividing sheet goods up evenly. Have to remember this tip. Thanks April!

[@DanG-ug1ed]

You gave away one of the best kept secrets...Lufkin tape measures are the best. There is one tip you didn't mention though that is very important and usually ignored. Not only is the Hook on the end the most fragile part of the tool, it is usually designed incorrectly (but not by Lufkin). The hook is attached loosely on purpose. When correctly designed, it wiggles back and forth exactly the same distance as its width. This makes for the most accurate measurements both inside and outside. If the hook gets bent, it looses some accuracy. To protect the hook, do not set the tape measure down on the hook. I make it a habit to lay the tape measure down on the side opposite from the tape exit. I usually put a piece of masking tape on the tape measure for repetitive measurements...I'm going to start using a dry erase marker from now on. Thanks.

[@forgedsteelwrench9249]

I absolutely love the Rubberized grip on the case of the LUFKIN with the high visibility tape.

[@carlwhite8225]

April, Some great tips. i can not believe I did not know some of these, Thanks.

[@glevito]

Another informative great job April. Thanks for all you do for the diy-ers out there

[@ronnyraygunz8718]

Those lufkin tapes are the best. And that high vis green on black is what I need! Good video

[@RebeccaEdgeTx]

I'm so glad I found you.... Your tips are great!

[@bradpaulp]

I love lufkin. Just picked up a new one just like yours. I also have an old lufkin extension rule which is also handy for doing inside measurements- it has a little slide out piece so you can just extend it to get total dimension.

[@JoseGonzalez-pz2qq]

God bless you! This is the most informative video I’ve ever watched. It will certainly make my life easier!

[@mikeabbitt8309]

Some tape measures have a magnet built into the hook, not only helpful like you demonstrated, but easier when measuring ferrous items. Also, like the Lufkin you show, I only get tapes that the hook goes up as well as down, it makes it easier to measure and mark small diameter pipes and tubing.

[@williamellis8993]

Interesting and useful tips, April. I already use them but it's good for someone who doesn't know them. One difference - instead of using the 1" mark, I start with the 10" mark and then can just subtract 10 from the measurement. This way the numbers are easier to interpret for example 24 becomes 14. The same number instead of 5 becomes 4.

[@jeremyspecce]

That’s what I do, as well. That way if it’s like an odd fraction it’s easier translate (for me at least) by just subtracting 10. Plus you get farther away from the hook so you’re not introducing a slight angle to the tape and can put it down flush to your mark.

[@williamellis8993]

@@jeremyspecce Another good reason.

[@rockyyocum54]

April learned several tricks and even have purchased the lufkin night eyes tape measures because of this video. These tapes are easier for a set of old eyes to see😂. One thing I noticed in your videos you let the tapes slam back in rapidly this will stretch out your hook on the end and it won’t read accurately over time. Have had this drilled into my head by older brothers all my life most have been carpenters you want to let the tape cone back in moderately slow so you don’t stretch out the hook. Don’t get me wrong love your videos and have purchased a jig and fraction guide from you keep up the good work and congrats on the new shop

[@bryantford3054]

Excellent tips. I've been doing carpentry since before you were born & knew all these tips except the first. That was mind blowing. 😝

[@barrylitchfield250]

Thanks April, Good tips! Now I'll need to go get a Lufkin tape with high visibility. I just received my stretch wrap tie downs yesterday and need to try them out too.

[@billj5645]

The "burn an inch" trick works with burn 2 inches or whatever it takes to let the tape lay flat on your workpiece. We use "burn an inch" to make marking easier and more precise, but after doing this always double check by putting the actual end of the tape on one side and seeing that your mark is at the approximate distance you want and not off one or two inches. Sometimes your brain will subtract the inch twice, or not at all. You don't want your workpiece to come out 1 inch off.

[@jessicagarrison1385]

I enjoy these simple trick informational videos. Thanks!! 🙂

[@qaylis]

Hi April. There were some good tips here that included a couple that I have not seen. I use a similar method to one you listed. Instead of starting at 1" to get an accurate measure, i start at 10. I am less likely to forget the 10" but have forgotten the 1" before.

[@norm1124]

Hi again - Hope you and your family is doing well in this strange times. 👋🏼👋🏼👋🏼 From Switzerland

[@alsautner1732]

Cutting wood in half by tilting the tape is a great idea....! Thanks April....I will use that...! Great tip...!

[@ifscottcanyoucan]

Love my fraction/decimal chart. You have some cool stuff on your website. I'm gonna buy the State of Michigan template. There are a ton of things I could make with that. Thanks April!

[@azlovakhoz3030]

Dear April, you are not only handy and skillful but very pretty, too. Many thanks for the video, it is very useful.

[@chadbingham8069]

Some of these are so simple, yet so useful!

[@glenralph5123]

Tip 1 was all I needed, stayed for the rest though. Awesome vid.

[@cassvirgillo3395]

Hello April, Handy tips & tricks for the tape measure. You probably know that by dividing the numerator, top number, by the denominator, bottom number, you get the decimal equivalent. Dividing a fraction in half, the numerator stays the same, the denominator doubles, 1/8" divided by 2 equals 1 /16" , etc..All the best from Oregon, C.

[@dchall8]

If you are measuring something less than 1 inch, or an even number like 4 1/8", then all is good. But what if you measured 13 3/4 inches? Then to get the center what you do is "pretend" you measured to the even number 1 less than 13...which is 12, and divide that by 2 to get 6. With the fraction you add the numerator and denominator to get the new numerator. Then double the denominator to get the new denominator. So half of 13 3/4" is 6 7/8".

[@shooting9247]

First tip out of the gate was worth it. Amazing