The Best Tape Measure Hacks ~ Tricks for becoming a more efficient builder

[@texascraftsman7215]

I always keep a 6 ft folding ruler in my side leg pocket it comes in handy. Your the first carpenter to admit he uses the staring method but I know we all do it lol thanks for the great tips

[@adshwartz]

Oh man! I thought I invented the looking at a spot on the wood trick. I had no idea other people do that too! Thats so funny... Every time I do that I laugh at my self but it works so I keep doing that

[@scottsprowl7484]

I thought I did.....well looks like it come with experience.

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

Sweet move fellas!! I guess I can’t say that I invented it now

[@scottsprowl7484]

It definitely works

[@lostintime8651]

Look at the wood trick?? I heard you can go blind from doing that.

[@JuiceBanger1]

I created it here in the UK!

[@royalconstruction8032]

I “look at the wood” in rough situations too! There is always something distinctive to keep your eye on and make your mark. I can do this very accurately. Awesome to see other guys doing it! Love this channel.

[@Savagewoodworker]

The stare is actually deadly. People are like wtf haha. Pros know. Another great video. Cheers

[@4legdfishman]

WOW! I've been staring at the spot on the wall forever! Hahahaha it's good to see I'm not alone. Keep up the great content.

[@thesage1096]

oh man the staring trick got me ! i thought i was the only one that did that when in a pinch ! i would wonder wtf id say to someone that asked why in the world i was staring so hard at the tape for a good few seconds haha.... probably " oh i forgot numbers" would be much easier to say that explain what i was doing lol

[@basiloahu4968]

😂😂😂 so good Perkins...love the channel, humor and info!!!

[@kingfua2988]

You’re the MAN!

[@tedmcnair9709]

I have used every method you covered! It’s amazing how often that situation occurs!

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

I would say you are a real pro then! Hopefully this will help new carpenters realize they can get things done all by themselves even if it seems tricky to do 😁

[@wellsnapyeah]

Those are small, little golden nuggets. I'm keeping them. Thank you.

[@justmeandthethree]

Thank you for making these videos. They are very helpful.

[@robertgoodwin4730]

NAILED IT!

[@AllAmericanDreamChaser]

Sadly this is the tool I have always struggled with. It really wasn't taught in school. I appreciate you guy's teaching people like myself. You guy's are great! Thank you!😀👍

[@andrewkeeton3627]

Big fan of the carhartt safety glasses

[@happyfilmore2647]

Nice video..... I cut a lot of fit sticks for repetitive measurements....

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

Great idea

[@happyfilmore2647]

Perkins Builder Brothers Love the videos. Very informative ,short and sweet.... What your doing here on KZbin is great! Wish you had a Perkins trucker style hat for purchase....

[@tubeonline629]

I buy good tape measures and hold it on the high side and pencil and end of tape on the low side.

[@youstolemyhandleyoutwat]

My boss taught me that method, my fat fingers make it difficult hahaha

[@ironhorsealpha]

Great video as always 😉

[@YESSLEEP42]

good tips! Thanks for the video!!

[@samueldarda5399]

You can also just let the slack end of the tape fall and hold the tape where you want to mark with your thumb. Doesn't look very smooth, but it works

[@TinManKustoms]

Just file the hook of tape measure so it'll leave a mark. That's what has been working well for me. And it really works for scribing lines on ceiling tiles and drywall

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

Nice trick 👍

[@franciscoestrada7429]

I'm gonna start staring more often 😁. On a cool note Milwaukee came out with a double sided marked tape measure I used for situations like that all over. I'd recommend that one

[@bensun432]

Perfect again

[@mrrodzoo785]

2' or 4' level also work great in these situations.

[@HeirloomBuilders]

I use the "stare at one spot" method almost every time I can't hook the tape and only need to measure one number. Pulling an entire layout is easiest with a nail, so long as you line up the far side of the nail with the mark you're supposed to measure from! Great tips. Cheers!

[@manuelvasquez8826]

HEY IM A THREE ARMED CARPENTER LETS GET HIM TO HIRE ME!!!!!

[@jeftex8875]

I'm about put out with the Fat Max...It's like working with a wet noodle anymore. I swear they are making them out of recycled beer cans. Been "stare measuring" and the thumbnail mark for years....lol...like some of the others I thought I was the only one.

[@Natedoc808]

I have pulled layout up the vertical side, make my marks then come back and transfer them onto the underside with a rafter or speed square. Can also hold the pencil in same hand as the smart end of the tape and put a basic dot at the measurement right where the tape comes out of the box, same method works on the dumb end of the tape

[@adshwartz]

Sometimes I use a level that has the numbers on it. It works for small stuff mostly because the longer levels dont have measurement markings on them. For even smaller measurements I'll use my speed square, one hand can hold it and the pencil at the same time

[@tedmcnair9709]

David Shwartz I do this as well. I stuck a ruler on all my levels! You can purchase them at most home improvement stores. Amazon has them as well. They are normally used on miter tables or as a replacement ruler for the table saw.

[@adshwartz]

@@tedmcnair9709 I did not think of that. Thats an awesome idea!

[@palettetools6461]

Nailed It

[@bwrightaway2877]

"Ain't no callin for a 1 legged ninja" is the first thing that came to mind when you said "3 armed carpenter"

[@austinverbeek5822]

You can also cut a little notch with your knife to hook

[@davidpimentel3195]

I'm curious how many guys called you saying they have a "third arm"? 🤣

[@mrpaint055]

Have you ever used the attachment that inserts on the end of the tape measure that has a graphite insert, works great.

[@joetownsend-]

Continuing Education, 1 hour credit- Thank You‼️ I am right handed- I swap the smart end of tape to left hand, hold measurement on established mark, hold framing pencil and hook end of tape together w/sharp point of pencil tight on hook and wood- move back forth slightly and the furtherest point of curve mark is exact- 99%of time no curve mark, just small 1/8th”. Works as far as you can spread arms. I like how you remeasure to check! My eyes started wiggling too much about 15years ago- so I have to use nail method mostly and(ha ha) can’t read tape upside down- or just about not at all these days! YALL are SO SMART🔨✅‼️ 🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑🍑

[@shadowquiksilver7932]

Threes Arms Call me ... NOW.... call NOW. HEH LOL

[@randymathews3348]

I do the stare thing all the time!

[@reggiespencer4000]

Just wondering what kind/brand safety glasses you were wearing. Thank you from your knowledge

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

Carhartt. Thanks

[@jasonbrundage5107]

I need to get a pair of them for sure

[@dylanbennett3851]

No 3rd arm but I was born with a little pig tail I can hang extension cords from, and when I'm excited I can even hang a 16oz claw hammer from it too! 🐒 😂

[@AlexRides808]

Home depot sells long painter's sticks with measurements on them for pretty cheap.

[@naomiemily9365]

Great tips i use them as well the eye one though lol .m

[@Mixwell1983]

Don't have 3 arms but I have a 3rd leg, does that count ?

[@happyfilmore2647]

mixwell1983 Not much use for a 2” measurement in framing.......

[@king49334]

Lol

[@tedmcnair9709]

DMOZ8371 Mountain 😂🤣😂🤣😂😂😂

[@kan-zee]

Can you share any tips on how to use your measuring tape for finding ANGLES/ degrees ?

[@aservant2287]

owlcation.com/stem/Everything-About-Triangles-and-More-Isosceles-Equilateral-Scalene-Pythagoras-Sine-and-Cosine

[@wooge3199]

Learn the swanson blue book and ojt

[@joshuahrutyna7847]

Great tips! Im also admiring your safety glasses! What brand are they?

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

Hey thanks.. they are Carhartt

[@rickculpepper709]

Nice. Here in South Georgia we love you

[@boboconnor1403]

Now someone is going to come behind you and not know wth is going on...lol

[@jeffschiefelbein225]

I dont have 3 arms, but i do catch cut offs with top side of my foot like a hacky sack. Am i hired?!

[@darkdelta]

I've used an awl for horizontal measuring, not sure about upside down.

[@jesseonly1327]

Are those prescription safety glasses you're wearing? If so what brand are they?

[@Diaz_Mou]

hello friend a query, how many oz is that hammer? And where do I get that hammer? greetings from Chile

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

It’s 15 oz Stiletto Brand..TBII TITANIUM

[@justmeandthethree]

I have used the staring method, but I am not a professional carpenter. I never knew that anyone else also did that.

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

All the time! Kind of a fun game too… To see how close you can get.

[@garychambers5930]

I use the staring technique all the time Half the time I do it I don't have my pencil in my hand and have to pull out the tape again

[@thomasmaxwell4821]

Would you do a Apprenticeship so I can learn hands on

[@topsecretbear9918]

Does a baby arm count?

[@thisisepicEHBL]

I have used all those tricks. The hardest tho is using the nail. Not as quick as the others

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

That’s why I use all these other tricks! Just a little faster

[@rishat1254]

Hey Perkins look up "tape measure hack / trick" by The Small Workshop. Maybe your brother can replicate enough of them for your whole crew.

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

Ok will do thanks

[@MrTooTechnical]

not bad. more stabilas

[@MyDIYAdventures]

The staring method is how I do all my measuring!

[@imnotaloneheswithme7061]

Being a drywall finisher, this sounds like eyeball-drywall, to me. Okay, I’m just kidding. Seriously, though, you’d be surprised by what I’ve been asked to fix. “Come on, you can put some tape and mud and no one be the wiser “. Sure, I can. But damn, dude my tape comes in 250’ and 500’ rolls, but its still only 2” wide. Now, give me something I can work with. LOL. BTW, I’m not just a finisher. I’ve used the same techniques except the thumbnail thingy. Appreciate ya

[@jasonbrundage5107]

Imma a 3 handed carpenter

[@wqwwqwqqpoppopoo]

The 3rd option is to just cover it with drywall and hope no-one ever checks

[@fishslayer626]

I dont have 3 arms but I have 3 legs 😂😂😂😂😂

[@aviarior.j7962]

hermanos. perkins 🇨🇱🇨🇱🇨🇱

[@paulstuartwilson485]

The best tip in this video was the one about hiding from your kids...

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

You must at least three kids

[@GOLDSLF]

Do you know anyone that does finish carpentry and makes content?

[@WAKEUPARTIST]

I might know a carpenter with 3 arms! Are you paying 50% more than a man with 2?

[@freddyo2k10]

I'm a Carpenter and I've been told I have 3 legs....😉😉 Can I still get the job???!!🤣🤣🤣🤣👍👌

[@tedmcnair9709]

Freddy Arancibia ole Tri pod! 😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@BearlyRussian]

You forgot the best hack - Use a metric tape measure!! ;-)

[@thesage1096]

ayeee now

[@olgajoachimosmundsen4647]

Perkins; How does it work when people in America often mark with something that looks like a v? What is the purpose?

[@Mixwell1983]

From my understanding it is to make it easier for others to read. The two lines coming to a point show the exact measurement. By using just a line you can be off of a measurement by a little based on the thickness of your mark and what they call taking or leaving the line. This means do you make a cut and have the pencil mark showing on the edge or do you cut on the other side of the line or even split the line. Depending on the saw blade thickness your measurement could be off by a little. So the V marks help to pinpoint exactly where the cut/measurement should be.

[@PerkinsBuilderBrothers]

Good question.. the point of the v is the exact point of measurement. Call it a crows foot here. You could use a single line as long as you drew it exactly perpendicular to the board

[@jynnandtonnyx]

I am more accurate with a thick carpenter pencil or lumber crayon by indicating my measurements at the point of the v instead of having my crew guess where along the squiggly line they should cut. The quality of our work increased when we all started to mark the same way :)

[@Wroom90]

I'm always drawing a line and removing the line with material on either side. I notice many people cut in the middle of the line. For me I find that more problematic as it will easily lead you to cut materials short. I think I'll try the v to see how it works for me with carpentry. In welding I think I'll stick to lines.

[@Wroom90]

How about with fine work where there should be no lines visible?

[@jamesedwards1528]

When you got to get a center fold your tape in half

[@nippuckz]

Best tape measure hack. Use metric

[@masonhall7361]

You are setting yourself up for a discrimination suit from all the two armed Carpenters out there. I've refered this matter to the law firm of Dewey, Chetum, and How.

[@mandovapehater6988]

Crap! I just got 3 legs. 😛😜😁🙊

[@lostintime8651]

I happened to have 3 arms. So this video doesn't apply to me. Yup. My GF thinks I should be in the movies.

[@christophergutierrez4389]

Tell u what hopefully you dont go cross eyed stairing at that mark to long🤣

[@toddkotsifas174]

Hmmmm.. some of the ladies I meet say I have a third arm.. lmaoooo

[@MsElijah16]

😂