Milwaukee has come out with new long tapes, in closed-reel and open-reel styles. Both Milwaukee long tapes are said to provide ultimate durability and accuracy.
Milwaukee says that the new long tapes were designed to address a frequent concern with other long tapes, and how they tend to jam up due to debris and contamination in the reel mechanism.
There’s an industry-first Grime “Guard” blade cleaning system, featuring a wiper that can keep dirt, mud, and other gunk out of the reel housing.
The 100-foot closed reel long tape, shown above, is constructed with a metal frame housing that helps to protect it from drops.
Milwaukee’s press materials say a little more about the 100-foot and 300-foot open reel long tapes, which feature reinforced metal handles and a 3:1 planetary metal gear system (same as the closed reel) for quicker tape retrieval.
The open reel long tapes feature a steel blade with extruded nylon coating, manufactured using a proprietary process, that gives it 50% less stretch for best-in-class accuracy and blade durability resulting in up to 10X longer blade life.
The blade is 1/2″ wide and kink resistant.
100′ Open Reel Long Tape Dimensions: 1.75″ thick x 7.75″ wide x 10.5″ height, weighing in at 2.47 lbs.
The long tapes are all available now.
- 100ft Closed Reel Long Tape, 48-22-5101, for $20
- 100ft Open Reel Long Tape, 48-22-5201, for $30
- 300ft Open Reel Long Tape, 48-22-5230, for $50
Metric versions are also available – 30M closed reel, 30M and 100M open reels.
Buy Now(via Home Depot)
Buy Now (via Acme): 100′ Closed Reel || 100′ Open Reel || 300′ Open Reel
First Thoughts
I’ve been familiarizing myself with test samples of the 100′ closed reel and open reel long tapes, and they feel sturdy and user-friendly.
But I could probably count on one hand how many times I’ve used long tapes before, and all of them were in a controlled not-real-work setting.
Open reel long tapes see use in outdoor layout and measuring applications, often in the dirt. And the closed reel tapes… what would you use a closed reel long tape for? I suppose when a 25′ or 35′ tape measure won’t do, and a laser distance measuring tool isn’t suited. Maybe for spacing things out in an indoor commercial setting?
That’s not a rhetorical question, I’m really asked you – what would you use the closed reel long tape for? The open reel long tape? What’s your current brand of choice? Would you give these new Milwaukee tapes a try?
