I’ve started doing the same thing and it’s a lot of fun 📏

    • @kreskin@lemmy.world
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      15 days ago

      eh. just leave it. Tell anyone that asked that you found the tape measure, and what kind of man would throw away a free tape measure.

      • L3ft_F13ld!
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        158 days ago

        Wanted to recommend the same. Something I learned on the job and it has saved me and some colleagues a few times.

      • Refurbished Refurbisher
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        8 days ago

        Or just cut out the middleman and use isopropyl alcohol, which is what you’re doing with the marker anyway, but without adding the extra ink.

        Basically the same stuff as that whiteboard cleaning fluid.

        • @BreadOven@lemmy.world
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          28 days ago

          This. Also methanol, but I’d much rather use isopropanol. I know higher proof (>70 %/140 proof) ethanol also works.

          But isopropyl is the best/easiest. Just don’t drink it…or methanol at that.

          Also anhydrous ethanol ~99 % ethanol, as it contains benzene or other things you don’t want to consume.

    • @DjMeas@lemm.ee
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      8 days ago

      I was with a friend at Home Depot and I asked if he thought a piece of wood I was holding was a foot long.

      Friend: Let me just whip it out real fast.

      Me: What are you going to do? Measure it 12 times?

      That was 20 years ago and we still laugh about it today.

  • Hemingways_Shotgun
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    528 days ago

    I have a small keychain laser measurer that I originally bought to use when calculating focal distance with manual camera lenses.

    But I find I’m often whipping it out to randomly check how far away I am from random things.

    It’s oddly very fun.

      • Hemingways_Shotgun
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        348 days ago

        I lied…in my brain it feels smaller than it is because ive gotten used to it. But now that I actively look at it again, “keychain” sized is a bit of a stretch.

        Although I do use it on my keychain, so maybe ive just gotten accustomed to it.

        • NeatoBuilds
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          118 days ago

          Mine is like three times that size so I would call it Keychain sized too haha

          • Hemingways_Shotgun
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            48 days ago

            I eventually did invest in a bigger boy to carry in my filming kit that can store two measurements at once. It’s super handy when you’ve got two subjects and you need to rack focus between them.

          • Hemingways_Shotgun
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            38 days ago

            9 meters max. But as far as focal distance goes, if you have to measure anything more than about 5 meters away, you’re just throwing your focal ring to unlimited anyway on most lenses.

              • Hemingways_Shotgun
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                28 days ago

                That almost seems mountable.

                Exactly why I bought it. I originally had a screw mount attached to the back of it, which could attach it to the side of my camera cage lined up with the sensor. Basically a laser scope for my mirrorless Lumix.

                And this was a few years ago. It still uses the old micro-usb even. So there’s probably going to be a newer version.

      • Hemingways_Shotgun
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        68 days ago

        Once I manage to stop hitting the snooze button and crawl my lazy ass out of bed I’ll take a photo of it. I bought mine at Canadian Tire. Should be similar in any hardware stores.

    • NeatoBuilds
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      38 days ago

      I did the same thing lol trying to learn how to hyperfocus, now i keep it at work in my tray of knick knacks and every time someone sees it they start measuring and guessing and don’t believe things are certain distances

      • @HereIAm@lemmy.world
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        8 days ago

        He’s said that even years later it has held up remarkably well. Obviously not millimetre precision, but enough to measure bolt sizes and such.

        Edit: I know you said it tongue in cheek, but just an FYI for anyone curious

  • @Treczoks@lemmy.world
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    288 days ago

    I did the reverse. I went into the hardware store to buy some chain. As it has to be cut, it is not self-service, I told the Lady that I need this much chain and held my hands apart, and added “50cm”. She said “Hold it”, took her tape, and measured the distance between my palms. It was exactly 50cm.

    Same at the butchers. “I take that piece, it should be 800g.” Scale: 802g

  • celeste
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    238 days ago

    The great thing about carrying a purse is that I can have a tape measure and small flashlight wherever i am. and a mushed up granola bar “for emergencies.” and so on. can never find a damn pen, though.

  • Drusas
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    188 days ago

    My hands are exactly 6 inches long from the base of the palm to the tip of my middle finger. I use them to measure things all the time. Very handy.

  • @SuperRecording@lemmy.ml
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    188 days ago

    You’ll get good at estimating lengths fast doing that, the feedback loop works. Do the same thing with scales for weights. Do the same thing with wrist watch/timer for durations. Pretty soon you get a nickname from your wife ‘master of time and space’

  • Komodo Rodeo
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    148 days ago

    Just when I didn’t think that it was possible to like this guy more.

  • @Wilco@lemm.ee
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    98 days ago

    That does actually sound like it would be neat to do. I don’t understand why … but it does.

  • Cris
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    77 days ago

    Thats sincerely such a silly fun fact, thank you for sharing 😂