Metal end part of a tape measure is always loose for a genuinely functional reason

Hey, if you’re planning on doing some DIY at any point, perhaps you’d like to have some new knowledge about one of the essential tools – the humble tape measure. Here’s a video explaining what we’re about to get into:

It’s a vital tool when you’re doing anything that is precise, which – if you’re doing DIY work about the house – is pretty much everything.

However, they can sometimes seem a little bit poorly put together, with the metal bit on the end of it always hanging a little bit loose.

Well, it’s not shoddy engineering, there’s actually a very good reason for it, and it means that you get a more accurate measurement each time you use it.

That is if it’s not one of those tiny ones that you sometimes get in a Christmas cracker, but a proper one.

Anyway, the reason that the thing is a bit loose is actually so you’ve got some wriggle room to make your measurement.

You see, the amount of give is actually very precise.

TikTok

The metal is one sixteenth of an inch thick – if you’re measuring in those terms – and the first inch of the tape measure is – you’ve guessed it – one sixteenth of an inch short.

That means that you can hook the tape over the edge of something, or push it against something flush and manage to get the exact same measurement.

Neat, right?

Well, if you’re amongst those who didn’t know anything about this small – but important – piece of DIY knowledge, you definitely aren’t alone.

In fact, the video above was posted on TikTok with the caption: “Today in something I just Googled. I honestly wondered about this one. Am I the last to know?”

Well, not quite the last, it would seem.

One person commented: “I honestly just thought it was loose, never put any further thought into it.”

Another wrote: “This hurts my brain but I’ll take your word for it.”

A third person noticed the use of the imperial measurements, writing: “That precision becomes useless if they are still using the imperial system.”

TikTok

It’s too late for one person though, because they admitted that they just thought it was cheap and covered their tape measure in epoxy.

Oh dear.

“I never thought about it, I just thought my dad had an old one, thanks.”

Aren’t you glad that you now have this vital piece of knowledge, eh?

Topics: Weird, Home

Tom Wood

Tom Wood is a LADbible journalist and Twin Peaks enthusiast. Despite having a career in football cut short by a chronic lack of talent, he managed to obtain degrees from both the University of London and Salford. According to his French teacher, at the weekend he mostly likes to play football and go to the park with his brother. Contact Tom on [email protected]

@TPWagwim