Tapes generally come equipped with a reel; however, it is not always necessary to replace a steel tape on the reel at the end of each work period. A tape can be easily coiled and thrown into a circular roll.

Grasp the 100-ft graduation on the tape faceup with your left hand. Using your right hand, you take in 5 ft of tape at a time. Place the 95-ft mark over the 100-ft mark, next the 90-ft mark over the 95-ft markholding these 5-ft marks firmly with the left hand so that the tape will not turn over. Continue this operation for the entire length of the tape, placing each 5-ft division over the preceding one until the zero graduation is reached, (Actually, you can start at either end of the tape, whichever is convenient.) As you are taking in the tape, you will notice that the coils fall into the shape of the figure "8." (See fig. 12-10.)

When you have completed this coiling, square up the tape ribbons. The leather thong at the 100-ft end should be on the underneath side of the coil next to your hand. Wrap the thong around the complete coil. Continue wrapping until there is just enough of the thong left to conveniently insert it through the coil at about the 50-ft graduation. Draw the thong firmly back against the completed windings of the thong. You can throw the tape into a more compact circular roll by giving the "8" a twist, as shown in figure 12-11. Now, tie the tape with the remaining thong.

Figure 12-10.-Coiling a tape into a figure "8" form.