A woven tape (fig. 15-55 ) is made of high-grade
cloth (usually linen) fabric. A metallic, woven tape is
reinforced with fine bronze or brass wire mesh. A
nonmetallic, woven tape does not contain the mesh;
however, some nonmetallic, woven tapes are coated
with plastic.
Woven tapes are made in 25-, 50-, 75-, 100-, and
150-foot lengths. Some are graduated in feet and inches
to the nearest quarter inch. Others are graduated in feet
and decimals of a foot to the nearest 0.05 foot. On most
decimally graduated woven tapes, only the 0.10-foot
graduations are marked with numerals.
The steel tape is used for measurements requiring
greater precision than is possible with the woven tape.
The most commonly used steel tape is 100 feet in length
and is graduated in feet, tenths, and hundredths. Some
steel tapes are graduated throughout; on others, only the
first foot is graduated in subdivisions and the body of
the tape is graduated only at every 1-foot mark. A steel
tape is sometimes equipped with a reel on which the
tape can be wound. The tape can be detached from the
reel for more convenient use in taping.
For convenience in carrying from one place to
another, a detached tape can be made up into a coil,
commonly called DOING UP the tape. This is done
by placing the 100-foot end (or the 200-foot, 300-foot,
etc., end) in your left hand, faceup; then reach back with
your right hand, grasp the 95-foot mark, bring it up, and
place it faceup on top of the 100-foot mark. Do the same
Figure 15-55.Woven tape.
with the 90-foot mark, the 85-foot mark, the 70-foot
mark, and so forth, until you have gathered in the entire
tape. You will find that the tape now forms a figure-of-
eight, as shown in figure 15-56. The figure-of-eight can
be formed into a circular coil, as shown in figure 15-57.
Figure 15-56.Doing up a steel tape.
Figure 15-57.Steps in throwing a steel tape into a coil.
15-33