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Tractor Talk Discussion Forum

Strange marking on tape measure ????

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Alberta Mike

02-14-2006 17:41:10




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i was at a friend's shop today and he showed me a tape measure he had just bought. It was an SAE tape marked in inches, feet, etc (no metric) and had the usual highlighted marks every foot and also every 16" for stud centers when building. Then, every 19 3/16" (approximately), there is a mark that I've never seen before, a small diamond mark and it repeats all the way along the tape at the same interval (like at 39 3/8" and so on). I thought that maybe it was showing 1/2 meters (50 cm) but it is slightly less at about 48.7 cm (487 mm) which doesn't make any sense. Anyone know what these strange markings indicate or are used for?

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Midwest redneck

02-15-2006 01:58:52




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 Re: Strange marking on tape measure ???? in reply to Alberta Mike, 02-14-2006 17:41:10  
The diamond is used for framing engineered floor joists, 19.2 inches I think is the length.



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02

02-14-2006 19:19:05




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 Re: Strange marking on tape measure ???? in reply to Alberta Mike, 02-14-2006 17:41:10  
those are your 19.2 centers instead of 2 foot centers or 16" centers.They are used in certain framing applications such as engineered floor joists.They are the ones with a 2"x3" top and bottom and O.S.B. in between.



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buckva

02-14-2006 18:13:35




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 Re: Strange marking on tape measure ???? in reply to Alberta Mike, 02-14-2006 17:41:10  

Several years ago I ask the same question here on YT and have since used the mark in construction. Mark is to lay out the centers of engineered beems such as floor joist,ceiling joist, or rafter that have the 19 3/8 design centers.



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Adam Schuh

02-14-2006 18:12:11




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 Re: Strange marking on tape measure ???? in reply to Alberta Mike, 02-14-2006 17:41:10  
I help build houses with a local contractor. Those marks are used for floor trusses and other engineered lumber. They all use that spacing.



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Pete in MD

02-14-2006 18:00:47




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 Re: Strange marking on tape measure ???? in reply to Alberta Mike, 02-14-2006 17:41:10  
The markings are for use with Engineered Lumber Joists & Studs. For more info go to "www.straightdope.com/mailbag/mtapemeasure.html".



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wolfman

02-14-2006 17:59:00




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 Re: Strange marking on tape measure ???? in reply to Alberta Mike, 02-14-2006 17:41:10  
I think you are correct- a meter is 39.37 inches. Your 39 & 3/8 is 39.375.



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Alberta Mike

02-14-2006 18:53:27




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 Re: Strange marking on tape measure ???? in reply to wolfman, 02-14-2006 17:59:00  
I meant to say 38 3/8 which is less than one meter.



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IaGary

02-14-2006 17:54:23




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 Re: Strange marking on tape measure ???? in reply to Alberta Mike, 02-14-2006 17:41:10  
Going along with dachshund said it only takes 5 studs instead of 6 to 8'. Look to see if one mark is on the 8' mark.



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Dachshund

02-14-2006 17:45:32




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 Re: Strange marking on tape measure ???? in reply to Alberta Mike, 02-14-2006 17:41:10  
If you set studs on these marks, they will come out on 8' - perfect for plywood or OSB.



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paul

02-15-2006 20:38:36




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 Re: Strange marking on tape measure ???? in reply to Dachshund, 02-14-2006 17:45:32  
Yup - 2 feet was too much span for flooring - too much flex, so they came up with this spacing. Matches the 4x8 sheet, uses less lumber, still stiff enough.

--->Paul



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