Tape Measure Tab bend adjustment clamping tool (Stanley 1")

this provides marr free clamping faces your tape measure tab to perform corrective blows or prys

print heavy (about 80% infill) depends on your clamping solution

after its clamped, gently hammer or pry the tab the desired direction. if the tab is too bent to fit in the fixture, it may require pre-blows "the old fashioned way" before fitting into this holder thing.

check the read often while correcting it and use a solid reference rule

i did 80% infill and clamped it with a 6" vise grip with the pads then put the clamped block into the bench vise. gently tapped the tab about 100 times to bend down ever so slightly and flatten it out a bit.

you can put a flathead under the tab and gently correct its angle, position and flatness

i may look into making similar models for other brands of tapes but this classic 3 rivet stanley is the one i want. 

how to build the perfect tape measure. buy a stanley tylon 25 with the rubber overmold and the new lock design. Buy a classic Stanley powerlock 25 in store and inspect the bend on the tab for symmetry, flatness, angle and if you brought your combination square you can check its read there. take the powerlock blade all the way out and trade it places with the tylon blade. also swap the two pocket clips so the bigger one is on the tylon case. using the clamp tool listed here, clamp the tab and correct it as necessary to get  that 12" line landing exactly in the middle of the edge of your finest 12" steel rule and seeing every mark line perfectly up with all the way down the 16ths scale. there you have it. a tylon 25 case with a powerlock blade and pocket clip. take this and engrave  your name into it. fill the engraving marks with sharpie and clean off the sharpie overspill.  put a small gold "QC" sticker on it and use a different tape measure because now this one costs 30 dollars and can pull a thou if the reference face isn't covered in dust