Best small measuring wheels

[Mr. Lisle]

I use everything available to measure a home, big and small wheels, 30 ft & 100 Ft tape, and laser. I like the wheels for obstructed areas, and confirmation (I usually measure everything twice, by two different methods. I have always used Stanley double wheels, they usually last years, but recently the last a week... I have bought three, each ones gears strip within days. I have tried a few other brands without luck, wondering which ones everyone else use.

 

[Howard Weeks]

I have never understood the wheel thing. Why in the world you would measure with three different things? You know, a man with a watch always knows what time it is but a man with two watches never is sure. Use a Disto (not a cheap Home Depot thing). Maybe have a tape for some walls if you can't figure out what to shoot with the Disto. Dump the wheel.

 

[TC]

Seriously, I got in to this biz in 1977, and we laughed at the guys using a wheel. Can't believe anyone still uses one.

Disto Mania, baybee, it's running wild.

 

[incognito]

A wheel? get serious..

I had some clown appraise my house last year for a refinance. It is a pretty complex house, 2 story Key West with lots of ins and outs, vaulted and open areas. etc. He came out three different times, each time with that silly wheel, and never got it right. I wanted to be nice and suggest a tape or Disto to him, but he was set in his ways. He turned in a report with a sketch that in no way resembled my house, but the value was OK, so I didn't make a stink. His wheel measuring device has a wheel about 5" in diameter. I suppose those larger wheels may be somewhat more accurate and consistent.

My old man taught me with a wheel in the '70's, and I realized early on it was not going to be consistently accurate. It skips and hops on thick turf, is burdensome to carry around, and frankly is more work than a tape/disto combo.

Step into the '80's my friend!


ps: Slide rules and Ellwood J factors are out of fashion these days, too. They have this thang called an HP12c!

 

[VegasWayne]

Some historians believe that ancient Egyptians used measuring wheels to lay out the pyramids. You could ease in to the modern age by switching to surveyor's chains and rods.

 

[stangtime]

Just stick with the tape and do it once with care and all will be fine.

Dan

 

[TEL2002]

Wheels are the most fun in 6"+ of snow.

I have a wheel (about 12" high) but never used it to measure a house. I have used it for things like (1) how far is the house from the RR tracks, (2) measuring the length & width of my driveway to determine how much gravel I would need to order, etc.

Go with a tape or a disto.

 

[Walter Kirk]

I have worn out three Measure Master wheels in the last 30 years, normally after several years of use. My current wheel is 10 years old and works fine ,it lives in the car trunk and is a back up to my Disto.
Perhaps you got wheels from a bad batch.

 

[Tom Woolford]

I used to use a wheel to measure fence lines. Then it dawned on me it was a lot easier to count fence posts or get it off an aerial. Measure a house with one? I think not. Whats the accuracy? +/- 2 feet. My disto is good to .01 INCH.

 

[Thomas Fiehler]

I was taught with a wheel about 35 years ago and still use one, along with a Disto that I am learning. The wheel is relatively small and easy to run along the side of the improvements. They are not 100% true, but around here the auditor's go to the nearest foot so they are more accurate than that. I believe I ordered my wheel from somplace in Indiana and they tend to last 3-5 years.