Ever since I read a few weeks ago about building a router sled, I thought
that a caliper (digital?) might be a useful tool to have around. For
instance, in the article I read, they used a caliper to measure the distance
between steel rods emanating from the router base.
In looking at them online, I've noticed quite a range. Some are over $100.
Inexpensive stainless-steel ones are available for about $14.00. HB has a
different one on sale this week for $9.99. Junk? Accurate enough for
woodworking? At this point I don't even have a workspace, but I have been
collecting a few tools. I can imagine using such a tool also to help
measure the width of a guitar neck that I intend to carve (rasp). Seems
like it might be useful to calculate a nut's size too, so that you would
choose the right wrench or socket the first time.
Please educate me a little...what do you think? Do the "old fashioned"
plain metal calipers, the ones that look sort of like a compass used for
circle-drawing, have any advantages? I think in high school I used one of
those and then held it up to a ruler (for some turning work).
Thanks
Bill
Bill wrote:
> Ever since I read a few weeks ago about building a router sled, I thought
> that a caliper (digital?) might be a useful tool to have around. For
> instance, in the article I read, they used a caliper to measure the distance
> between steel rods emanating from the router base.
>
> In looking at them online, I've noticed quite a range. Some are over $100.
> Inexpensive stainless-steel ones are available for about $14.00. HB has a
> different one on sale this week for $9.99. Junk? Accurate enough for
> woodworking?
Likely accurate enough for woodworking.
I bought the Lee Valley digital calipers. Some of the things I've used
them for:
--checking mortise depth (combination square also works)
--checking drill hole depths (hard to fit a combo square in there)
--checking tenons to make sure they're the same width and thickness at
various points (big bed frame members, awkward to test-fit)
--checking plywood thickness to set up dado stack with fewer test cuts
--checking plane shaving thicknesses (for bragging rights)
Chris
Bill wrote:
> Ever since I read a few weeks ago about building a router sled, I
thought
> that a caliper (digital?) might be a useful tool to have around.
For
> instance, in the article I read, they used a caliper to measure the
distance
> between steel rods emanating from the router base.
>
> In looking at them online, I've noticed quite a range. Some are
over $100.
> Inexpensive stainless-steel ones are available for about $14.00.
HB has a
> different one on sale this week for $9.99. Junk? Accurate enough
for
> woodworking?
IMHO, an accurate dial caliper is a bit of overkill for wood working
where +/- 1/64 (0.015) is good enough for most work.
Having said that, I have a Chinese wonder, $20, 6" dial caliper that
gets a lot of use measuring things like drill bits, screws, etc, to
confirm size.
Lew
HF has a coupon this week for their 6" digital steel caliper. A great buy
IMO.
http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47257
On the web it's 15.99, but they sent out a coupon for 9.99.
I think I have the same one.. and it's plenty accurate enough for all ww
tasks.
For $10 I'd get one. In fact I may get another
"Bill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Ever since I read a few weeks ago about building a router sled, I thought
> that a caliper (digital?) might be a useful tool to have around. For
> instance, in the article I read, they used a caliper to measure the
> distance between steel rods emanating from the router base.
>
> In looking at them online, I've noticed quite a range. Some are over
> $100. Inexpensive stainless-steel ones are available for about $14.00.
> HB has a different one on sale this week for $9.99. Junk? Accurate
> enough for woodworking? At this point I don't even have a workspace, but
> I have been collecting a few tools. I can imagine using such a tool also
> to help measure the width of a guitar neck that I intend to carve (rasp).
> Seems like it might be useful to calculate a nut's size too, so that you
> would choose the right wrench or socket the first time.
>
> Please educate me a little...what do you think? Do the "old fashioned"
> plain metal calipers, the ones that look sort of like a compass used for
> circle-drawing, have any advantages? I think in high school I used one of
> those and then held it up to a ruler (for some turning work).
>
> Thanks
> Bill
>
I'm going tomorrow.. I'll have a look. Honestly, though, I don't do enough
of that to warrant any credibility on it's value.
A coworker put me onto the calipers. Seems like mostly stainless.. the jaws
seem to close flat.. and repeat measures come out consistently.
"Bill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Kevin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
> news:[email protected]...
>> HF has a coupon this week for their 6" digital steel caliper. A great
>> buy IMO.
>> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47257
>>
>> On the web it's 15.99, but they sent out a coupon for 9.99.
>>
>
> I picked one up today and am very impressed with the apparent quality. I
> feel like I got a bargain.
>
> While I was there I noticed they had a "marking gauge" (for marking
> mortises and such) for $11.99. I wasn't sure whether that was a bargain
> or not. What do you think?
>
> Bill
>
Go with the HF one, other places sell the same on for 30.00 plus, all the do
is add some nice stickers. Accuracy is plus/minus 0.01mm/0.0005". More
accuracy than you will ever need.
Jim Simmons
"Bill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Ever since I read a few weeks ago about building a router sled, I thought
> that a caliper (digital?) might be a useful tool to have around. For
> instance, in the article I read, they used a caliper to measure the
> distance between steel rods emanating from the router base.
>
> In looking at them online, I've noticed quite a range. Some are over
> $100. Inexpensive stainless-steel ones are available for about $14.00.
> HB has a different one on sale this week for $9.99. Junk? Accurate
> enough for woodworking? At this point I don't even have a workspace, but
> I have been collecting a few tools. I can imagine using such a tool also
> to help measure the width of a guitar neck that I intend to carve (rasp).
> Seems like it might be useful to calculate a nut's size too, so that you
> would choose the right wrench or socket the first time.
>
> Please educate me a little...what do you think? Do the "old fashioned"
> plain metal calipers, the ones that look sort of like a compass used for
> circle-drawing, have any advantages? I think in high school I used one of
> those and then held it up to a ruler (for some turning work).
>
> Thanks
> Bill
>
"Bill" <[email protected]> wrote in
news:[email protected]:
>
> Ever since I read a few weeks ago about building a router sled, I
> thought that a caliper (digital?) might be a useful tool to have
> around. For instance, in the article I read, they used a caliper to
> measure the distance between steel rods emanating from the router
> base.
>
> In looking at them online, I've noticed quite a range. Some are over
> $100. Inexpensive stainless-steel ones are available for about $14.00.
> HB has a different one on sale this week for $9.99. Junk? Accurate
> enough for woodworking? At this point I don't even have a workspace,
> but I have been collecting a few tools. I can imagine using such a
> tool also to help measure the width of a guitar neck that I intend to
> carve (rasp). Seems like it might be useful to calculate a nut's
> size too, so that you would choose the right wrench or socket the
> first time.
>
> Please educate me a little...what do you think? Do the "old
> fashioned" plain metal calipers, the ones that look sort of like a
> compass used for circle-drawing, have any advantages? I think in high
> school I used one of those and then held it up to a ruler (for some
> turning work).
>
> Thanks
> Bill
>
>
My calipers ran about $10 from Menards. They're Vernier calipers and I
find them useful for measuring here and there. What's really useful is
the ability to take an inside measurement, lock the calipers, then verify
that something I'm working on will fit.
I almost never use them in my straight woodworking projects. The
tolerances and sizes are more flexible and larger than the calipers.
Puckdropper
--
Marching to the beat of a different drum is great... unless you're in
marching band.
To email me directly, send a message to puckdropper (at) fastmail.fm
On Jan 16, 10:14=A0am, "Lew Hodgett" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Bill wrote:
> > Ever since I read a few weeks ago about building a router sled, I
> thought
> > that a caliper (digital?) might be a useful tool to have around.
> IMHO, an accurate dial caliper is a bit of overkill for wood working
> where +/- 1/64 (0.015) is good enough for most work.
It's a good investment, though, for those jobs (aligning
tools, building jigs) that can benefit. I got a 12" caliper
for woodwork use and don't regret the expense (about $40).
My last bookcases were fitted with sliding half-dovetail
joints, and I used feeler gages to set my jigs to accuracy
of +/- .003". After assembling the shelves, they stand
up fine and don't rack at all, with no fasteners or even
a back. It's all tight joints held by friction.
On the other hand, a second shelf set with the same jigs
made four days later was a botch. The wood in the jigs
had time to shrink.
"Leon" wrote in message
>
> "Swingman" wrote in message
>
> >
> > "Leon" wrote
> >
> >> metric stainless steel caliper. The longer I have it the more I use
it.
> > I
> >> thought I would never use the metric mode but it comes in real handy
when
> >> using my Festool Domino. I pretty much use it daily.
> >
> > Have you seen all those "jigs" for the Domino in the latest Woodhaven
> > catalog?
>
>
> Geez no! soooo, it went to the site just now and only see the Domino Kit
> 966D which is a version similar to what I already have. Are there more
in
> the catalog? Would that be the Fall 2007 catalog?
It may have been the Fall, although I think I just got in December 07.
Looks like they may have modified one of their multiple part, "biscuit
cutter" jigs for the Domino. IIRC, all the paraphernalia for the Domino took
up a couple of pages.
I'll see if I still have it and save it for you.
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/14/07
KarlC@ (the obvious)
"Leon" wrote
> metric stainless steel caliper. The longer I have it the more I use it.
I
> thought I would never use the metric mode but it comes in real handy when
> using my Festool Domino. I pretty much use it daily.
Have you seen all those "jigs" for the Domino in the latest Woodhaven
catalog?
--
www.e-woodshop.net
Last update: 12/14/07
KarlC@ (the obvious)
Bill wrote:
> Ever since I read a few weeks ago about building a router sled, I thought
> that a caliper (digital?) might be a useful tool to have around. For
> instance, in the article I read, they used a caliper to measure the distance
> between steel rods emanating from the router base.
>
> In looking at them online, I've noticed quite a range. Some are over $100.
> Inexpensive stainless-steel ones are available for about $14.00. HB has a
> different one on sale this week for $9.99. Junk? Accurate enough for
> woodworking?
I have two dial calipers left over from a previous life. One is a
stainless steel version that reads in fractions, the other is a 6"
Starrett. They usually gather dust, as the more woodworking I do, the
more ways I find to direct mark without measuring at all.
The most useful caliper in my shop is this:
<http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/11869>
I can carry it in the apron, and measure inside and outside with plenty
of accuracy.
As a newbie, there's going to be plenty to spend money on that's much
more useful than a dial caliper.
Wed, Jan 16, 2008, 7:07am [email protected] (B=A0A=A0R=A0R=A0Y)
doth sayeth:
<snip> The most useful caliper in my shop is this:
<http://www.hartvilletool.com/product/11869> <snip>
Yep. Except mine's a el cheapo plastic model.
JOAT
10 Out Of 10 Terrorists Prefer Hillary For President
- Bumper Sticker
I don't have a problem with a woman president - just not Hillary.
"Kevin" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> HF has a coupon this week for their 6" digital steel caliper. A great buy
> IMO.
> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47257
>
> On the web it's 15.99, but they sent out a coupon for 9.99.
>
I picked one up today and am very impressed with the apparent quality. I
feel like I got a bargain.
While I was there I noticed they had a "marking gauge" (for marking mortises
and such) for $11.99. I wasn't sure whether that was a bargain or not.
What do you think?
Bill
On Jan 15, 10:40=A0pm, "Bill" <[email protected]> wrote:
> Ever since I read a few weeks ago about building a router sled, I thought
> that a caliper (digital?) might be a useful tool to have around. =A0 For
> instance, in the article I read, they used a caliper to measure the distan=
ce
> between steel rods emanating from the router base.
>
> In looking at them online, I've noticed quite a range. =A0Some are over $1=
00.
> Inexpensive stainless-steel ones are available for about $14.00. =A0 HB ha=
s a
> different one on sale this week for $9.99. =A0Junk? =A0Accurate enough for=
> woodworking? =A0At this point I don't even have a workspace, but I have be=
en
> collecting a few tools. =A0I can imagine using such a tool also to help
> measure the width of a guitar neck that I intend to carve (rasp). =A0 Seem=
s
> like it might be useful to calculate a nut's size too, so that you would
> choose the right wrench or socket the first time.
>
> Please educate me a little...what do you think? =A0Do the "old fashioned"
> plain metal calipers, the ones that look sort of like a compass used for
> circle-drawing, have any advantages? =A0I think in high school I used one =
of
> those and then held it up to a ruler (for some turning work).
>
> Thanks
> Bill
I use my rusty vernier caliper every now and then. Sometimes for an
actual real measurement but usually just to get a rough idea of what
the size is. Or to use it as a gauge. If the vernier measures X and
I try to slip it over something and it doesn't fit, then its not X and
needs to be planed, ground a bit more. Most of the stuff I do,
particularly woodworking, doesn't require an exact .32685"
measurement. Does it really matter if a table top is .75" or .74" or .
76" thick if your plan/design calls for a 3/4" thick table top? Just
make sure all the boards are the same thickness when you are done. I
do advise getting stainless rulers or calipers since my non stainless
ones seem to have acquired a patina of rust over the years.
"Bill" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> Ever since I read a few weeks ago about building a router sled, I thought
> that a caliper (digital?) might be a useful tool to have around. For
> instance, in the article I read, they used a caliper to measure the
> distance between steel rods emanating from the router base.
>
> In looking at them online, I've noticed quite a range. Some are over
> $100. Inexpensive stainless-steel ones are available for about $14.00.
> HB has a different one on sale this week for $9.99. Junk? Accurate
> enough for woodworking? At this point I don't even have a workspace, but
> I have been collecting a few tools. I can imagine using such a tool also
> to help measure the width of a guitar neck that I intend to carve (rasp).
> Seems like it might be useful to calculate a nut's size too, so that you
> would choose the right wrench or socket the first time.
>
> Please educate me a little...what do you think? Do the "old fashioned"
> plain metal calipers, the ones that look sort of like a compass used for
> circle-drawing, have any advantages? I think in high school I used one of
> those and then held it up to a ruler (for some turning work).
>
> Thanks
> Bill
I have used the plain slide caliper, a cheap dial caliper, a more expensive
stainless steel dial caliper that measured in 64th's and several months ago
I bought a Lee Valley digital display to .0005", fraction to 1/128, and
metric stainless steel caliper. The longer I have it the more I use it. I
thought I would never use the metric mode but it comes in real handy when
using my Festool Domino. I pretty much use it daily. I bought it at the
introductory price of $29.99, IIRC it is now about $40.
"Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
> Looks like they may have modified one of their multiple part, "biscuit
> cutter" jigs for the Domino. IIRC, all the paraphernalia for the Domino
> took
> up a couple of pages.
>
> I'll see if I still have it and save it for you.
I'd appreciate that.
>
> --
> www.e-woodshop.net
> Last update: 12/14/07
> KarlC@ (the obvious)
>
>
"Kevin" <[email protected]> writes:
> HF has a coupon this week for their 6" digital steel caliper. A great buy
> IMO.
> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47257
>
> On the web it's 15.99, but they sent out a coupon for 9.99.
>
> I think I have the same one.. and it's plenty accurate enough for all ww
> tasks.
>
> For $10 I'd get one. In fact I may get another
>
I have had the same one for about 2 years. It works well for me and
even if it is not accurate to 0.001" as claimed -- even if it is 10
times less acurate -- it is still good enough for me.
I often use it for measuring screw and drill bit diameters.
I have not been as pleased with the even cheaper all-plastic
version. I belive it has resolution down to only .01" which is a lot
when ur measuring drill bits in 64ths.
"Kevin" <[email protected]> writes:
> HF has a coupon this week for their 6" digital steel caliper. A great buy
> IMO.
> http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=47257
>
> On the web it's 15.99, but they sent out a coupon for 9.99.
>
> I think I have the same one.. and it's plenty accurate enough for all ww
> tasks.
>
> For $10 I'd get one. In fact I may get another
What is the coupon code? Usually with HF if you know the magic 3
alphanumeric final characters then you get the right price
Bill said:
>....
>Please educate me a little...what do you think? Do the "old fashioned"
>plain metal calipers, the ones that look sort of like a compass used for
>circle-drawing, have any advantages? I think in high school I used one of
>those and then held it up to a ruler (for some turning work).
Well, the term caliper covers a variety of tools. Some used for
comparison and others for actual measurements. For woodturning, I use
the type of caliper you mention above. Doesn't measure, but is useful
for comparison purposes - especially since the jaws are deeper than
standard 6" measuring calipers.
I also bought a Hempe nylon dial caliper years ago for $7. It turned
out to be very useful for measuring stock thickness, depth of drilled
holes and mortises, drill and bolt diameters, etc. Measures ID and OD.
I began making segmented woodturnings, where absolute precision is
mandatory, and bought one of these for $30:
http://www.highlandwoodworking.com/index.asp?PageAction=VIEWPROD&ProdID=1047
Major markings in English Fractions to 1/64", and the inner scale is
marked in hundredths/decimals. I use it a lot, but I'm anal...
I've got machinist's micrometer calipers, but they are of no real use
in woodworking. .0005" accuracy is moot when the wood swells and
contracts with seasonal moisture changes more that .004".
FWIW,
Greg G.
"Swingman" <[email protected]> wrote in message
news:[email protected]...
>
> "Leon" wrote
>
>> metric stainless steel caliper. The longer I have it the more I use it.
> I
>> thought I would never use the metric mode but it comes in real handy when
>> using my Festool Domino. I pretty much use it daily.
>
> Have you seen all those "jigs" for the Domino in the latest Woodhaven
> catalog?
Geez no! soooo, it went to the site just now and only see the Domino Kit
966D which is a version similar to what I already have. Are there more in
the catalog? Would that be the Fall 2007 catalog?