Forum Groups

 

Forums / Technology Talk / Pi Tape

Pi Tape

1 posts
  1. Hector Velazquez
    Hector Velazquez avatar
    0 posts
    1/2/2015 10:01 AM
    Do you know what a Pi Tape is? It can be an important tool to help you determine if your reel is due for replacement! Check out the video at
    www.HectorsShop.com



  2. Kyle Fick
    Kyle Fick avatar
    4 posts
    4/17/2018 2:04 PM
    I was looking to add a diameter measuring tape to our arsenal of gadgets this year in an attempt to really see how well our reel stock is sitting. Some are aging pretty well, and probably are ready for some alterations, but I don't want to be doing guess work.

    After looking on-line, there are many options I can see available. Is one as good as the next? I, nor anyone in my shop, has the experience using one, so a little feedback would be appreciated. I'd imagine a simple soft fabric tape would work, but wouldn't be very accurate since it'd flatten out between the blades, especially on 7's or 8's. I suspect a metal version would stand out across the gaps a bit more to give a much closer and accurate reading. I saw a few metal ones that were cheap, and then the ultra pricey 200 dollar versions. Seems to me the IGCEMA had them advertised for sale before the GCSAA absorption, not sure if that resource is still available. Or are these offered in the GCSAA bookstore?

    Thanks all.



  3. Jack Tripp
    Jack Tripp avatar
    3 posts
    4/18/2018 1:04 AM
    turfaddict.com took over the IGCEMA items for sale. They sell the Simplex pi-tape or maybe you can contact SIP direct. I see where SIP was selling pi-tapes on Amazon, but it says they unavailable now and gives no date when they will be available on Amazon again.

    The SIP tape is a good tape because it has a magnet that holds the one end of the tape in place. It is also made out of a very thin mylar type material that bends around the reel very nicely. A metal tape would not bend around the reel very tightly and when you are measuring in the thousands you want the tape to hung the reel as close as possible.



  4. Jack Tripp
    Jack Tripp avatar
    3 posts
    4/18/2018 1:04 AM
    Kyle,

    What is you purpose for the pi-tape? If it just to check to see if a Toro reel is below the 4.5" diameter limit for grinding and MTI is your Toro distributor? At MTI their former service manager developed a no-go gauge for checking reel diameter for the 4.5" limit. 3D printers are great for developing tools like this.

    A 6" stainless-steel pocket clip ruler can also be easily set up for measuring the 4.5" minimum reel diameter. The pocket ruler method is much faster than using a pi-tape. I pull out the clip ruler before grinding any reel. Nothing like grinding a greens mower reel and then finding out you can't set it low enough to your desired mowing height because the reel diameter is too small.



  5. Frank McQuiggan
    Frank McQuiggan avatar
    2 posts
    4/18/2018 4:04 AM
    Kyle,

    I ordered mine through Graingers part# 6C196. Its a steel tape but stays tight to the reel so it gives me a good reading every time. Its says it reads in 32nds but when it arrived it reads in 64ths. Been using this one for about 4 years with no problem.



  6. Zachary Hill
    Zachary Hill avatar
    1 posts
    4/19/2018 6:04 AM
    I really like the Toro Pi tape its blued steel very nice piece to add to the tool box. Its made by K-Line part number is TOR6023



  7. Roland McPhearson
    Roland McPhearson avatar
    9 posts
    4/19/2018 7:04 AM
    Zachary s Hill said: I really like the Toro Pi tape its blued steel very nice piece to add to the tool box. Its made by K-Line part number is TOR6023


    Zachary,

    Does it have any kind of hook on the end? I can't find a photo. I don't want to buy one if it's no different than the metal pi tape I already have.

    -Roland



  8. Zachary Hill
    Zachary Hill avatar
    1 posts
    4/19/2018 7:04 AM
    Yes it does have rolled metal on one end to act as a hook



  9. Jefferson Lumaquin
    Jefferson Lumaquin avatar
    0 posts
    4/20/2018 1:04 AM
    https://klineind.com/documents/TORO_Catalog_Kline.pdf

    Page 11 has a photo of the steel pi tape



  10. Michael Kriz
    Michael Kriz avatar
    0 posts
  11. Mike Tanis
    Mike Tanis avatar
    5 posts
    4/21/2018 3:04 PM
    Got our through MSC industries, metal one and its in .001. I also use it to check for taper occasionally to make sure grinds are staying true.



  12. Bob Pruneau
    Bob Pruneau avatar
    5 posts
    4/22/2018 4:04 AM
    Seamstress tape and divide by 3.14 for checking size . For cone it doesn't matter it's just a #



  13. Roland McPhearson
    Roland McPhearson avatar
    9 posts
    4/24/2018 6:04 AM
    Thank you Jefferson and Zachary, that's the one I already have.



View or change your forums profile here.