Milwaukee® Introduces Long Tapes with Industry’s First Blade Cleaning System

Words: Katherine O'tooleMilwaukee Tool continues to rapidly expand their Layout and Measurement offering with the introduction of Open-Reel and Closed-Reel Long Tapes. Designed from the ground-up to address common user frustrations with long tapes currently available on the market, the new Milwaukee Long Tapes provide ultimate durability and accuracy.

“One of the most frequent concerns with today’s long tapes is their tendency to jam during use due to debris on the blade being taken up into the mechanism. This causes long tapes to fail prematurely, which contributes to downtime on the jobsite,” said Brandon Miller, Group Marketing Manager for Milwaukee Tool. “Our industry-first, patent-pending blade cleaning system features a wiper that keeps dirt, mud, and other jobsite contaminants out of the housing and internal components of the long tape as its reeled in — providing a much longer life for the tool.”

To survive the demands of the jobsite, both 100ft and 300ft Open Reel Long Tapes include reinforced metal handles and a 3:1 planetary metal gear system that distributes force evenly, and puts less stress on internal components to prolong life. Exclusive to the Open Reel Long Tapes is a proprietary blade manufacturing process that combines a steel blade with extruded nylon coating. This design provides 50% less stretch for best-in-class accuracy and blade durability resulting in up to 10X longer blade life. The 100ft Closed Reel Long Tape is constructed of a durable metal frame housing to help protect the tool from drops.

Available in November 2016, the new measuring wheels confirm Milwaukee’s unrelenting commitment to providing solutions that solve key industry frustrations, while increasing jobsite productivity.
Contractor Tip of the Month: Get Used to the Pain
April 2026

Pain isn’t just negative; it’s a natural part of growing and improving. Instead of seeing pain as a reason to quit, recognize it as a sign you’re making progress. What sets successful people apart is their ability to stay calm and keep going when things g

Damian Lang
Contractor Tip of the Month
Read More
Fechino Files: Diesels Below 32 Degrees
April 2026

I am guessing that if you are reading this, then you experienced the cold, late-January spell that took over most of the country. The cold weather has many effects on the operations of a masonry contractor, from job shutdowns to equipment starting issues,

Steven Fechino
Fechino Files
Read More
Outreach Outlook: Building Momentum Across the Southern Region
April 2026

As April arrives, the pace of our outreach and workforce efforts across the Southern Region reaches a new level of intensity. This is the time of year when our programs, partners, and state collaborators all accelerate at once. SkillsUSA competitions are

Conner Birdsong
Outreach Outlook
Read More
Marvelous Masonry: Elbphilharmonie
April 2026

Most people know the Elbphilharmonie for its glass façade and dramatic roofline. From a distance, that’s what defines the skyline in Hamburg’s HafenCity district. But for masonry contractors and suppliers, the real story starts at the base.

Cass Stern
Marvelous Masonry
Read More