My dad's tape measure fix still works after 10 years

I was over at my dad's house last weekend helping him build a shelf. He pulled out this old tape measure that had a piece of duct tape holding the tip on. He told me he rigged it that way back in 2014 when the hook broke off and it still measures just fine. I thought it was pretty funny but it actually works better than my new one that keeps bending. Has anyone else fixed a tool with tape and just kept using it forever?

2 comments

2 Comments

dylanbarnes1mo ago

Man, that's the kind of fix that just becomes part of the tool's soul after a while. A little tape or a bent nail can keep a tape measure going for years past when you'd normally pitch it in the trash. It's funny how the things we patch up ourselves often outlast the brand new stuff you buy at the store.

hill.hugo1mo ago

That line about a fix becoming "part of the tool's soul" really rings true. I had an old pair of pliers that the handle grip started slipping off of about eight years ago. Instead of tossing them, I wrapped the whole handle in black electrical tape, just a tight layer over and over. Those pliers are still sitting in my garage drawer today, and the tape has never come loose. I use them all the time for pulling nails and bending wire, and they feel more comfortable in my hand than the new ones I bought. A simple wrap of tape can turn a broken tool into something that's actually better than before.