The Keson NR10200H 200' Steel tape gives a decent level of performance for a cost to the consumer that is comparable if not lower than some of the other name brands of tapes available. Considered a piece of surveying equipment, I've recently purchased a few of these tapes for our field crews at work, and it seems that the quality of the Berger brand tapes is similar to that of the Keson tapes we currently use. I find this type of tape helpful for highly accurate measurements, and court cases for steel tolerances with steel or commercial buildings. Keep in mind the measurements on a steel tape are different as the metal clasp that is attached to the end of the tape is considered the "zero" end or the beginning of the tape. To take an accurate measurement one must take the very end of the metal clasp and use that as the Starting point, then measure from there. To clarify this, take a retractable tape or wood ruler and hold it against the steel tape, you’ll find that 1.0’ hits the end of the steel clasp when it is closed.


Steel Tapes in General
The biggest difference between nylon and steel tapes is that nylon tapes will not rust, however they are much more flexible, which allows them to stretch thus providing an inaccurate measurement. Although the tape will not kink and is almost indestructible, it still can rip, tear, and be cut. Another major issue with fiberglass tapes would be using the proper amount of tension, where to much leads to stretching the tape for a longer than accurate distance, and to little gives the tape a sag or shorter measurement for what actually exists. However, steel can Kink if heavy weight is applied to it or it is improperly pulled. Typically the part of the tape that breaks, rendering it useless, is the end piece also known as the zero end or the beginning of the tape. The piece alone is metal and strong, but it usually gets torn off, crushed, or snagged by something making it useless.


Personal Experience
The size and weight of the 200 foot tape is appealing as the tape itself fits comfortably in your pouch or belt. Agility and speed refers to how fast the tape is "rolled up" which saves times and energy when constantly pulling distances to different objects/ties. Rolling up the tape is an easy task if it is properly maintained, clean, and oiled. It has a locking mechanism on the side of the tape that clicks open so it allows for a handle to roll up the tape. When looking to cleanup the Keson NR10200H 200' Tape this can be quite the challenge. Good luck rolling up the tape if it becomes covered in mud or water. The only way to properly clean the tape so it can again roll up would require you to hand clean the section of tape that is covered in mud with a towel, shirt, napkin, or whatever is readily available. This task typically requires a two person operation as one person slowly rolls the tape as the other squeezes the tape as it winds into the reel, this usually works on mud, and is extremely time consuming. I highly suggest keeping the tape out of the mud or water if possible as clean up is not considered a recreational activity enjoyed by many. As for the steel tape, I use a 3-in-1 then apply a small amount, which keeps it from sticking or jamming. I usually completely unroll the tape, then use a soft garage rag and apply oil to the steel; finally I reel in the tape so as to evenly cover the metal surface with the nourishment of the lubricating product. My experience has been met with good results when referring to the tapes durability, the handle is made of metal, which means it is unlikely breakage will occur. The exterior case is composed of a vinyl clad, this usually allows for some hard drops on surfaces like asphalt and concrete, however I do not recommend this. With steel the tape can kink or bend, but proper care and maintenance will prevent this. Even though it takes some serious abuse, it is far from indestructible. Usage at home for projects that require more distance and accuracy the Keson NR10200H 200' Tape will perform the task quite well. My experience with this particular brand of tapes has been meet with a good experience overall, and this particular tool is no acceptation.


Additional Measurement Advice
Tape manufacturers do not guarantee 200 ft steel tapes to be exactly 200.00 ft. An error due to the incorrect length occurs every time the tape is used. This error can be accounted for by correcting the value of measured lengths. Reading a tape is much more difficult than you are lead to believe.




Recommended: Yes