Why do the hooks on almost every tape measure move back and forth [📹 reekontools]

To make up for the whether you are measuring with the end against something or by hooking it to make up for the width of the tab.

If you listen to carpenters, you will here them ask if a measurement is on "the push"or on "the pull". This correlates to inside or outside measurements. Its a compensation for the thickness of the hook (basically).

The “experts” in the comments claim it’s so you can measure either side, pushing or pulling and ot compensates for the thickness of the metal piece, but I know it’s so I can show my wife why I need a new tape measure and why I messed up my cut.

So you can measure by either hooking an edge or pushing against a surface without skewing either measurement by the width of the hook itself.

The tape measure wasn't broken. There goes my last excuse for the shelves.

I feel dumb for not knowing this.

To offset the thickness of the metal tip

For accurate measurements

As someone who works in a factory that makes these, I can tell you it's actually because the machining tolerance necessary to make a secure fitting doesn't exist in North America. Our printers are only accurate down to about +-3mm.

Inside v outside dimensions

We used to tell the new guys it was for calibration. You need to set it to the right spot and peen the rivets with a hammer.

To accomidate for the pencil mark

Good explanation video.

flush to measure against something, flexed when you're using the end hooked to something.

Por la misma razón que el shampoo viene con instrucciones...

Everyone knows that

To account for the thickness of the hook.

👇🏻

@grok buni oʻzbek tilida tushuntir

Almost?

I now know this. I thought I had a dodgy tale measure that rattled at the clip

Internal vs. external measurements to account for the thickness of the tab.

"What's the tolerance, Kenneth?"