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My Dog Bob
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:32 am 
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Want to buy one (metric) and was looking at what LMI and Stewmac had to offer. Do any of you have these:

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Tools/Measu ... es#details

http://www.lmii.com/CartTwo/thirdproduc ... +Thickness

Are there any other good options out there? 9" max depth/ Metric is what I am after. I know I could build one out of plywood but I don't want to..

Thanks for any input.. Peter Z
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Scott A
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 8:41 am 
I'm going to try to build my own from a piece of Corian and a dial indicator. If it works it should cost far less.

Scott
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DennisK
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 10:05 am 
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First name: Dennis
Last Name: Kincheloe
City: Kansas City
State: MO
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Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
Scott's on the right track. Build your own, definitely. Very easy to make out of 3/4" plywood or whatever.
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My Dog Bob
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 10:24 am 
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My whole point is that I just want to buy one.. and I want to know from those of you out there that may have used the LMI or StewMac versions what you thought.. I know I can build a plywood or an aluminum (or Corian) one myself, I just don't want to this time..

Thanks, Peter Z
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JoeUlman
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 1:35 pm 
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First name: Joe
Last Name: Ulman
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State: Washington
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I have the 9" metric StewMac. I’m pretty picky about precision measuring tools and have no complaints about this one.

Joe
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Howard Klepper
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 2:51 pm 
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Scott A wrote:
I'm going to try to build my own from a piece of Corian and a dial indicator. If it works it should cost far less.

Scott


You have a 9" dial indicator??

Build one if you have tons of free time and don't need great accuracy or much of a range.

I personally prefer a vernier to a dial (fewer places for accuracy to be lost, and I find them easier to read), but I'm a dinosaur and in the minority, I think. In either case, I have had good luck on Ebay. Stick with Starrett, Mitutoyo, Browne & Sharpe. Often they can be had new or nearly so at a good price. Precision instruments are still an area where good buys can be had.

Or get a new Chinese one; this is just woodwork, after all.

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TonyFrancis
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 5:36 pm 
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Last edited by TonyFrancis on Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Scott A
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 5:41 pm 
Sorry, I always look at things from a poor mans point of view
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Howard Klepper
PostPosted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 5:51 pm 
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TonyFrancis wrote:
Howard Klepper wrote:
Scott A wrote:
I'm going to try to build my own from a piece of Corian and a dial indicator. If it works it should cost far less.

Scott


You have a 9" dial indicator??

Build one if you have tons of free time and don't need great accuracy or much of a range.

I personally prefer a vernier to a dial (fewer places for accuracy to be lost, and I find them easier to read), but I'm a dinosaur and in the minority, I think. In either case, I have had good luck on Ebay. Stick with Starrett, Mitutoyo, Browne & Sharpe. Often they can be had new or nearly so at a good price. Precision instruments are still an area where good buys can be had.

Or get a new Chinese one; this is just woodwork, after all.


Howard, I believe he is talking about instrument makers thickness calipers, not regular machinist dial or vernier calipers. None of the makers you mention make this style of instrument.

The Jurzek ones are fine, they have German made dials on a cheaper frame. The best ones are the German models, from suppliers like Dick.Biz Germany, but very expensive (made for violin and cello makers). Mine are made by Federal in the US, and date back to the 1940s. I understand the Federal calipers were originally made for the aircraft industry, and one of the few options in thousandths not metric.


Yeah, but then he says he wants the 9" capacity. Ambiguous. Anyway, I misread it. Building your own deep throat thickness caliper is a lot more practical than building your own general purpose 6" or 9" inside/outside caliper, which is how I read it---- I didn't follow the links; looks like you are right and he meant 9" depth of throat rather than 9" thickness.

I have an old Federal dial indicator. Quality stuff.

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Mike Lindstrom
PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 12:05 am 
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We used the LMI ones at school. Worked great. I slapped one together out of plywood. Works ok, but not as consistent or convenient.

Mike

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JasonMoe
PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 12:57 am 
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Location: LaCrosse WI
First name: Jason
Last Name: Moe
City: LaCrosse
State: WI
Zip/Postal Code: 54601
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Semi-pro
I have the metric stewmac one, I wish the frame was stronger. You have to hold it and the wood in the air when you test thickness. If you set it on the table, it can bend down a little if your not careful. It is very accurate, and is going to be very useful on archtops.

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LaCrosse WI 54601
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TonyFrancis
PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 4:59 am 
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Last edited by TonyFrancis on Tue Dec 10, 2013 3:14 am, edited 1 time in total.

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bluescreek
PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 5:34 am 
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Location: Central PA
First name: john
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I look at tooling from a poor mans point of view also .I have found that often cheap is not better. Tools are an investment. A cheap tool is a cost. If you feel you need to be this accurate that you need to measure the top , you need something that lives up to that accuracy.
http://shop.ebay.com/i.html?_nkw=deep+t ... m270.l1313
here is one on ebay. These are commercial units , strong and reliable .
I avoid low quality stuff from Harbor freight , as stated above Starret , mititoyo , Brown and Sharpe , they have been around a long time. I have a Starret "last word" and it can't be beat .

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Gregg C
PostPosted: Thu Apr 14, 2011 9:01 am 
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First name: Gregg
Last Name: Cuoco
City: Albuquerque
State: NM
Zip/Postal Code: 87114
Country: USA
Focus: Build
Status: Amateur
I bought the StewMac 9", worth every penny.

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