Cloth or Linen Tape

It is made of varnished strip of woven linen 12 to 16 mm wide with a brass handle at zero ends, whose length
is also included in the length of the tape. The tape is attached to a spindle and is wound in a leather case. It
is very light and handy, but not so accurate. For very precise measurements, it is not used. The linen tape
may be used for taking subsidiary measurements such as offsets. It is easily affected by damp. When the
tape gets wet, it shrinks and care should be taken that it is not wound up until is cleaned and dried. It
stretches easily and is likely to twist and tangle. It is therefore little used in surveying.

Cloth tapes are made up of closely woven linen, 12 to 15 mm wide. These tapes are varnished on outer
surface so as to resist moisture. Cloth tapes are light and flexible. Cloth tapes are used for taking rough
measurements such as offsets. Cloth tapes are available in lengths of 10, 20, 25, and 30 metres and in 33, 50,
66, 100 ft.. End of the tape is provided with a brass ring whose length is included in the total length of the
tape. Cloth tapes are not used for accurate measurements because:
1)Length of cloth tape is gets altered by stretching.
2)Cloth tape is easy to twist and tangle.
3)Cloth tapes are not so strong.

Metallic Tapes

They are available in 2, 10, 30, and 50 meters. The tape is made of yarn and metal wire. A metal ring is
attached to the outer end of tapes. The length of the tape includes the metal ring. At every centimeter a
black line 8 to 10 mm in height is drown. Every 5 centimeters is marked with an arrow in black. Every
decimeter and meter is marked with a back line extending over the full width of the tape the graduation
marks at every decimeter and meter are numbered with black and red figures, respectively.

A metallic tape is made of high-grade synthetic material with strong metallic strands (bronze-brass- copper
wire) woven in the warped face of the tape and coated with a tough plastic for durability. Standard
lengths are 50 and 100 ft. Some are graduated in feet and inches to the nearest one-fourth in. Others are
graduated in feet and decimals of a foot to the nearest 0.05 ft. Metallic tapes are generally used for
rough measurements, such as cross-sectional work, road-work slope staking, side shots in
topographic surveys, and many others in the same category. Nonmetallic tapes woven from synthetic
yarn, such as nylon, and coated with plastic are available; some surveyors prefer to use tapes of this type.
Nonmetallic tapes are of special value to power and utility field personnel, especially when they are
working in the vicinity of high-voltage circuits.

Metric Steel Tape

Tape is available in 1, 2, 10, 30, and 50 meters. The tape is of steel or stainless steel. The outer end is provided
with a ring. The length of the tape includes the metal ring. The tape is marked with a line at every five
millimeters, centimeters, decimeters, and meter. Every decimeter and meter shall be marked with Hindu
Arabic numerals in bold. When the button release devised is pressed, the tape automatically rewind in to
the case.