Last year the emerging company QuickDraw produced a slick new tape measure with the built in ability to to lay down marks without the need to attach pencils, pens, or markers. The QuickDraw self marking tape measure had a great idea and great implementation although for a $20 tape measure it lacked the same fit, finish, and feel of the pro brand tape measures. It seems that QuickDraw listened to it’s users and according to them have improved several areas of concern for their previous tape with an all new QuickDraw Pro Tape Measure.
The new QuickDraw Pro Tape Measure has all the same styling and features of the original although now is a bright red instead of the Darth Vader all-black design of the previous model. Just like the original, the new QuickDraw Pro Tape Measure can also lay down marks with its built in self marking ability.
Using the same mechanism as before, it uses graphite sticks of lead, you know the same kind you use in your lead pencils, and a small wheel at the bottom of the tape grinds the base of the lead creating lead dust that the wheel transfers onto the material being marked. According to QuickDraw, you can get up to 2,000+ marks on each stick of lead.
So besides the new bright red color, the new QuickDraw Pro Tape Measure overhauls just about everything on the tape measure.
New Improved Features:
- New ABS injection molded casing
- New strong hold brake
- New Wedge Indicator for extreme accuracy
- New extra heavy duty belt clip
- New internal spooling system
- New graphite loading system
- Includes new RollMark Keychain accessory to hold extra lead
Apparently the blade stays the same. Although they claim the tape itself to be a rugged, nylon coated steel tape for extra durability, I wasn’t crazy about the original steel tape that they used on the first model. It didn’t feel rugged like other more established tape manufactures and the worsts part of the original in my short experience with it was that the blade brake clamps down on the blade and leaves nasty bends on the steel tape. I would hope that this has been addressed on this new QuickDraw Pro Tape Measure.
The original QuickDraw Tape Measure came with a tiny lead holder with extra lead. I found this to be a great inclusion so that I wouldn’t have to buy any immediately after the on board lead would run out. But you always have to worry about small extra parts getting lost. I lost mine not too long after, I eventually found it, but now I can’t remember where I placed it so I would have to look for it again. Good thing the new QuickDraw Pro Tape Measure includes a new RollMark Keychain accessory to hold extra lead. You can clip it onto your keychain and always have extra lead on hand.
The RollMark keychain accessory also has the same wheel mechanism used on the tape measure and can also lay down marks. Besides being an accessory to store extra lead, it can also act like a lead pencil to make marks.
Luckily even with all the new upgrades, the new QuickDraw Pro Tape Measure is priced the same around $20.
Click here to purchase on Amazon
And a bit more news regarding the new QuickDraw Pro Tape Measure, is that it also comes in two varieties. The above mention QuickDraw Pro Tape Measure is called the GraphiteMark model and there’s also a green model named the MetalMark which is nearly identical but in green and instead of laying down graphite lead, it lays down chalk to make it easier to lay down marks on metal. Other than this fact there is not much else known about the QuickDraw Pro Tape Measure MetalMark model. There is no retailer info so I can’t retrieve pricing info or any other info. The MetalMark model makes a one picture appearance at the bottom of the QuickDraw Pro Tape Measure website but other than the picture itself, there are no details at the moment at the time of writing this article. Hopefully they will enlighten us soon.
Need an instruction video to get lead out of stupid attachment!!!!!!!!