There wouldn’t be a single tool or piece of equipment more important to highquality and precise finishes than the trusty tape measure.
The team at Crescent Lufkin has pulled out all the stops to meet this significant expectation in its Shockforce tape measures. Features galore add up to one of the most comfortable, precise and strongest tapes WTW has tested.
A top-quality tool needs brains as well as brawn, and the Shockforce range covers both bases.
TEST #1: ERGONOMICS
The physical size of a great tape is critical. If it is too big in your hand, it feels clunky and doesn’t fit well into pouches on your tool belt. A compact design is ideal, and Crescent out all the stops to meet this significant expectation in its Shockforce tape measures. Features galore add up to one of the most comfortable, precise and strongest tapes WTW has tested. A top-quality tool needs brains as well as brawn, and the Shockforce range covers both bases.
TEST #1: ERGONOMICS
The physical size of a great tape is critical. If it is too big in your hand, it feels clunky and doesn’t fit well into pouches on your tool belt. A compact design is ideal, and Crescent Lufkin has achieved this with the Shockforce range by using narrow-blade technology, which reduces the weight and size of the blade while still reaching an authentic 4m standout. An optimised drum and spring design also allows a compact case that not only feels great, but also fits comfortably in the hand. The Crescent Lufkin tapes offer 50% more grip, which means less frustration on the worksite.
TEST #2: READABILITY
The Shockforce range includes both the traditional yellow-tape-and-black-print style, as well as the modern Nite Eye version, which includes a black tape with a white print.
The Nite Eye version, at first, can seem like a significant change. Over the years we have become accustomed to focussing on the yellow-and-black. But once eyes get used to this new look, the added visibility is impressive. Many tradies I know who have tried the Nite Eye say they wouldn’t go back after using it for a week.
The tape blade itself is nylon coated with double-sided print, and vertical readings on the underside make it awesome to use and read in a range of positions.
TEST #3: THE DROP
The Shockforce range is drop tested to 30m.
Using an app called The Splat Calculator, I worked out if you dropped the tape from 30m it would be travelling at 87.3kph when it hit the ground. I also worked out an adult male throwing an item the same size and weight as the Shockforce tape at full speed could achieve anywhere from 80kph to 100kph. You can see where I’m going with this now, right?
For this drop test, I threw the same Crescent Lufkin Shockforce tape three times onto concrete. The first was at about half speed (roughly 60 kph), which didn’t even scuff the tape. The next was at three-quarter speed (approximately 80kph), which did leave some scuffs on the external case. Last, after my shoulder was warmed up from the previous two throws, I unleashed at full speed directly onto the concrete slab. Amazingly, other than bending the end hook a little – it looked like the end hook had taken the main impact – the case and structure of the tape were as new. The tape extended and retracted perfectly, just as it had before the test.
All around, it was a fantastic result.
Put it this way: after the success of this test, I couldn’t see any accidental drop of the tape on a residential site under 3 or 4 levels doing any damage to the tape at all, other than a few scuffs.
It must be the toughest tape in the Aussie and NZ market.
THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY
There is just so much good about this product. It feels great to use, you have both regular and Nite Eye options to choose from, and it’s incredibly accurate. I’ve given up trying to come up with something bad as I just can’t think of anything on this tape I didn’t rate.
Visit: www.crescenttool.com.au