Author Topic: Measurement Tools  (Read 4874 times)

Kelley W King

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Measurement Tools
« on: July 05, 2018, 11:28:00 AM »
Has anyone tried the calipers from Harbor Freight? I would use one very little but the price is right. I would just use it for general things, not engine clearances or things like that. I have their temp laser and it works great and one of the magazine tests rated it very well. Just trying to do better than a cresent wrench and steel ruler.
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ko-lek-tor

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Re: Measurement Tools
« Reply #1 on: July 05, 2018, 11:56:10 AM »
It will be fine. Buy it.
Bentley to friends :1969 SS/RS 396 owned 79
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Kelley W King

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Re: Measurement Tools
« Reply #2 on: July 05, 2018, 12:02:56 PM »
Thanks Bentley. Trying to measure some pins on my 69 SS Dover white backhoe.
69 Z28 RS Scuncio Hi Performance
69 SS L78
67 SS Chevelle
64 Corvette
66 GTO Tiger Gold
77 Trans Am Special Edition

z28z11

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Re: Measurement Tools
« Reply #3 on: July 05, 2018, 01:48:55 PM »
As bad a critic as I am about Chinese sourced tools, they'll work for what you need them to do. I bought a digital micrometer from my local store (in a pinch to accurately measure drill diameters down to the micron), and they worked as I hoped they would. Amazing results for $35.00 - but I still prefer a good Starrett or B&S if I can find a pre-owned one.

Regards,
Steve
1968 Z28 M21/U17 BRG/W 1967 Chevy ll Nova SS 
1969 Z28 X77/M20/VE3 LeMans/W
1969 L78 X66/N66 Cortez/BVT
1969 Z11 L48/M35/C60/C06  1949 3100 5wd 235/6

Stingr69

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Re: Measurement Tools
« Reply #4 on: July 05, 2018, 05:43:33 PM »
I have one and use it a lot.  No regrets. It is not digital, just old school with mechanical dial.

Have a dial indicator and magnetic base from them too.  Good for degreeing cams and such.

69Z28-RS

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Re: Measurement Tools
« Reply #5 on: July 06, 2018, 03:16:40 AM »
As bad a critic as I am about Chinese sourced tools, they'll work for what you need them to do. I bought a digital micrometer from my local store (in a pinch to accurately measure drill diameters down to the micron), and they worked as I hoped they would. Amazing results for $35.00 - but I still prefer a good Starrett or B&S if I can find a pre-owned one.

Regards,
Steve

Steve,  I trust you don't really believe the tool  you purchased is accurate to 1 micron???   :)     There are 25.4 microns in 1/1000 of an inch...  :)
ie.  1 micron would be 0.00004"
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z28z11

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Re: Measurement Tools
« Reply #6 on: July 07, 2018, 03:04:31 AM »
Gary,

Tolerance on these particular drills is an .008mm total h6 or k6 class, h6 is + 0.00/-.008mm (minus tolerance), k6 is +0.001/=0.009mm (plus tolerance). Target drill diameters are usually 3.968mm or 3.920mm h6 or k6. Yep, my company can grind them to these tolerances, and hold them. I get inspection reports with every order, unless one gets mis-placed (which is why I had to check them). It's a little tedious, but you get the hang of finding the high points of the margins after a bit. Don't get me wrong, a laser mic is way more reliable than me checking by hand -

Thanks,
Steve
1968 Z28 M21/U17 BRG/W 1967 Chevy ll Nova SS 
1969 Z28 X77/M20/VE3 LeMans/W
1969 L78 X66/N66 Cortez/BVT
1969 Z11 L48/M35/C60/C06  1949 3100 5wd 235/6

m22mike

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Re: Measurement Tools
« Reply #7 on: August 08, 2018, 12:39:42 AM »
There are lots of good used ones on eBay , starret or brown and sharp for a couple .
JMO

Mike
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bcmiller

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Re: Measurement Tools
« Reply #8 on: August 08, 2018, 02:24:56 AM »
I have two of the cheap digital calipers that I take to swap meets (they work good) - and one good set of Starrett micrometers for very fine measuring.
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

z28z11

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Re: Measurement Tools
« Reply #9 on: August 08, 2018, 03:32:45 AM »
I sold Starrett, Brown and Sharpe, Mitutoyo, Fowler and others for years, I can remember the first digital caliper I ever saw (believe it was a B&S), cost was unreal. Now you can buy the cheap versions for $15.00 on sale, and they work for what you need them to do. Break 'em or lose 'em, go buy another.

Mike's right, surf eBay and pick up the great older tools for a fraction of what they sold for, and treasure them. Use the cheap ones for field work -

Regards,
Steve
1968 Z28 M21/U17 BRG/W 1967 Chevy ll Nova SS 
1969 Z28 X77/M20/VE3 LeMans/W
1969 L78 X66/N66 Cortez/BVT
1969 Z11 L48/M35/C60/C06  1949 3100 5wd 235/6

bcmiller

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Re: Measurement Tools
« Reply #10 on: August 08, 2018, 04:04:47 AM »
Steve, which brand or brands were usually the best?
Bryon / 1968 Camaro SS 396 coupe - now old school 468 big block
1967 Camaro RS/SS 396 coupe L35/M40 - 4 generation family project
Looking for 68 Camaro with body # NOR 181016

z28z11

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Re: Measurement Tools
« Reply #11 on: August 09, 2018, 12:12:29 AM »
People were usually split, depending on what they were exposed to early on. Both Starrett and B&S were first choice for most toolmakers and tool and die guys, maybe leaning towards B&S in the earlier days for me. I remember being horrified to see "Made in Japan" on Mitutoyo tools when they were first introduced (to me), but the quality sold a lot of people on the line.
Boiled down to personal preference -

Regards,
Steve
1968 Z28 M21/U17 BRG/W 1967 Chevy ll Nova SS 
1969 Z28 X77/M20/VE3 LeMans/W
1969 L78 X66/N66 Cortez/BVT
1969 Z11 L48/M35/C60/C06  1949 3100 5wd 235/6

 

anything