Customer Reviews

Stanley 33-716 16-Foot-by-1-1/4-Inch FatMax Tape Rule with Blade Armor

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Ths is my favorite tape to date. I like the small case. It fits my hand real nice. It's lighter than the big ones and I don't usually get th 25's-35's out unless I'm just starting a job and I need whole room measurements.It's very consistent. The set back is 2 3/4 inches which is easy to use.

After using a Fat Max, you will not go back to the other flimsy tape measures. The standout is outstanding! The 16' is the smallest (although still FAT as the name implies) and for most jobs, the most useful. I also keep a 25' & 30' in the toolbox, but the 16' comes with me. I usually do not have to measure anything longer than 16' and this is great to keep on your belt, or in your car. If Stanley made a FAT MAX mini maybe slightly thinner, and 12' but still sturdy and with a nice stand out, I would be all over that also. I keep buying these because they keep disapearing from jobsites. Annoying, yes, but a testament to the fact that once people use them, they don't want to let them go.

I'm an indoor finished carpenter by trade, and this tape measure fell from my pocket three stories and landed straight on concrete without hitting anything else. I thought for sure it was a 'gonner'. When I went down the stairs to check it out there was barely a mark on it. I checked the tape portion of it and everything functioned just as perfectly as it had before it fell. This tape measure that I use is about 6 months old, and I use it every week day on the job. I prefer this one over the thinner stanley's because the tape lasts longer. The thinner and more mobile/comfortable ones only last 4 or 5 months of every day use in my line of business, but this one will easily go at least another several months.

My only issue with this tape measure is you only get about 15' at full extension before causing potential catastrophe to your incredible tool. I did just that- was measuring a wall for some crown and needed to go almost a full 16' to get my measurement. I made it to 15' and felt the pressures urging me to stop, although I still hadn't seen the warning signs (the "caution"). I needed just an inch or two more so I kept going, knowing I should see the "caution" before I'd need to stop. I went to 15' 3" or 4" inches and just before reaching the "caution," I heard the spring snap and I felt the tension give out. My tape measure was broken. I'm goring to send this information to Stanley Tools since it's obviously a design flaw.

I am not a contractor, just an ordinary home owner who over the years has collected various tape measures for simple projects like measuring room dimensions before buying furniture. I got tired of the thin tape measures that are hard to keep in place, and break easily, and bought this product based on the positive reviews and am very happy that I did. Here is why:

1. Unlike the flimsy cases on the case on this product is not only nice and solid, but the protective black rubber on the case is notched to make gripping it easier. I like the way it feels in my hand. As another review notes, the case is thicker than other tape measures, which is to be expected since this is 1-1/4 inch tape.

2. The extra thick tape in this product is far superior to the thinner tape in other tape measures. It stays put on the ground without the annoying movement of thinner tapes. Yes, the lock on this requires a bit more effort than on other tape measures, but nothing unusual, and again is to be expected since this is thicker tape.

3. The tape itself is durable, and well marked with measurements in inches on the bottom and both feet and inches on the top. So you can see at a glance that something 158 inches long is 13' 2" and vice versa. While converting between inches and feet is not complicated, I find it convenient to have the tape measure do it for me.

4. This is very easy to retract and does not jam like some less expensive tape measures. There is also a warning after the 15' mark that you are toward the end of the tape, and in fact you cannot pull it out further than 15' 10 1/2 inches. My one minor quibble is that the base in not labeled in inches, though it measures 2 5/8 inches).

Bottom line: This tape measure should be part of every homeowner's basic tool kit.

Better than expect. Bright color and steady lenght. I will bought an other one if this break.
I will recommend this tape to any one

I have been using 25' tape measures for every day use and decided to go with a 16' after realizing i rarely need 25 feet of capacity.
So the 25' stays in the truck almost all day and this one stays on my belt.
We all know the advantages of the Fat Max line but this one specifically works for me because of it's smaller size.

I do finish carpentry pretty much all the time so a small compact tape with a long lasting blade is the perfect tool. I hope they never make changes to it, if they were smart they'd lower the price by about $4 and make them forever. I'm sure it will be stream lined and marketed for the homeowner someday which will ruin it for us professionals but I'm using it while it lasts.

This was a replacement for my lost FatMax ... so I already knew what I wanted. For a motion picture focus puller, this is THE long range, small metal tape measure, that is so handy for our jobs. Good price, very fast delivery from this dealer

i do masonry construction and 16' is the standard tape. this one has lasted me about 16 months the first six inches are almost worn out, but it will still stand straight to ten feet or so and the lock still works great. Awesome tape well worth the cost

I bought this tape in the middle of a deck project where I needed to take measurements from post cap to post cap 9 feet apart and 10 feet in the air. It fit the job perfectly. For regular use though the lock is too hard to manipulate and the tape curves further off your work than one inch tapes, requiring you to push it down to get an accurate reading.