Some tools are so common, so basic, that we take them for granted. A perfect example is the lowly tape measure. We’ve probably all got a few of these kicking around the lab, and they aren’t exactly the kind of thing you give a lot of thought to when you’re using them. But while most of us might not give our tape measure a second thought, [Ariel Yahni] decided to create an absolutely gorgeous new enclosure for his. Because if you’re going to measure something, why not look good doing it?
A CNC router is used to carve the body of the new tape measure out of a solid block of wood and cut a top plate out of clear acrylic. [Ariel] then used an angle grinder to cut off a small section of steel rod which he secured into a carved pocket in the base using epoxy. Finally, the internals of a commercial tape measure were inserted into this new enclosure, and the acrylic top was screwed down into place.
[Ariel] has made the DXF files for this project public for anyone else who wants to carve out their own heirloom tape measure, though it seems likely the designs will need some tweaking depending on the make and model of donor tape measure. While this might not be the most technically impressive project to run on Hackaday, it’s still a fantastic example of the sort of bespoke designs that are made possible with modern manufacturing methods.
This design reminds us of a similar project to turn a basic Honda key fob into a true conversation piece with the addition of some CNC’d hardwood and aluminum.
Dissatisfied with every screwdriver I owned, I took a similar approach with making a driver handle. Check it our here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qrgpe0ktgws&t=3s
Awesome design man, most definitely an heirloom piece.
You should make a case/toolbox for it.
I won’t lie. That last slice on the radius really made me smile.
When exactly is that (for the less experienced)?
Needs chamfers.
And a bevel to catch the shim.
Also no lock.
Nice anyway!
Everything is better with chamfers.
(Not sarcastic.)
and he totally forgot that a useful tape measure has a certain length with square edges to be able to measure inside lengths…
You got here before me…
Alex, you poltroon, I’ll take Artis Anal Tape for 600!
You left the word “enclosure” off the end of the title. A true artisanal {barf} tape would have been made from organic free range hemp fibers marked by hand with squid ink and the numbers drawn in Olde English font.
Needs some LEDs to illuminate the edges of the acrylic cover – powered by the retracting tape