Break your tape measure?. because there are so many uses for the pieces.
1 Glue or nail part to the radial arm fence so you know how long that piece is that you cut off. 2 Glue another part out the other way so you know how much is left to the piece. 3 Use a small magnet and place it on the band saw top cover. A 12" section of measuring tape can be held there, ready for use. 4 Glue small weak magnets to the front of the workbench, to your portable lathe tool rack, ?? to anything that doesn't move, or moves slowly like your face shield. These magnets can hold pieces of tape measure from 12" to 24". I glue 2 magnets near each other so that the tape will not just hang vertically. I can set it to project out from the side of a cupboard so it can be grabbed easily from whatever angle I want. 5 Cut 4 or 5 short pieces from 1 1/2" to 6" to hold down in the bottom of a bowl or plate that you are making to see if the bottom is flat. (or slightly concave if you want) 6 Make a bowl depth gage. Cut a length of wood 3/8 x 3/8 x 12". Put a thin slot in the center parallel to the sides. Cut the tape to a point at the 10" mark (or 20" or 30" or 40" part so no subtracting is necessary) and make it as long as your deepest bowl. If the tape points projects through the wood 3" when the wood strip is against the rim, the depth is 3". When the slot is thin the curve side to side in the tape blade keeps it from falling out, but it will slide when gently pushed. 7 ???? TELL US YOUR IDEAS ABOUT MEASURING TAPE USES.SAFETY WARNING. A short piece of measuring tape can be bent in a "U" shape or a coil. When suddenly released, the SPRING will fly. Your eyes are in the most danger.