A roll of masking tape that a contractor, builder or a do-it-your-selfer can stick to the floor of their new building that has a stud layout pattern for the wall 2x4s. You can buy the tape that has the studs marked 16"on center or 24". I don't know if those are code measurements world wide, but they work in the States.

Roll out what you need, tear off the piece, stick it down and nail verticle studs on the x-spots on the tape. Put a piece on the ceiling or top sill plate too so you know where that end gets nailed.
-- macncheesy, Mar 25 2005

(?) Stud Tape http://moniplex.com...ain.php?picture=214
[DrCurry, Mar 25 2005, last modified Mar 27 2005]

Tape with Eyelets http://www.tiresias...mages/rnib_dh19.jpg
Gives you an "up" & "down", if you need it. [reensure, Mar 28 2005]

Eminently sensible idea - are you sure they don't make this already? Croissant either way.
-- DrCurry, Mar 25 2005


Great idea, as long as you make it from something that doesn't stretch very much. [+]
-- Freefall, Mar 25 2005


Real estate salesmen and builders already use a 'shrinking' tape measure, not sure about just tape.
-- mensmaximus, Mar 25 2005


Laying down tape would be more expensive and slower then just using the tried and true chalk line, laying your track, then marking your track 16" or 24" on center or whatever the engineers require for that particular job.

The second reason I see a problem is that usually after the layout is done, there are going to be people walking all over the marks until everything is laid out. Tape will lift and rip, but chalk lines last a long time.

Sticking tape to a dusty floor is just not gonna fly in the real world.

This is something that Black and Decker could sell to the home handyman, but a real tradesman is going to continue using chalk and a tape.

Oh... and tape tends to stretch, throwing accuracy off. AS well, are you going to use a level or laser level to mark where the tape has to go on the ceiling? That's adding a second process that's not needed as you need to level your studs anyways, elminating the need for marks on the ceiling track. Most framers work on piecework, so they have streamlined this process already.

Maybe a track (or wood stud or whatever) with measured lines on it would make more sense.
-- Giblet, Mar 26 2005


I thought you liked to be the one who posted silly pun drawings. And, of course, my drawing skills aren't anything like yours.
-- DrCurry, Mar 27 2005


I was waiting for the nail in the stud joke to work its' way to the surface, nice artwork, DC.
-- dentworth, Mar 27 2005


I haven't the franchise on those. Diversity is best. Besides, your artwork is pretty darn good, I think.
-- bristolz, Mar 27 2005


Actually I thought this meant something like what [Curry's] illustration shows.
-- energy guy, Mar 27 2005


Ooooh, it reminds me of a scene in Entrapment where theres lasers everywhere bouncing around the room.

Can we have some of these instead. They dont shrink, cost less and less and can be 'formed up' all at once.

You could even have an Ikea model, you know part a goes into part b then part c goes in sidewards, where's part b, lost it, should we throw it out?
-- BlownUpGnome, Mar 28 2005


//everything is laid out. //
I don't know what type of chalk you've used, but I’ve always had problems with the lines fading.
//tape tends to stretch//
Use paper tape-- it will rip before it stretches, and you should notice that. Even if the tape did stretch there should not be much strain on it between laying it down and nailing the studs.
-- brodie, Mar 28 2005



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