Precision Measurement Tools...what's your tool obsession?

JasonMPD

I scour flea markets and pawn shops when I get a feeling I'll find something. This isn't a particularly special find, but its damn useful. 

A Starrett 220XFR1.  They retail at $307 and I found this one for $37 plus tax.  It's missing its round (rod) anvil, but that is a phone call and a $10 replacement from Starrett.



I have a very antique German made caliper and such things.  This collection is in its infancy. 

I'm eyeing a Brown & Sharpe dial caliper at the same shop.  Gotta talk em down a bit.

earlyagain

A $10.00 vernier caliper is the best I have. I haven't held a mic in so long they were using cigarette wrappers to calibrate them at .001" back then. 

Ive come to the end of a year subscription to a hot rod periodical. I know or have nothing that the magazines were about, but read them as a window. Engine builders have some pretty serious tools for precise measurement. 

JasonMPD

There is some absolutely amazing metrology equipment out there.  Measuring to 0.00001 and better.  I'm partial to the small handheld stuff, or the post mounted dial indicators and such.

jbp-ohio

I once used a set of Starret pin gauges to prove my $30 Harbor Freight mics were equal to a coworkers $300 Mitutoyos....

Gila

My obsession is having the tool I need when I need it.  My wife hates it when I find a tool section in a store if she's with me, and won't even go in with me if I pull up to a tool store.

Old Ron

I am lucky not to have a obsession ....... I am possessed ...... I collect everything !  

Bigslug

Obsession?  I dunno about that, but such things are cool.   

The bullet casting hobby necessitated the acquisition of better ability to measure things.
The pin gauge set for measuring bores and cylinder throats may not be worth its weight in gold (it's pretty heavy), but the V-anvil micrometers that let you measure the groove diameter of a lead slug that's been passed through a 5-groove barrel with offset lands very well might be.  I've heard of guys trying to figure that out by wrapping the slug in paper, measuring that, and deducting the thickness of the paper - - ummmmmmmm. . .yeah.  Good luck with that.

Linefinder

I use them all on a daily basis and have no particular preference for a specific tool, since they all have their best uses. A 6" dial/digital caliper is probably used most often, but if you need .0001" accuracy it's time to break out the micrometer....unfortunately....you need several of them since they're built in 1" increments.

Anvil mics are really handy, as are drop indicators, depth mics, test indicators, and gauge pins.

Here's a funny for your entertainment. All our measuring tools in our toolroom are sent out annually to an independent testing lab for calibration. Even our steel rulers and scales. Let me say that again......even our steel rulers.

I had a Stanley 12' tape measure in my tool box that I used for rough measurements on raw stock before rough saw-cutting prior to taking the material to further machining ops. Was told by Quality/Inspection to get it out of the shop since it couldn't be calibrated.

What a bunch of maroons........LOL.

Mike

Linefinder

jbp-ohio said:

I once used a set of Starret pin gauges to prove my $30 Harbor Freight mics were equal to a coworkers $300 Mitutoyos....

I agree, but, there are times when a quick check with a single gauge pin can cause problems.

I built a part checked by our Metrology department that measured perfect by my mic, but was .0015" out of spec according to them. Turned out that their mic measured perfectly to ~ .400", but past that the measurements varied by unpredictable amounts. Don't know why....can't explain it.

I check my mics against gauge pins almost daily, but I check them against at least 2 and often more depending on the tolerance required. Just because it measures perfect at .254" is no guarantee it will at .658".

Usually they do.....but sometimes they don't.

Mike