Best measuring wheel!?!?!

Just went through my third Lufkin POS measuring wheel today, ground was wet so I dont know if this had an effect on it. I want to know what you guys use and whats the best? Spent about $100 so far buying new ones and am quite sick of it, I want a warrenty or something. Please help!! Sean Paramount Asphalt

i have had very good luck with these "measure master" by rolatape...and know others that have...comparing to the lufkin you can see the quality is better by eye and by durability...i had a lufkin one time that was messing up and sticking at times(but i did not know it) and almost made look bad on pricing a job but i caught it ahead of time...got to have a good wheel that works for sure and dependable...from what i have learned from some big time blacktoppers these are the best...."just my 02 cents" https://www.holmans.com/eStore/Model_2_new.asp?Modelid=32…

I use 2. DigiCalc electronic for paved surfaces (stores multiple measurements, converts from any unit of measurement to any other (sq. ft. to sq. yd. or even meters & such) will total all measurements. Infinitely timesaving and deadly accurate...about $125...oh and the handle extends long enough to measure easily out of your truck window... Then one of the old fashioned (don't remember where I bought it, but lots of places have them) Heavy metal jobs with the "clicker" wheel & folding handle, not accurate enough for some things since it only measures feet but heavy & lasts indefinitely. I use it for everything "rough" like gravel drives, dirt, etc, since it's tough as nails & nothing bothers it. Around $80-$90. Yes this is more than what you are spending so far but it's all I've spent in years (in 14 years wore out 1 digital, haven't even started to wear out the 12 year-old metal job) Got tired of going through "cheap" ones years ago. The digital isn't necessary if you just stripe but if you are doing something like 10 areas for repair & you want to be able to just store all the measurements without having to write anything down then just touch a button & know how many total sq. ft. so you can give a customer a "guesstimate" on the spot then have the measurements so you can write them down later if you want, it's priceless. I've got a lot of jobs just because I could give them an instant "guesstimate" of what it would cost...not to mention saving all the hassle of measuring for sealing or repairs & trying to carry a pen & notebook & write everything down on a windy day...

The $30-50 dollar range should be considered consumables, (expletive), ka ka etc. I am looking to upgrade myself, thanks for the tip Don. I like the idea of storing numbers etc.

Don wrote on Apr 2, 2005:Go to #3

I use 2. DigiCalc electronic for paved surfaces (stores multiple measurements, converts from any unit of measurement to any other (sq. ft. to sq. yd. or even meters & such) will total all measurements. Infinitely timesaving and deadly accurate...about $125...oh and the handle extends long enough to measure easily out of your truck window... Then one of the old fashioned (don't remember where I bought it, but lots of places have them) Heavy metal jobs with the "clicker" wheel & folding handle, not accurate enough for some things since it only measures feet but heavy & lasts indefinitely. I use it for everything "rough" like gravel drives, dirt, etc, since it's tough as nails & nothing bothers it. Around $80-$90. Yes this is more than what you are spending so far but it's all I've spent in years (in 14 years wore out 1 digital, haven't even started to wear out the 12 year-old metal job) Got tired of going through "cheap" ones years ago. The digital isn't necessary if you just stripe but if you are doing something like 10 areas for repair & you want to be able to just store all the measurements without having to write anything down then just touch a button & know how many total sq. ft. so you can give a customer a "guesstimate" on the spot then have the measurements so you can write them down later if you want, it's priceless. I've got a lot of jobs just because I could give them an instant "guesstimate" of what it would cost...not to mention saving all the hassle of measuring for sealing or repairs & trying to carry a pen & notebook & write everything down on a windy day...

Thats my choice!

As Don says, the digirollers are great. I have used one for years and they are excellent for laying out roads (skiplines especially). It is easy to use the count feature while "measuring" linear feet of lines. With practice and concentration, you can actually count three things at once with one of these. You can measure lft of paint, use the count feature to count an item and count a thrid item in your head. This makes estimating a striping job very fast.

I use the Rola-Tape mm-34 the orange folding clicker type. It is indestructible and that matters the most to me, while I envy the guys with the digital ones, the one reason I don't think I would like them is I have a tendency to keep my wheel in the back of the truck, and that one would be broke in a week, that is if it could even make it a week dodging sliding paint cans...

Where do you get a Digicalc?

Calculated Industries, Digiroller is what I am familiar with. Just do an internet search for digiroller and you will find many distributors.

Northern Tool had them at one time, otherwise I always got mine manufacturer direct. Calculated Industries http://www.calculated.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idca… However I just noticed they have jumped up to $169 BUT they are now selling parts. These things are tougher than you might think, they won't take a 5 gallon bucket banging into them all the time but have ridden around in the back of my trucks for years. The reason I made the remark about parts is they didn't used to...and the way they are built is kind of funny (the "hubcap" is more important than you would think, and that's all that was wrong with my first one). I rigged that back together and it lasted a while longer until an employee did something (never sure what but bashed somehow) and shattered the entire digital part off the top (and that took quite a bit of force).

what is the best digital, and where do you get the digicalc?

ASI wrote on Apr 3, 2005:Go to #11

what is the best digital, and where do you get the digicalc?

Link I posted above. They have more features and are the best constructed I have seen. They actually call them DigiRollers now. They also have a GREAT contractors calculator that converts anything to anything so you can do a calculations like 127'5" divided by 11 and it will display the results in feet and inches so you could easily make all 11 parking spaces the same size (no dealing with tenths of a foot etc.) It does a ton of other stuff too in gallons, liters, tons, yards, meters, pretty much if you name it, it can calculate it. It's like one of those scientific calculators only for contractors. (Lots of buttons & functions, but can be a real time saver)...

I have a rollatape that is 20years old and still going. It has like a bicycle wheel with a solid rubber tread that has a 6 foot cicumference. The spokes are at the odd inches, 1, 3, 5, etc., It is bullet proof and was $150.00 back then. I bought it to measure uneven surfaces as the larger wheel is more accurate.

This may be a dumb question, and no I am not lazy , but does else anyone drive their truck across a large lot with ther measuring wheel hanging out the door? Would the digi-calc hold up doing this..

Asphaltman wrote on Apr 3, 2005:Go to #14

This may be a dumb question, and no I am not lazy , but does else anyone drive their truck across a large lot with ther measuring wheel hanging out the door? Would the digi-calc hold up doing this..

Hahaha Many of times!! Yeah they are pretty sturdy.

Don wrote on Apr 3, 2005:Go to #10

Northern Tool had them at one time, otherwise I always got mine manufacturer direct. Calculated Industries http://www.calculated.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idca… However I just noticed they have jumped up to $169 BUT they are now selling parts. These things are tougher than you might think, they won't take a 5 gallon bucket banging into them all the time but have ridden around in the back of my trucks for years. The reason I made the remark about parts is they didn't used to...and the way they are built is kind of funny (the "hubcap" is more important than you would think, and that's all that was wrong with my first one). I rigged that back together and it lasted a while longer until an employee did something (never sure what but bashed somehow) and shattered the entire digital part off the top (and that took quite a bit of force).

Just found them at NorthernTool... They sell for $149

I love the looks you get when your measuring out the window of the truck...

Don wrote on Apr 3, 2005:Go to #10

Northern Tool had them at one time, otherwise I always got mine manufacturer direct. Calculated Industries http://www.calculated.com/productcart/pc/viewPrd.asp?idca… However I just noticed they have jumped up to $169 BUT they are now selling parts. These things are tougher than you might think, they won't take a 5 gallon bucket banging into them all the time but have ridden around in the back of my trucks for years. The reason I made the remark about parts is they didn't used to...and the way they are built is kind of funny (the "hubcap" is more important than you would think, and that's all that was wrong with my first one). I rigged that back together and it lasted a while longer until an employee did something (never sure what but bashed somehow) and shattered the entire digital part off the top (and that took quite a bit of force).

DON ,TRY THIS SITE , I FOUND THEM FOR LESS THAN 100.00............. https://www.calculatorwarehouse.com/cgi-bin/shopper.exe?p… \SearchResult.html

I know thats the best... What the heck is this guy doing? Its almost the same look as the people give you as they run through your cones and track paint everywhere...

What cones...