Although statistics can vary, on average 10 percent of the population seems left-handed. This is a quick experiment for you right-handers. It shocked Glen Huey as well as me because we have never seen this in all our 34 years of woodworking.
Pick up your tape measure in one hand and a pencil or marking knife in the other.
You will now attach the tape to the board and mark a line of 15 cm. (Or pretend to, if it isn’t necessary).
What hand was the tape held? Which direction were the numbers facing you?
I tend to hold the tape in my left hand, and mark with my right hand. So I tried this with all the tape measures in our shop that I could dig up (I was surprised we didnt have more; I think someone is hiding a cache).On every one of them, the numbers were upside down as I measured and made my mark. Is this a big deal? Not really. Not really.
The picture above shows one tape with the numbers facing you. It is the M-Power R1 Tape measure and it was made for right-handed people. My family includes a few lefties, so a standard tape measure seems to be the best product for them. It is us right-handers that have to look for a specialized tool, and this is the first time I’ve seen it.
The R1 is a nice 16 tape, with an easy-to-grip rubber spine, crisp and clear lines and numbers, and a rubber thumb lock that locks tight. The top edge is marked with an Imperial scale; the bottom edge is a metric scale. And at just well, I may have to spring for a new tape.
You know the mantra, now get the book: Measure Twice, Cut Once, by Jim Tolpin.
Product Recommendations
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