Inventions and other News by Dane Scarborough

Building with the QuickDraw tape measure- Weekend project - 

The problem:  an exterior utility door, that's got a fair amount of dry rot, and the brass hinges and latch are caked in 50 years of paint.  

For tools, besides my Quickdraw tape, I've got a chop saw, a skill-saw, a screw-gun, and a plainer, but no table saw, so, I'll measure, and mark with the quickdraw, then cut the boards to 38" using the chop saw. 

Best seller for Father’s Day… this tape measure has a built-in marking device. It never needs sharpening, can’t break, and makes 2000+ marks per load - comes with 10 reloads and a marking keychain that holds the refills

For the dad that has everything, except a pencil when he really needs it, the QuickDraw Pro self-marking tape get's the job done in spades.  

The magic is in the way it works on all kinds of surfaces, no mater how rough, because the mark is made by a small hardened steel wheel, that rolls out the graphite, but the wheel itself can't break. Think of it like a ballpoint pencil, except it's a wheel. 

Top rated tape measure review - We’ve all been there, in that moment when we’re ready to make our mark, and realize we don’t have a pencil behind our ear... so we put the tape measure down, and we’re off on mission to find a damm pencil... 5 minutes later, we’re ready to get it done, and the pencil lead breaks !@%#^! OK, calm down, we just need to find something to sharpen it with... 

Point being, if you work with a tape measure everyday, or just once in a while on a home project, you will love the new innovation of the QuickDraw self-marking tape measure, but it’s much more than that. It also: 

1. makes a perfect circle 

2. gives you an extra hand to hold the blade in place for a more accurate mark

3. duplicates measurements easily

4. makes difficult measurements easy

5. saves time and frustration by never having to look for a pencil (or a sharpener) again  

So, you're about to hang a picture, or some shelves, or in this case, a wallpaper mural. First step is laying out the measuring and that requires a measuring tape, a pencil, and something to keep the pencil sharp, except not today, because today, we're using a self-marking tape measure with a built-in marking device, because it's so much easier.

NOTE: It's very important, is to reverse roll the wallpaper, so it lays out flat, when you unroll it. It doesn't take long with most papers, but you'll have to test it to determine if you've gotten the curl out. It works well to use the tube the paper came in.

If you look closely, you'll see the overlap of the panel on the molding above. You'll need a sharp razor knife to trim it, and if the knife is not sharp enough, it can easily tear the paper, so you might want to invest in new blades for your knife.

I did the four upper panels first, because the ceiling was so out of wack, and I was very carful to keep each panel true to my vertical marks, made with the QuickDraw Self-marking tape measure, which should insure good alignment with the lower panels. 

Now, put up the first lower panel from the middle out, as this will give you the ability to make adjustments as you match the remaining panels.

Now, put up the first lower panel from the middle out, as this will give you the ability to make adjustments as you match the remaining panels.

A little about marking tape measures - If you have never used a self-marking tape, and you do a lot of home projects, you defiantly want to get one. They are simply the best tape measure ever invented. It marks on the roughest of materials, and even marks on wet surfaces. The patented built in marking device allows you to lay down a pencil line right where you want it, but there’s no pencil to sharpen, or break. A small steel wheel transfers graphite to the surface you’re marking. So easy, quick, and most importantly, accurate. Makes every job easier, and you’re never wasting time looking for a pencil!

Once upon a time...

There was a one-handed carpenter named Bob... Bob used a regular tape measure and held a pencil in his mouth, to make a mark... Life was hard for Bob... no matter how great a carpenter Bob was, he was paid very little. Then one fateful day, a new guy showed up, using some kind of magical self-marking tape measure...

Bob blinked to be sure his eyes weren’t playing tricks on him... Bob asked the new guy, “can I try it?” Sure Bob, you’ll love it, cuz it’s like having an extra hand... indeed it was... But how does it work? Well Bob, there’s a small steel wheel, that rolls out graphite, so there’s nothing to sharpen... nothing to break... and Bob, it’ll make 2000 marks per load... Bob went right out and bought a QuickDraw Pro Tape, and lived happily ever after...

The QuickDraw tape measure gave Bob the ability to make a good living... For the two-handed carpenter, the QuickDraw just makes everything that much easier...

https://youtu.be/XFyTweYfYtk

The story behind the QuickDraw marking tape  -  I was in second grade when a kid challenged me to roll a quarter down the center of my face. He said “You can’t do it, it’s impossible!”. I took the quarter and proved him wrong, to which he replied “oh, I guess I was wrong”, and he walked away laughing. Unknown to me, he had rubbed pencil graphite on the edge of the quarter, so I was walking around with a black line down the center of my face. Flash forward to me building my house in the Sun Valley Idaho. It’s snowing, my ears are cold, my skin is dry, and countless pencils have already fallen from the perch on my ear, into snowdrifts, lost until spring for sure. I’m using a Stanley Power-lock tape measure to frame the second floor and I’ve just lost my last pencil. SOB#%^@#! So, I start using the edge of the tape case to indent the wood. This was the beginning of the idea that would eventually become the QUICKDRAW Pro marking tape measure.

Imagine your tape measure making 2000 marks per load...

Imagine reloading in 10 seconds...

Imagine it working with one hand...

Imagine it making a radius or circles...

The average carpenter spends 15+ minutes every day, looking for a pencil, sharpening a pencil, looking for something to sharpen a pencil with, etc.. That's a lot of time, and it adds up to approximately $3000 per year (based on 15 minutes a day at $30 per hour).

These are a few of other factors that make the QuickDraw Pro tape, the new   standard on the job site:

1.  A new break lock that captures the blade (top and bottom) with rubber grips, and the break button is co-molded with soft rubber, guaranteed to lock the blade solid. 

2. A new patented spool system for the smoothest blade action of any tape on the market.

3. A new (patent pending) Tru-View™ WEDGE™ indicator that insures greater accuracy than our original (patent pending Tru-View™ indicator).      

4.  An improved marking system for easer reloads and more consistent marking. 5. A new extra heavy-duty spring steel belt clip with an industrial chrome finish.

6. Upgraded star-drive fasteners that secure the tape housing.

7. An injection molded screen printed logo on the front (no stick-on labels for the QUICKDRAW® PRO. 

8. The New QUICKDRAW® key chain for holding extra graphite, includes the QUICKDRAW® marker technology built-in.

9. A nylon safety strap (optional, for working in high places).

10. New blade layouts (optional: Imperial 25’ &16”, Metric 8M &5M, EZ-READ™ 25’ &16’, Imperial/Metric 26’/8M, 16’/5M.

11.  New .9mm white ceramic refills for dark materials and metal work.

QD25-PROEZ

What do you want to build today?

Black graphite comes standard in all QuickDraw marking tape measures, but now WHITE GRAPHITE refills (technically white ceramic) is available, and these refills work in all QuickDraw Pro models. 

For everyone that works with metal, or any dark, hard to mark, materials that black graphite doesn't mark, you will love this option. The bright white mark is easy to see, and you'll get approximately 1000+ 1/4" marks. Reloads are fast and easy. No tools required, just follow the simple video on our website, and it will take less than 10 seconds. Oh, and the white graphite works in all QUICKDRAW models including the 16' and 25' QUICKDRAW Pro. 

The new QuickDraw Pro (Red), is the ultimate tape measure.  It has the following improvements and features over the QuickDraw (Black) DIY model: 

1.  A new break lock that captures the blade (top and bottom) with rubber grips, and the break button is co-molded with soft rubber, guaranteed to lock the blade solid. 

2. A new patented spool system for the smoothest blade action of any tape on the market.

3. A new (patent pending) wedge Tru-View indicator that insures even greater accuracy then our original (patent pending Tru-View indicator).      

4.  An improved marking system for easer reloads and more consistent marking. 5. A new extra heavy-duty chrome belt clip.

6. Upgraded star-drive fasteners that secure the tape housing.

7. An injection molded screen printed logo on the front (no cheap stick on labels for the QuickDraw Pro. 

8. A QuickDraw Pro key chain for holding extra graphite, and it also has the QuickDraw marker built-in (optional).

9. A nylon safety strap (optional, for working in high places).

10. New blade layouts (optional: Imperial 25’ &16”, Metric 8M &5M, EZ-READ 25’ &16’, Imperial/Metric 26’/8M, 16’/5M.

11.  New .9mm white ceramic refills for dark materials and metal work.