Spencer Loggers Tape Measure 35

The Spencer 35 is a loggers tape measure designed for one person: it clips to your belt, the hook end grabs the log, and the tape pays out as you walk. It is a quick way to buck logs, firewood and sawlogs to consistent lengths.

What makes a loggers measuring tape different

A regular construction tape measure needs a second person or a nail at the far end. A loggers tape solves that with a hook that bites into wood. You set the hook in the end of the log, walk away and the tape follows. Read the length, mark the cut and give the tape a flick to free the hook. The spring winds it back into the case on your belt.

That is why Spencer tapes are a fixture with fallers, firewood producers and tree crews who buck wood to length. The tape stays on your hip, so measuring takes seconds and does not slow down the saw.

It is also faster than any alternative. Pacing off a log or holding the bar against it to estimate length is fine for rough firewood, but it adds up to a lot of error over a day. A tape makes every cut repeatable.

Choosing the right Spencer tape

Spencer makes tapes in several lengths and with different graduations, including versions with a diameter scale on the back for scaling and cruising. Check the listing for this model's length and markings and pick what fits your work. Shorter tapes are lighter on the belt and fine for firewood and short logs. Longer tapes, like the Spencer 75 ft tape, let you lay out several cuts along a whole trunk in one walk.

If you only need lengths, a tape without a diameter scale is easier to read. If you buy and sell timber by volume, a diameter scale saves carrying a second tool.

Using it on the job

Wear the case where you can reach it easily but where it will not bang against the saw. Many sawyers put it on the back or off-hand hip of a logging belt. Set the hook firmly before you walk, keep the tape straight along the log and read the mark at the point you want to cut.

Never measure a log that is moving, rolling or under tension, and keep the tape and your hands clear of the chain when someone else is bucking. Hook the tape, step back, then call the cut.

When bucking for a mill, ask for their length specs and trim allowance before you start. A few inches of trim on every log saves a lot of arguing later.

Firewood cutters often measure once to set the length and then use a mark on the saw or a stick for the rest of the cuts. A tape is still useful for checking every so often that the cuts have not drifted long or short.

Care

Let the tape rewind slowly rather than snapping back. Keep the hook sharp enough to grip. Clean off mud and pitch, and keep the case out of the dirt when you set it down. If the tape blade breaks or wears out, replace it with a refill instead of buying a new case. Confirm the refill fits your model first. Browse the rest of our forestry tools for scaling sticks and other measuring gear.

Store the tape in a dry spot when you are done for the day. A case left in a puddle in the truck bed can rust inside, and a rusty spring does not rewind well.