Milwaukee is coming out with a new line of compact tape measures. Well, compact and less expensive.
First came their magnetic tape measures. Apparently there were non-magnetic versions too, but I’d never seen them,
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Then there were new models at aimed at contractors. They gave up some features, gained better stability, and were priced lower.
A second generation of improved premium tape measures recently hit the market. I picked some two 25-footers during the 2-for-1 holiday sale at Home Depot, and have a few test samples around here. Let me know if you have any questions! I’ll get around to a post on those hopefully soon.
And now, there’s a 3rd product family of Milwaukee tape measures. Here are the notable claims:
While continuing to deliver best-in-class durability, these new tape measures are up to 30% more compact than previous Milwaukee tapes and other competitors on the market.
Okay, so they’re durable and up to 30% smaller than previous Milwaukee tapes. Smaller than competing tapes? Which competing tapes?
Because of our focus on advanced next generation manufacturing technology, we’re now able to deliver a 25’ long tape in a 16’ housing! This allows for much better ergonomics while minimizing weight on tool belts.
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Wait, what? A 25′ tape measure the size of a 16-footer?
Milwaukee’s tape measures are ginormous. For casual use, I’ll sometimes carry around a Stanley hi-viz tape that I picked up during the holidays. It doesn’t feel very durable, but it’s small and lightweight, which can be very desirable at times.
These new tapes are the next generation and rolling change to our General Contractor Tape Measure lineup.
Oh, so this ISN’T a brand new tape measure lineup? You know what, I’m counting it as if it is. Rolling change? The general contractor tape measures are pretty big too. I don’t have one in front of me, but the last time I held one, it felt comparable to the magnetic tape.
Here’s a helpful image from a Milwaukee tape measure deal I posted about a while back. Judging from the size of the locking lever, the two tapes look to be scaled accurately. This was a Home Depot image, so maybe the scale wasn’t preserved when the images were added together, but I think it looks about right.
These new compact tapes, measuring “up to 30% more compact,” definitely seems to be a do-over, rather than a do-better. Maybe the general contractor tapes weren’t selling well? The price point was lower, but perhaps not enough lower.
Here’s what the back side and pocket clip looks like. This is the 16′ tape measure.
I wonder what the standout is on these tapes. I guess we’ll find out soon!
As with Milwaukee’s other tape measures, these new ones have a proprietary Nylon blade protection coating, and a 5-point reinforcement frame for great drop protection.
There will be 5 models:
- 16’ Compact Tape Measure (48-22-6616) – $10.99
- 25’ Compact Tape Measure (48-22-6625) – $14.99
- 30’ Compact Tape Measure (48-22-6630) – $19.99
- 5m/16’ Compact Tape Measure (48-22-6617) – $10.99
- 8m/26’ Compact Tape Measure (48-22-6626) – $14.99
ETA: January 2017 (This Month!)
What do you think about Milwaukee’s approach to hand tools? They have been continuing to come out with new hand tools, and have been rolling out improved models, sometimes as a rolling change that most users won’t notice.
For example, I own the 48-22-4200 tubing cutter, and noticed that they came out with the 48-22-4202. When I asked Milwaukee about this a while ago, they said that the change was made in favor of a stronger design.
I haven’t had any problems with my Milwaukee cutter, but I’ve seen some images of what can happen if too much leverage is applied to that lower jaw, causing it to break.
With the general contractor tape measures, the goal was to appeal to a different audience, and to address some of those users’ complaints or hesitations with the premium tape measures.
It looks like these new compact tape measures address those same complaints or hesitations, but take things in a slightly different direction. And if they’re just as durable, but only smaller, that sounds good to me.
Would it have been better if these tape measures were released alongside the general contractor tapes?
If you’ve been using one of those Milwaukee tape measures, please chime in!
Or is the greater differentiation the better way to go?
Personally, I’m excited to see these new tape measures. It’ll be interesting to see how they compare to Milwaukee’s more premium offerings, and other like-sized tape measures currently on the market.
Kimber
Yes! Smaller tape measures with smaller clips! MIlwaukees big measures work well but they don’t fit my old pouches and the clips don’t work with the Klein tape measure holder that I keep on my belt.
Marty
I can tell you that the original magnetic tapes that Milwaukee came out with turned me off from ever touching their tapes again. I believe that I threw the 25′ tape out of frustration because it wouldn’t stand on end while I was trying to layout a wall.
I do own their demo and insulated screwdrivers, which I like quite a bit, but haven’t had good luck with much else.
Satch
Stuart, I don’t know overall how I feel about Milwaukee hand tools. I am just old enough to remember when the idea of a Milwaukee hand tool line was about as believable as…Milwaukee being Asian owned. I am a pretty traditional guy and typically buy American and European made hand tools. I will say that I have looked at and handled the tools at Home Desperate and they seem well made and durable. Conversations with a number of workers I trust lead me to think they are up to ever day commercial use.
Now, as to their approach to upgrades and new models, that depends. I like it when companies are innovative and don’t sit on their hands too muuch. The flip side is, don’t reinvent the wheel. The Milwaukee tapes and screwdrivers are instantly recognisable the minute you lay eyes on them. And not just because of the brilliant red colour. The large profile is a dead giveaway. If I were them, I would stick to a base ‘series’ number, let’s just say 1000 as an example series, and each new update or model change that is essentially the same profile and use would just get the last two digits changed as you pointed out between 20 and 22. Trades guys are stubborn and sceptical. Wholesale model and nomenclature changes scream gimmick to us. Curmudgeonly, but I freely admit to it.
And for goodness sake, if you have something that works and is well received by industry, don’t change it up to ‘freshen’ the lineup. I compare this to straight razors and double edge razors. Both were perfected in design an metallurgy over 100 years ago. Anything now is extreme tweaking niche driven. Fine with me but DON’T change its base design. The same with hand tools really. Tweak it, refine it, but keep your company identity front and center.
Pete
Does you drill still have a hand crank?
john
hahahahahahahaha
Satch
Yes, but with battery backup.
Sam
I believe those were also known as the 1st generation of cordless drills
Satch
Sorry, I should have been more specific to the tape measures. Here’s my thoughts. Milwaukee is getting dangerously close to the gimmicky stage with umpteen different tape measures. The smaller sized tapes are likely warranted compared to the large models but how many different series of tape measures do they have? Right now I would say too many though I freely admit to wanting one because I like the designs.
Stuart
That’s the thing – these tapes look to be replacing the general contractor tapes. So that would make 2 tape meaure lines – premium tapes with finger stops, and these new compact ones. 2 lines with strong differences.
carl
As somebody that abuses tools i can tell you that the first Milwaukees work great for steel workers and mason’s. But for carpenters and remodelers the steel ruler will break long before the case even has a scratch . We buy the cheapest stanleys out there they do just as good these new Milwaukee tapes look apealing to us .
Noah
My main tape for the past year and a half has been the Milwaukee 48-22-5125, the 25′ magnetic tape measure. It’s held up remarkably well, the coating has only recently started to show wear on the first three feet. I’ve come to really appreciate the finger stop. I’m a big fan of the wire clip, and especially of the HUGE hook on the end. Another great thing is that when dropped, it lands on the end opposite of the hook. My old Stanley’s would always land on the hook end, bending them out of shape and thus the tape was no longer true.
While the tapes are heavy and bulky, and don’t fit in most traditional pouches (seriously pouch makers need to get with the times), my only real gripe with the design is the overall roundness of the base means the tape falls over a lot when laying out cuts and will almost never sit for long on a narrow edge. If only the body of the case was more square it’d be a perfect tape.
MichaelHammer
I’m with Noah. I had the same problems with my Milwaukee tape measure. Also I could never get the thing to lock properly. Laying out a piece of lumber the tape would slowly slide back to the start. Drove me nuts, after three different tapes I gave up on Milwaukee.
The yeti
does it have one key . I need my tape measure to talk to my phone .
adam
in all seriousness, there are times when on a ladder above lights, I could use a tape measure readings recorded
The yeti
Probably are some spots it would come in handy .
Stuart
You mean like this one from etape?
I wrote about their non-Bluetooth model here: https://14cyiuhvcgv.com/etape16-digital-tape-measure/%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E
The yeti
Interesting .
Brian
I’m a fan of this addition, small size and fractional are what I really like in a tape measure. Though I like the additions of Lufkin’s half-length markings and Fastcap’s Metric markings(They have a SAE/Metric line).
pete
Stanley has a Powerlock version that is also SAE/Metric.
jeff
The picture says the length of the base on it (2-3/4″, typical for a 16′ tape) for you to compare, and you can do the same with many of their tape measures on seller websites. Long story short, they’re not suddenly putting a 25′ tape in a 16′ body, they’re just finally putting a 25′ tape in a 25′ body instead of a 35′ body.
fred
I’ve said it before – but I think it’s still true – that tape measures are one of those things that elicit lots of different opinions. I’d try t buy them in batches to satisfy most of the workers – and sometimes try out something new – but gave up trying to please everyone. We’d have a few different sizes, styles and manufacturers sitting in the tool rooms at the workout center or shop and I’d leave it at that. Some of the guys either hated or loved things like: big hooks, magnetic tips, bigger/heavier tapes, smaller/lighter tapes, quick read tapes, story-pole tapes, locking tapes and so on.
If you asked what they wanted – it would probably be a lightweight narrow tape with high visibility, easy to read markings, extra long standout, an unbendable hook that could grab onto anything (metal or wood – except clothing) and stay put without gathering any swarf or iron filings – stay solidly open when you wanted it to – but close quickly with no snap-back – and be able to survive a drop from 3 stories up and still be accurate. I guess it would have to be made out of unobtanium.
MichaelHammer
Exactly! Where do I get this tape of which you speak?
Brent
I bought two 2-packs of the 25′ magnetic tapes (48-22-7125) at Home Depot when they were on sale for $25 per 2-pack. I like the solid feel — I hate tape measures that feel like they’re falling apart or where the blade is too thin to stay rigid.
However, the pouches in my tool bag are all too small so I have to devote valuable “floor space” in the bag to one of these tapes. I can see the advantage of a high quality more compact tape, though I probably won’t go out and buy another tape measure just to organize my bag better.
The first-look post you did yesterday on the Dewalt 50′ laser distance measure for $50 was interesting — got me thinking that maybe I could replace the heavy tape (it weighs over 20 ounces) with a lightweight laser measure… I replaced the iron pipe wrench in that bag with an aluminum one recently to save another pound or two. At my age, every little bit of weight saved helps.
Garrick
I certainly never bought one of the their large tape measures. Too bulky and too pricey. My go tos are always 16 footers or smaller, since I do finish work.
By the way, I never use belt clips, so I remove them to make the tapes more portable.
Also, if a tape measure can’t be calibrated (or re-calibrated) to 1/128″, it goes away. I have just one that is good to almost .001″. It gets it’s own padded case, and I’m extra gentle with the hook on that one.
John Blair
We are in the same camp. I have plenty of 25 foot tapes. But frankly, for the work I do, a 16 foot tape is as long as I need (and much easier to carry). Supplement that with a laser distance measurer and I am good to go. Really, other than 16 foot moldings, I could really get by with a 12 footer.
JMG
My comment when recently asked about which brand tape measure I use was; Whatever is left in the tool chest after the last one I was using grew legs and walked away. I recently purchased a Milwaukee metric tape measure because it is rare to find an all metric tape for sale in the states and I like to keep one around for working with 32mm system cabinets. It is a pretty solid tool and the first I found here at one inch in width, but not something that would make me throw any others I might have away in favor of it. One tries to stick with the first tape picked up at the start of a project to maintain consistency throughout, but reaching for a specific brand every time never seems to enter into the equation for me. Tapes only seem to get replaced when they grow legs or break, and then the choice ends up being what happens to be on the store shelf, closest to where I was working at the time if there aren’t any others in the tool box.
James
What ever happened to craftsman tape measures some had the lifetime warranty .
Stuart
People were abusing the policy, wearing them out and then swapping them for new ones. The Craftsman started only warrantying the housings, not the blades. So users with broken or worn blades would start to break the housings.
At some point Craftsman just stopped making tape measures. If a replacement was needed, you could get a one-time-only Stanley in exchange.
Now they have a new tape out, but it’s a single size and style. There’s another available at Ace, but it’s not like any of the older ones, so the guarantee might not apply.
Austin werrmann
I was going to pick thus up then I realized the fractions are written on the blade. I hate that. I know what those little lines mean. The fractions make it to busy and harder to read.
James
Thanks for the feedback on the Craftsman tape measures. I’m also curious I know years ago Starrett made a digital tape measure. Do they still exist? I’m guessing they disappeared some time ago
KL
In the first pic am I really seeing numerics for the fractions on every 1/4″? Seriously Milwaukee? If so this is a homeowner tape, not a contractor tape. Any contractor that can’t decipher the tick marks won’t be working for me.
Adam Frye
The new Milwaukee levels are on sale over at Acme Tools today. Free tape measure with any of the 24″ or over levels. Free shipping on the longer levels.
http://www.acmetools.com/shop/tools/milwaukee-levels?
Adam Frye
looks to be a free “6′ Keychain tape measure.” guess you don’t need longer than that with any of the levels. lol
Goodnightjohnboy
I had the 25′ with the magnetic tip. I thought it was too bulky & I didn’t like the way it felt in my hand. That goes with just about any 25′ tape from the big box stores. I seldom use a 25′ tape. 16′ for all day use. They’re sort of pointless being that most building materials ain’t longer than 16. But if anyone wants a great tape measure, go with Fastcap standard reverse. They’re lighter, smaller & way more purposeful than a Milwaukee (as well as all the other big names) tape measures. Built in pencil sharpener, built in erasable writing pad for measurements, blade brake, & the clip is the best. And they feel great in your hand. Its taken me a long time to find a good tape and when I got a Fastcap , I was hooked. Get you one, you won’t regret it. It would be great if Milwaukee along with everyone else would just wise up & make their tapes out of carbon fiber instead of the hideous unnecessary bulky plastic rubber crap they use now. I’d pay for it. Stainless are few & far between also. Won’t see those at a big box store. I’ve got the keychain Milwaukee tape . I consider that to be a compact tape measure.
Stuart
Hmm… a carbon fiber tape measure. Interesting idea!
fred
Over on the Toolguyd Community Forum:
https://discuss.toolguyd.com/t/craftsmans-new-sidewinder-tape-measure/707
contributor dhk3rd posted about a new style Craftsman tape measure available at ACE. I did a bit of snooping – found its UPC number on the Ace Site – and lo and behold it seems the OEM is TTI-Milwaukee.
I’m now wondering if we will see a Milwaukee variant – or if the design is exclusive to Craftsman