Anvil, Home Depot’s newest store brand, makes a 6-foot tape measure keychain that’s priced at 99 cents.
There are actually two styles of these tape measures at stores, but as far as I can tell, the only difference is whether a green brand label is placed on the right side, or a white label is placed on the left. I’m guessing that one batch was manufactured, and then a brand image change resulted in later stock looking different.
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Okay, so this is a $1 tape measure. How does it compare to Milwaukee and FatMax tape measure keychains? Lufkin’s? It doesn’t.
The hook is fixed in place. Measurements are in inches, with 16th inch markings on the top, and for the first foot there are 32nds on the bottom. After 12 inches, there are 1/16″ marks on both edges.
The lock is fully functional, and the spring return is adequate.
As for the tape itself, it’s thin, springy, and floppy.
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Look at that standout.
There are 3 things the Anvil tape measure keychain has going for it.
First, it’s actually a very nice size – small and slim. Second, it’s highly amusing to play with. Third, it’s incredibly inexpensive.
It doesn’t compare with other brands’ better keychain tape measures – no way. But it costs far less money – 75% less than Milwaukee’s and Stanley FatMax’s. And it’s still functional, at least for certain tasks.
I’m going to be frank here. The standout, or lack of it, is so hilarious to me that I bought one for comedic effect. I don’t ever see myself using this instead of one of my Milwaukee, Stanley, or Lufkin mini tape measure keychains. I should emphasize that although not ideal, it is usable, and is certainly worth the $1 plus tax that I paid for it.
I can see some users seeking out this particular tape measure. Maybe a cyclist wants the smallest tape measure possible. Well, I’d think this one would fit the bill.
Although I bought it as a joke, because the floppy blade is so darned amusing to me, the tape measure is actually useful, or at least usable.
You can add one to your next Home Depot order, or check it out in store.
Price: $0.99
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
I also examined the other Anvil tape measures at my local Home Depot store, and they were more usable, and even close to the quality of other brands’ entry price point tape measures.
Scott K
I noticed this brand around the holidays last year and meant to write in to ask about it. Last year, I did some googling and couldn’t find anything worthwhile. The tools in the holiday aisle looked very basic and were clam shelled so I couldn’t try any out.
Stuart
I briefly spoke with a Home Depot rep about the brand a while back, but I could never find a good reason to talk about it before now. They’re basically HDX quality, and there are new tool options.
Toolfreak
“I also examined the other Advil tape measures at my local Home Depot store, and they were more usable, and even close to the quality of other brands’ entry price point tape measures.”
Advil, heh.
I have a few of the thin and dinky tapes, even Stanley’s metal-body keychain tape is thin and flexy. I think it’s actually a plus since you can use the tape on a curve and get a measurement you’d otherwise need to transfer using string or adhesive tape, or get a cloth/nylon tape for crafts/sewing.
The bigger mystery to me is why Home Depot has the Anvil brand if they already have HDX as their store “house” value brand. As if the 18 cent pencils are not cheap enough. Is an even lower end generic-ish brand really necessary?
Maybe it’s for people who don’t want orange-color everything, or who like the blue/black color scheme but don’t want to shop at Lowe’s.
Stuart
*Fixed*, thanks!
I believe the goal is for better brand cohesiveness and wider hand tool selection.
Raoul
Could be any reason. I for one try to avoid house brands on just about anything unless the house is a bonafide brand. I would choose the anvil over an identical HDX, even if the Anvil was slightly, and I do mean slightly, more $ than HDX.
Aaron
I bought one of these for my 3 yr old because she kept wanting to play with mine. I view the anemic spring return as a feature! She can hurt herself just enough to be surprised but not enough to be a big deal. Meanwhile she gets some more counting, something to play with in the car, and a tool that is hers. And if goes on her keychain with the dummy keys my locksmith gave me!
Stuart
I considered that too, but the spring-back on return still has some whip to it and can be potentially damaging.
Milwaukee’s new 10′ tape just came in, and it was blowing my daughter’s mind. I was checking for standout and let it retract, and got a “what happened?!!” I did it again. “What happened?!!” My kids LOVE tape measures.
Jared
It’s funny that it’s so universal. My three year old is also enamored with tape measures. It’s an excellent distraction if I need to buy a half hour of quiet time in the car (though I only let him play with a Komelon self-lock – fearing the thin metal and stiff spring from my other tape measures could probably cut him up on an auto-retracting tape if he held it wrong).
He also enjoys handing dad one end and running as far away with the other as he can get in the house so he can watch it slid across the floor as it retracts.
mla
On the topic of tape measures, what do you think of the 10′ Stanley 175th anniversary editions? I don’t remember them being mentioned here.
I bought half a dozen for stocking stuffers . Old style metal case. Poor standout and no lock. Markings are a tad faint. Made in Thailand, I believe.
Bought them for around ~$8.99. Would have gladly paid a few bucks more for better quality. Still, I like them.
Tony
OMG … I read this article on my phone, loaded it on my PC…
Refreshed it, read the comments…
and no one noticed.
NO ONE… Lot’s of comments on quality or what not
1/16 ths AND 1/32nds???????????????????????????????????
I guess that’s new maths for you..
I guess the top could be referred to as 2/8, 3/8 and 4/8
the bottom as 2/32,4/32, 6/32
I think we need to re-think what TheToolGuyd means……
Today, I am truly dumbfounded
Stuart
Hold on, let me do a recount, this sounds serious.
16 marks on top, 32 marks on the bottom. 16ths and 32nds. Right?
Bill emailed in with a similar note, but was much more polite about it, and I did see the need to clarify that it’s 16ths and 32nds for the first 12 inches, and only 16ths after that.
But if you count the tick marks for the section above where the hook is, you’ll see that they’re definitely 16ths and 32nds.
I accept your apology.
Bill
That picture is deceiving because the tape is so small. I definitely looks like the hook ends at the one inch mark and not the one half inch mark.
JR
Ha! Stuart, you handled that better than I would have. Kudos to you, none for Tony.
Stuart
Several people mentioned the same, and I’m sure many others also thought I counted or measured wrong.
He didn’t take the friendliest or most polite approach at pointing out what he thought was a mistake, but he wasn’t a huge jerk about it either.
RKA
Your pic shows 1/8” increments on top and 1/16” on bottom (not 1/16 & 1/32).
I do use a flat tape for marking out panels where I’m hooking the tape measure over one edge of the board or sheet (working horizontally). Typically I’m working in the sub 4ft range when doing this. A curved tape is a nuisance.
Stuart
You too?
Remember, you start counting at the tip of the hook!
RKA
Doh! You changed the picture on us! Sneaky Stu! 🙂
Stuart
Nope!
RKA
Hehe, I know. 🙂 Looking back I’m not sure where my mind was at. I even looked at it a couple times but somehow my mind blocked out the part obscured by the tab as if it never existed.
Stuart
I really think it’s the proportions that threw people off. There wouldn’t have been any confusion if the image showed 1″ to 2″.
Brian M
These have their uses…have you ever seen someone try to measure something with their arms at less than full wingspan? This is the use. What’s roughly the average wingspan of a 6′ person? 6′, the length of this tape. It sags…not if you’re holding both sides and pulling it tight.
This is for measuring approximate fit on furniture, maybe the size of TV you can fit, will this thing I want to buy fit in my car? That kind of stuff.
ktash
With that standout it looks like this would be a good tape for measuring circumferences ;).
The Milwaukee keychain one is the only metric measuring tape at my local HD that has metric. I got a couple for this reason alone. Some plans I get are in metric, so when I go to purchase something for them, this is very handy.
David
It’s the only metric measuring tape that has metric? What do the other metric tapes have?! 🙂
Sorry, couldn’t resist. Happy Holidays!
David
Seamus
Freedom meters!
Ziggy
??
Best comment I have read in a damn long time.
Mike
Anvil? Sounds like a HF brand name – like ‘Earthquake, Hercules, Predator..’. LOL.