Black & Decker ATM100 25-Foot Auto Tape Measure
by Black & Decker
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List Price: Category: Tools See more product details |
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Tools and Hardware Reviews of Black & Decker ATM100 25-Foot Auto Tape Measure
Customer Review: You've gotta be kidding me!
Summary: 1 Stars
This was a great idea that got very poorly executed. First off, it's huge (roughly 4" tall by 6" long by 2" thick). It takes four batteries, which is probably most of the reason for the gargantuan dimensions but that makes it nearly 2 pounds as well. Seriously, its very size and weight makes it nearly unusable with one hand, which was supposed to be the whole point of an "automatic" tape measure. Further, once the tape is more than five or six feet extended it starts to bow unless it is supported against something. If you are trying to measure up a wall to the ceiling, for example, it won't work unless you have something to hook it against at the top. Again, that defeats the "hand-free" goal. This is one of the dumbest gadgets I've ever seen let alone used. I got one as a gift and returned it after one use.Customer Review: Great for home owner
Summary: 4 Stars
I had to try this new product. Althought the case is slightly larger then a normal tape I find it just as comfortable to hold. I find it especially useful for certain measurements like overhead, verticle and when only one hand is avaible. It is fun and easy to use and a good idea. This product is great for home owner but will need some changes to satisfy the profesional. I really like the fact it can used as a normal tape with the added auto feature when needed. The effective standout is also larger then a normal tape because you can extend your arm fully then power it out. No doubt there will be another version (professional)coming out next year! This tool is in its infancy and still the most useful new tool or gadget I have used in years.It weighs only 2 1/2 ounces more then more then my Stanley 25' by 1". It is about 1 1/4 inch longer then the Stanley and about the same height. It has the same width where the tape comes out and tapers to about 2 inches in the rear ( The stanley is 1 1/2 at rear. It is about the same as these thick rubber coated tapes) Customer Review: Clumsy Tape Measure
Summary: 2 Stars
The physical size and weight of this tool makes it difficult to use unless you have both hands free. A second set of fresh batteries did little to improve tape extension beyond about five feet. The tape should be motorized for rewind also so that if it should happen to fold you could retract and extend it again more easily.Customer Review: Great Toy!
Summary: 2 Stars
Being a professional woodworker, and a tool junkie, this was a no brainer purchase. Of course, I was pretty sure going into the acquisition, that this was not going to be the smartest purchase I ever made regarding tools- Boy was I right! This thing weighs as much as a belt sander, but without the power needed to extend the blade to any usable length. The case is bulky, and not real easy to move around small or tight areas. It's not the tape you would want on your belt for any length of time- the weight, extreme size, and overall bulkiness is just not comfortable. I thought that leaving it sit on my workbench and using it for general measuring might prove useful, but it just got in the way. Now it sits on a side table next to my reclining chair and I play with it during TV commercials. It's actually quite fun to run the tape out and in, as long as you don't have expectations of it being real useful in a shop environment. Overall, the idea is very clever- too bad the design is so gosh darn huge.Customer Review: Nice novelty, but not a serious tool.
Summary: 2 Stars
When I saw this product, it was an instant must-have gadget for me. After using this tape measure, it's novelty quickly wore off. First of all, it's heavy and bulky. The motor drive and four AAA batteries make it easily twice as long and heavy as a normal tape measure (how how long are tiny AAA batteries going to last?). Secondly, the motor drive seems very underpowered. It really moans and grinds once you extend the tape more than a yard. Another problem is that the retract spring is very weak (there's a warning on the case not to retract the tape at very high speeds). It was disappointing that the motor drive only works to extend the tape, and not to retract it.
The biggest problem of this device is that it is still a metal tape measure that will frustrate endlessly as the tape bends, folds and collapses when you try to measure long or vertical distances. Basically, this is a normal tape measure with a battery powered motor strapped onto it. It would have been better if it had a digital readout.
Probably a nice toy for the suburban weekend DIY crowd, but the plastic case and underpowered motor make this unsuitable for professional heavy duty work.