Sokkia reel tape crappy?

[Jbridered]

I recently purchased a sokkia from forestry suppliers for a total of $40. I read somewhere on this site that it was a good reel tape. I am not too impressed and kind of ashamed to show my mentor. Maybe I am wrong but it feels like something that came out of a gumball machine.

 

[Michael Tipton]

Lowe's and other box hardware-building supply firms sell 100ft surveyor reel tapes for less.

 

[Terrel L. Shields]

What's wrong with it? I love mine. The double hook works great...beats the heck out of Henry Harrisions bent cotter key

 

[Couch Potato]

I love mine too, although I don't use it much now that I have a Disto. When you are able to quickly get it to hang on the corner of slick vinyl siding or a downspout, you will love it too.

 

[Mike Boyd]

If you do any kind of volume, I think you will find the cheapest 100' fiberglass tape will last about 6 months. The higher quality, much more expensive 100' fiberglass tape, with the same volume, will also last about 6 months. Some are warranted to last forever. However, you have to pay for shipping it back to the factory and they will gladly replace it. Cost of shipping? About the same as the total cost of the cheapest 100' fiberglass tape.(And, you are without a tape for a couple weeks)

 

[incognito]

My Sokkia tape (the orange one) is GREAT. Double hook works wonderfully. All other tapes I have owned have broken at about the 6" spot on the tape, where the reinforcement ends. The Sokkia tape is MUCH stronger.

Sokkia makes a rather bulky green appraisers tape, with a geared rewind, where you can pull in 100' in about 10 cranks. It is too big for me. I saw a new one on ebay today for $12!!!

Regarding lifetime warranty's, I bought my original tape from Forms and Worms (remember them?), in 1983. It was a Lufkin, and was a good quality tape. I broke about one a year, and returned them for a replacement (to Lufkin) up until about 2000. Shipping was about $5.00, and they paid return shipping. I finally got a little self conscious, and stopped taking advantage of the warranty, but they NEVER complained! Unfortunately, I felt the quality had come down from the original, they were breaking more quickly, and I went to Sokkia.

 

[Lysander in Charlotte]

I've used many brands, but the Sokkia with appraiser's hook is the best. I use it more than the Disto while working the exterior.

Holman's sells them for $23.

 

[Lobo Fan]

My Sokkia lasts about 4 months on the average. I am always pulling it out of rose bushes and such. Plus it gets tangled way too easily and the hook gets a lot of strain from that. I have taken to reinforcing the hook with several layers of duct tape. Looks a little okie, but it adds another 4-5 months to the lifespan. I just got me a Fat Max a few weeks ago. It sure helps, especially down those skiinny little side yards full of board with nail and dog poop.

 

[DTB]

Back in pre-Disto days must have measured 500 houses with a Home Depot fiberglass tape and 6" homemade aluminum hook on the end. It's still in the trunk. How do you guys keep breaking them?

 

[DB]

Don't ask me why ... but when I read the title of this thread my mind immediately went to: "Oh! You bought an old reel to reel and are wanting to see if anyone knows anything about it." ...

That's it ... I'm officially fried ... :glare: