Measuring tools are essential for any type of project otherwise there would be no way of sizing the various parts to fit with one another. The measuring tape is one of the most useful measuring devices a boy can own and he will use that more than anything other tool because everything needs to be measured when building any type of project.

Expensive and Low Priced Measuring Tapes

The Tajima tape-measures pictured on the top of the image above were very expensive when I purchased them some years ago. However I recently found this “Starexon” brand for only 5,000 KRW at a local hardware store. I was amazed at the high quality and the low price of this excellent tape measure!

In the image above, shows the two “Tajima” tape-measures on the top and the “Starexon” on the bottom. Normally it would seem that a company could not possibly make a better quality product for a lower price but due to advancement in manufacturing processes this is becoming a “commonplace” occurrence! I have often found products like this “Starexon” brand tape measure that is of outstanding quality and a low price of only 5,000 KRW for a 5.5 meter long tape measure! The numbers on this tape are highly visible and the 90-degree catch hook holds onto materials securely and there is a nice push-button brake that instantly catches or releases the tape in smooth manner.

In order to compare “apples to apples” I was able to find a Tajima 5.5 meter tape measure for sale on Gmarket to compare it to the price of the 5.5 meter “Starexon” brand. At full price of 99,700 KRW (plus 2,500 shipping) this would cost a total of 102,200 KRW for the Tajima. This is many times more cost than the 5.5 meter “Starexon” brand tape measure at only 5,000 KRW.

I also found a “Tajima” 5.5 meter tape-measure (at the time I made this post) for sale at 39,880 KRW (plus shipping) for a total cost of 42,380 KRW. These expensive models (even on sale with 60% off) still cost many times more than the “Starexon” brand. Also the tape “holding-button” has to be pushed down hard on these expensive models before it takes effect. The “Starexon” brand releases and holds the tape with a slight touch of a button. Therefore, there are many attributes of this “Starexon” brand (for only 5,000 KRW) that I feel are better than the expensive models of tape-measures which I had purchased in the past.

Digital Caliper

Do Not buy Junk

The digital calipers above lasted for only a “one-time” use then had to be discarded. I then upgraded spending more on one that was more durable but I did not by the hugely expensive calipers either. There are two sides of this story because if you buy junk and have to replace it all of the time it will cost you money but if you also spend on outrageous priced custom items they may or may not be of better quality than a medium-priced item. It is good to read reviews left by other customers, especially if they report if the product is junk or not so you do not waste time and money buying it.

I purchased a second roll of acrylic sheet but it felt like it was of made of “lighter” material than the first roll that I had purchased. But it was not until I measured the thickness with this caliper that I discovered it was the exact same thickness for both rolls of acrylic sheet that had I purchased. Without good measuring tools it would be easy to falsely assume I was cheated by the seller charging me the same price for lighter material. It certainly felt lighter to me but when I measured it, I was relieved to find it was the exact same thickness (as it was supposed to be). Sometimes without measuring something first then there is no way we can tell the difference. The second roll seemed to be easier to bend and more flexible so I assumed it must be lighter and thinner. This second roll looked the same in my eyes but I needed a caliper to confirm it was the same thickness. Sometimes it is not possible to tell if there is any difference until after we measure something with an accurate measuring tool.

Accurate measuring tools are essential to any type of project and not much can be built or created without good measuring tools.

See the link “Project Tools” for more details.

Training Boys to Budget Capital

The point of bringing up these examples of finding a measuring tape and a carbon fiber calipers of good quality and a low price is that it is important to teach boys about financial budgeting. If they start their own service industry business, one of the biggest costs will be the purchase of needed tools. They will also have to budget for the daily living expenses for their families so doing a business startup can be a challenge for them in the beginning.

But if they can find quality tools for a low price then this can save them a lot of money (which is necessary) especially when they are getting started and have numerous business expenses on top of the daily living expenses needed to take care of their own families.

This is why we try to teach boys about how to find good quality tools for a low price so that they can use the savings for business investment (especially during the critical startup phase). It takes time to get a business going and takes time to gain loyal repeat customers and often it is a matter of survival until they have the needed income to meet all of their business expenses (plus their living expenses also).

Business Management School for Service Industry

Another plan we have it so start a business management school for those who enter the service industry as skilled tradesmen. We can offer this to our adult “military-aged” men and also teach the same principles to our young boys in a more simplified level of teaching that they can comprehend at their own particular age and maturity level.