Inaccurate measuring tools.

You will have to be very particular, when buying tools, to avoid tools made in China. Many of the brand name manufacturers sell tools made “offshore”.

-- Making Sawdust Safely

Look for the sticker.

PRC = Probably Really Crap

Measuring tools are an area I won’t skimp on.
My steel rules are made in japan shinwa, my combo and double squares are starrett and pec tools, made in the usa, and my wooden folding rules are lufkin and starrett, made in the usa.

In addition, when measuring I try to use a single method across the project so any inconsistencies don’t stack up. I use a tape measure only for rough measurements.

-- He who dies with the most tools... dies with the emptiest wallet.

not to downplay the quality , or lack there of, of cheap measuring tools, but working as a carpenter in the 70’s we always were told to use the same measuring tool through out a task. Most “mass produced” tools had variances. Interior trim was susceptible to errors if several tapes were used and compounded by the way others might read a “strong” 8th or quarter inch.

Now, in wood working I find that rule especially relevant. no pun intended.
peace, T

+ 1 with nitewalker

-- IF YOUR NOT MAKING DUST...YOU ARE COLLECTING IT! SOUTH CAROLINA.

The Stanley tape is likely made in China as well.

-- Bondo Gaposis

Although I have several tapes and steel rulers, I try not to use them except for gross cuts or to verify that pieces are of the same size. Most of my measurements are made directly or with story sticks.

-- Gene 'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton

I have a brand new Stanley tape here that I got for exchanging my broken Craftsman at Sears due to Craftsman no longer producing tape measures??? Anyway, it’s model 33-281 and it’s made in Thailand!

Not sure where the Craftsman was made, I’m assuming USA, but I should have required the alternative replacement be made in the USA, as the country of origin was of importance when I purchased the Craftsman in the first place.

@bigblockyeti – I think you’ll be hard pressed to find anything in the Sears tool section that isn’t very overpriced to be made in the USA anymore, most of their tools don’t even carry the lifetime guarantee anymore which is why it’s no longer worth going with the Craftsman name sadly.

-- Nick, "Choking to death on bacon is like getting murdered by your lover." - JG

”...In addition, when measuring I try to use a single method across the project so any inconsistencies don’t stack up. I use a tape measure only for rough measurements….”

You cracked the code! You/we/us/me could use a stick broken off a tree and be very accurate, IF we follow the above advice.

-- HorizontalMike -- "Woodpeckers understand..."

when working in a cab shop using metric
with 6 guys all cutting different parts
we used a 2’ steel rule
to check all the tapes and bend the hook if needed
so all got the same measurement
as you go beyond 2’ most tapes will wander some
even my tape on the unisaw has a glitch
around 3’ to 4’ on it
so i check the blade with the shop tape
just to be sure

-- david - only thru kindness can this world be whole . If we don't succeed we run the risk of failure. Dan Quayle

When students shop for even basic tools like a framing square I have I have them check them at the store. In the past I had a student ask me to pick her up a framing square at a box store since I was going there the next day,I checked all nine framing squares they had in stock not one was square, in fact they vaired from a 1/16-1/8th out of square.

-- http://artisticwoodstudio.com Custom furniture

Not to go too far from the subject, but I feel there is hope of improvement in this “Made in China” stuff. I remember when I was much younger it was the same way with everything “Made In Japan”. Now a lot of Japanese manufactured items are sought out and prefered.

-- “We all die. The goal isn't to live forever; the goal is to create something that will.” - Chuck Palahniuk

Jim, The clerks get mad when you draw lines on their shelving. DAMHIK But, it works.
A steel framing square can be trued with a sharp punch and a hammer. Actually, a good lesson for a student.

-- Gene 'The true soldier fights not because he hates what is in front of him, but because he loves what is behind him.' G. K. Chesterton