Milwaukee has officially announced a whole slew of new tape measures – redesigned Stud tape measures that we’ll talk about in more detail another time, Wide Blade tape measures, and Compact Wide Blade tape measures.
The newly redesigned Milwaukee Stud tape measures have smaller springs, making them more compact, and 14′ of standout.
Milwaukee is launching all-new lines of Wide and Compact Wide tape measure, with the Wide Blade tape measures boasting the longest and straightest standout compared to current competing options.
The Wide Blade tape measures feature 14′ of standout, giving individual users longer reach, which is said to increase jobsite efficiency. The blades also feature anti-tear blade coatings to reinforce the first 6 inches, a reinforced frame for drop protection, a finger stop for controlled blade retraction, and 2-sided blade printing. These tapes will be available in a range of sizes, with 16′ and 25′ options also available with magnetic hooks.
Here’s a look at the forward and reverse printing.
The new Milwaukee Compact Wide Blade tape measures are similar, but feature a best-in-class compact size and 12′ of standout. They also have reinforced impact-resistant frames and 2-sided blade printing. These tapes will also be available as magnetic models with finger stops.
Sizes, Styles, and Pricing
Redesigned Stud Tape Measures
Milwaukee classifies the Stud tape measures as being ideal for heavy users (such as framers) where durability is the key user need.
- 16′ (48-22-9716): $22.99
- 25′ (48-22-9725): $27.99
- 25′ Magnetic (48-22-9725M): $29.99
- 35′ (48-22-9735): $39.99
Wide Blade Tape Measures
The Wide Blade tapes are said to be ideal for commercial MEP users (mechanical, electrical, plumbing trades), framers, and other users where blade standout is the key user need.
- 16′ (48-22-0216): $19.99
- 16′ Magnetic (48-22-0216M): $22.99
- 25′ (48-22-0225): $24.99
- 25′ Magnetic (48-22-0225M): $27.99
- 30′ (48-22-0230): $29.99
- 35′ (48-22-0235): $34.99
- 40′ (48-22-0240): $39.99
Compact Wide Blade Tape Measures
The Compact Wide Blade tape measures are said to be ideal for residential contractors and other users where a more compact size is the highest priority.
- 16′ (48-22-0416): $13.99
- 16′ Magnetic (48-22-0316): $16.99
- 25′ (48-22-0425): $19.99
- 25′ Magnetic (48-22-0325): $19.99
- 30′ (48-22-0430): $22.99
- 35′ Magnetic (48-22-0335): $29.99
ETA: August 2019
Discussion
Milwaukee notes that their 14′ and 12′ standout specs are based on maximum performance, which I hope refers to usable standout. We’ve seen tape measure standout claims that we couldn’t quite repeat on our own before, and others where tape measures were so arced and fragile they were unusable at anywhere near their standout specs. That’s why the longest and straightest standout part is most interesting.
The original Milwaukee Stud tape measure only featured 10 feet of standout. The newly designed ones now have 14′ of standout, as do the Wide Blade tapes. The Compact Wide Blade tapes have 12′ of standout, which still seems appreciable.
Both the Wide Blade and Compact Wide Blade tape measures have double-sided printing, which a lot of users like. The Compact Wide Blade tapes only have finger stops on the magnetic tapes. Surprisingly, that’s a $3 step up for the 16′ size, but there’s no added cost for the magnetic 25′ tape compared to the non-magnetic model.
I’ve seen more and more local contractors sporting Milwaukee tape measures, and they’re often happy to talk about all the things they like about them, most notably the finger blade stop on the more premium models.
Whether or not you’ve wished for longer standout on your Milwaukee tape measure, more options and continued improvements (and work towards improvements) is always good.
For my needs, I’ll likely be on the lookout for promo packs featuring the Compact Wide Blade tapes.
Update: More Details and Information
Here are the blade widths and standouts:
- Stud: 1-5/16″/33mm, 14′ standout
- Wide Blade: 1-5/16″/33mm, 14′ standout
- Compact Wide Blade: 1-1/8″/30mm, 12′ standout
- Compact Magnetic: 1″/27mm, 12′ standout
- Compact & Auto Lock: 25mm, 9′ standout
The Stud tapes will replace the original Stud tape measures, and the Compact Wide Blade magnetic tape measures are replacing the current compact magnetic series tape measures, with model numbers 48-22-01XX. The Wide Blade tape measures are a new category.
