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I was cutting all my 2x4s a quarter inch short for a whole basement framing job in Spokane before my lead saw the gaps.

He just pointed at the seam and said 'that's not how we keep the walls straight,' and I finally realized my tape measure hook was loose and moving that exact amount every time I pulled it tight.
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3 Comments
patricia558
Ever check your tape for that now? I mean, that's such a classic mistake that it makes you double-check every tool before starting. It's a cheap lesson that saves a ton of time later.
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taylor.sean
Totally feel that, @patricia558. My own version was cutting a board short twice because I trusted a marked ruler. Now the first thing I do is check the hook for wiggle.
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hugo_cooper43
That's one expensive quarter inch.
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