QUICKDRAW PRECISION TAPE

Few tools are more useful, or frankly, more often needed for everyday DIY tasks, than a sturdy and reliable tape measure. Hanging curtains, cutting wood to size, adjusting the position of furniture, assessing whether something will fit into your car’s boot … most often, a successful outcome is simply the result of having a good tape measure close at hand.

And the QuickDraw precision tape measure, with auto marking feature, definitely fits the bill. It comes with a replaceable built-in marker, that’s good for up to 2 000 marks, and a locking blade for improved accuracy. Aside from straight lines, it can also draw half- and full-circle markings, making use of a 0.9 mm graphite stick (10 sticks are included in each pack, and QuickDraw refills are readily available).

To mark, simply lock the blade, then draw the required line or circles or a radius by holding the corner of the hook on the centre point of the tape measure. The stick of graphite is mounted directly above the small steel wheel; as the wheel rolls, it transfers the graphite on to the surface being marked.

All of these features, along with the fact that it’s easily extendable up to 2.5 m without bending, and with one hand, makes this one of the more innovative developments for a simple tool in recent years. Available in 5 m or 8 m lengths.

RRP R217 (5 m); R240 (8 m) vermontsales.co.za