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play_arrow Pickup In StoreNorva Tools is one of Melbourne's renowned trade tools stores, and no matter what your tools requirements are, we have you covered. If you don't want to pay for delivery or need your items ASAP, you can pick it up from our tools warehouse in Dandenong, Melbourne. Just bear in mind not all items are in stock. You'll be able to see if they do during the checkout process. Estimated Delivery TimeframesIf you opted to collect your items, you will receive an email to inform you when your goods are ready for collection. If you opted for delivery, you will receive an email when the goods have been despatched to the couriers with details so you can track our order. We aim to despatch all orders within 1-2 business days. In the unusual event of a delay to the dispatch of your order, you will be contacted at the earliest opportunity. Once the order has been despatched the estimated delivery time is as follows:
Please note that these delivery timeframes are estimates and are not guaranteed. ReturnsChanged your mind? No worries. You just need to get the product back to us within 14 days, unused and in its original packaging and we'll give you a refund (excluding delivery costs). You can read our full returns policy here (special order items are excluded from this returns policy). Reading a Tape Measure Can Be Easy If You Know What to Look ForLearning how to read a tape measure is one of the first things any Pro or DIYer has to learn. If the old adage “measure twice, cut once” is true, you’ll never get to the cut if you don’t know what you’re reading. Parts of a Tape MeasureBefore we look at reading the tape measure, let’s go over some of the basic parts. Tape measures may differ in how some of these parts and features look, but most fall into these general categories:
How to Read a Tape Measure in Inches and FeetTape measures do their most basic work in inches and feet. These are the clearest, boldest markings you’ll see. Starting at the hook, it has number markings for every inch, followed by additional numbered markings for every foot. Once you get beyond 1 foot, the inch markings keep going up with 13, 14, 15, etc rather than starting over at 1. Some tapes have an additional smaller number that goes with the last foot mark you hit. For example, it might show you that 22 inches are also equal to 1 foot, 10 inches. In between each full blade width inch marking, there are a series of smaller ones. They are different sizes to help you easily identify which is which. Some tapes even have fractions printed on them, making them easier to read. When you’re learning how to read a tape measure, note the majority break each inch into 16 sections. In other words, you can read a tape measure with 1/16-inch accuracy. The 1/2-inch mark is the longest, followed by the 1/4-inch marks, then the 1/8-inch marks. The 1/16-inch marks are the shortest. Reading from the beginning of an inch forward, here’s what the pattern looks like (the marks will be solid on the blade):
How to Read a Tape Measure In Millimeters (mm)If you’re learning how to read a tape measure in millimeters, things change a bit. Metric tape measures break down into 10 millimeters for every centimeter. Counting up just like a standard tape, these don’t have indicators for feet, but every 10th centimeter is red or has some other way to stand out. They also may have meters marked As you read between each centimeter mark, every short mark is 1 millimeter and the 5th is typically longer to help your eyes find the middle easily. The nice thing is you’re not bounding between fractions. It’s a far easier decimal conversion. 13 cm and 4 mm is simply 13.4 cm. Some tape measures—not many—even provide both measurements on the same tape. While this can be handy, it also clutters up the visibility of the markings in our opinion. We rarely need both metric and standard at the same time. If you work with materials that require metric unit measurements—make sure you have at least one of these tapes handy. In either case—pay attention to the labeling on the tape itself and buy the right one! How to Read a Tape Measure Special MarkingsWhy are Some Numbers Red on a Tape Measure?There are a couple of special markings you might notice as you read your tape measure specifically for contractors. Every 16 inches (16, 32, 48…), there’s a bold, red, or colored-in mark that’s different from the others. These mark a standard 16-inch stud placement. What Do the Black Diamonds Mean on a Tape Measure?Then there’s the mysterious floating black diamond. The measures aren’t on an exact inch like the stud markings. These are at 19 3/16, 38 3/8, 57 9/16, and 76 3/4. They’re for setting trusses. Specifically, they’re for setting six trusses on an 8-foot span—the length of a sheet of plywood. The 0 mark and 8-foot mark make up two and there are four black diamonds in between. While we aren’t going into detail on these, here are a few other special tape measure markings we’ve seen:
Does the Hook Affect Tape Measure Accuracy?The hook slides back and forth at the front of the blade and that’s intentional. It slides the exact width of the hook so whether you’re pushing it against material or pulling from the side, you get an accurate measurement.
Have any questions about reading a tape measure? Drop them in the comments below and we’ll answer them for you! Like the tape measure we used in the photos? It’s the 25-foot Milwaukee Stud and we highly recommend it! What are the red numbers on a Lufkin tape measure?The red number indicates 16-inch-on-center spacing. This is a common framing spacing for wall studs. This makes it easy (usually) to locate a stud if you already know where one is.
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