Originally Posted by
Bill Kapaun
Totally agree about NOT using the hook end. They can get bent or simply be wrong. (the sweat shop didn't know it had to be located precisely?)
The hook end has movement slots so that an accurate inside or outside measurement can be taken (e.g. inside measurement between two walls) allowing for the thickness of the hook.
As they get older and abused (e.g. letting the tape snap back into its housing), tape measure hook-end slots will lengthen, making outside measurements (which use the hook end) inaccurate.
Again, measuring with a tape is most accurate using 1" and 13" to bypass the hook end.