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Re: In the spirit of Whitworth - What measuring tools do you
Posted: Tue Sep 06, 2011 11:01 pm
by Alpha1
Micrometer and caliper arrived today, seem like good pieces of kit. They both check out against my vernier micrometer and caliper which is reassuring.
The only thing is there is no on/off switch on them.
Did you order the model I suggested mine has an on off switch.
I have had mine for at least three years and I am still on the original battery.
I also checked out bore gauges to day you can get them that will measure the whole of the internal barrel length but they are stupidly expensive.
Re: In the spirit of Whitworth - What measuring tools do you
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 1:33 am
by ShootingSight
ovenpaa wrote:The problem with using a calliper to measure bore wear is when the rifle has odd numbers of grooves unless it is a smooth bore, a better alternative is a set of pin gauges which are bars ground in increments, I assume you would be need from .200" to .500" which bridges two sets so it is worth looking around. Do not be put off by cheap sets as you have an incredibly accurate digital vernier coming with which to check them with.
The most amazing hardware store on line I have ever run across is McMaster-Carr (
www.mcmaster.com). They sell
individual pin gages for about $2 each, and you can get them in something like 0.0001" increments. So, if you are likely to measure bores, rather than buying a complete set from .200 to .500 in 0.001" increments, you are probably better off buying inidividual pins that are all right around what you plan to measure (ie a set that spans 0.29 to 0.31 for 20 pns x $2 = $40 to measure 30 cal type stuff).
Not sure if they ship to England, but if they don't, let me know and I would be delighted to help make that work.
BTW, I bought my Mitutoyo 150mm calipers from them for about $125 which, if I recall the ecxhnge rate, isn't a bad price, and I think they rule the world. I don't love that the Japanese are doing things better than we used to, but when they are that good and that cheap, you have to admit it (this from someone who stubbornly insists on keeping his old Lotus Europa in storage, rather than scrapping it, because 'if it ran correctly, it would be fun to drive'. bo...cks, it will never run correctly, it's a freaking Lotus, and it has a French engine in it, to boot). Excuse me, did I just type that, or were my fingers just twitching while I was thinking?
Art
Re: In the spirit of Whitworth - What measuring tools do you
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 5:39 am
by R.G.C
ShootingSight wrote:ovenpaa wrote:The problem with using a calliper to measure bore wear is when the rifle has odd numbers of grooves unless it is a smooth bore, a better alternative is a set of pin gauges which are bars ground in increments, I assume you would be need from .200" to .500" which bridges two sets so it is worth looking around. Do not be put off by cheap sets as you have an incredibly accurate digital vernier coming with which to check them with.
The most amazing hardware store on line I have ever run across is McMaster-Carr (
http://www.mcmaster.com). They sell
individual pin gages for about $2 each, and you can get them in something like 0.0001" increments. So, if you are likely to measure bores, rather than buying a complete set from .200 to .500 in 0.001" increments, you are probably better off buying inidividual pins that are all right around what you plan to measure (ie a set that spans 0.29 to 0.31 for 20 pns x $2 = $40 to measure 30 cal type stuff).
Not sure if they ship to England, but if they don't, let me know and I would be delighted to help make that work.
BTW, I bought my Mitutoyo 150mm calipers from them for about $125 which, if I recall the ecxhnge rate, isn't a bad price, and I think they rule the world. I don't love that the Japanese are doing things better than we used to, but when they are that good and that cheap, you have to admit it (this from someone who stubbornly insists on keeping his old Lotus Europa in storage, rather than scrapping it, because 'if it ran correctly, it would be fun to drive'. bo...cks, it will never run correctly, it's a freaking Lotus, and it has a French engine in it, to boot). Excuse me, did I just type that, or were my fingers just twitching while I was thinking?
Art
Arthur,
What do you have against the french engines??.LOL
We can preserve old cars here, and keep them running (in UK as well)
R.G.C
Re: In the spirit of Whitworth - What measuring tools do you
Posted: Wed Sep 07, 2011 4:45 pm
by ovenpaa
ShootingSight wrote:BTW, I bought my Mitutoyo 150mm calipers from them for about $125 which, if I recall the ecxhnge rate, isn't a bad price, and I think they rule the world. I don't love that the Japanese are doing things better than we used to, but when they are that good and that cheap, you have to admit it (this from someone who stubbornly insists on keeping his old Lotus Europa in storage, rather than scrapping it, because 'if it ran correctly, it would be fun to drive'. bo...cks, it will never run correctly, it's a freaking Lotus, and it has a French engine in it, to boot). Excuse me, did I just type that, or were my fingers just twitching while I was thinking?
A Europa? Wow, they barely ran over here so quite how it managed to get to the USofA and be sold is beyond me, they are huge fun downhill, with the engine off, or out, so smooth...
I am yet to meet a Europa owner that has a radio in his car, something to do with need to hear the engine at all times. Equally a friend had one and never serviced it, instead he just added oil when it dropped off the bottom of the dip stick. He drove it like he stole it as well. Considering it was a fibre glass body I was amazed at the weight and the suspension was of a Herald from memory despite him always blathering on about uneven wishbones etc.
Got any pictures of it?

Re: In the spirit of Whitworth - What measuring tools do you
Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 11:47 am
by dromia
Alpha1 wrote:Micrometer and caliper arrived today, seem like good pieces of kit. They both check out against my vernier micrometer and caliper which is reassuring.
The only thing is there is no on/off switch on them.
Did you order the model I suggested mine has an on off switch.
I have had mine for at least three years and I am still on the original battery.
I also checked out bore gauges to day you can get them that will measure the whole of the internal barrel length but they are stupidly expensive.
Dave the on/off switch is on the pricier £200 plus models no my cheapo (?) (£120) ones. :(
For me groove diameter is as important a measurement as bore, a measured boolit/bullet will get me near enough bore but not groove.
Re: In the spirit of Whitworth - What measuring tools do you
Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:17 pm
by Alpha1
Dave the on/off switch is on the pricier £200 plus models no my cheapo (?) (£120) ones.
Oh right didnt realize they were that pricey I get mine supplied by the company.
Re: In the spirit of Whitworth - What measuring tools do you
Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:19 pm
by ovenpaa
You can go off people y'know!

Re: In the spirit of Whitworth - What measuring tools do you
Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:21 pm
by Alpha1
LOL.

Re: In the spirit of Whitworth - What measuring tools do you
Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:23 pm
by ovenpaa
I must admit to getting some of my measuring equipment and indexable tools etc from my Brother, last time he turned up in his van I was like a school kid at an ice cream van

Re: In the spirit of Whitworth - What measuring tools do you
Posted: Wed Sep 14, 2011 7:32 pm
by Alpha1
Dont want to upset you or any thing but when in our work shop yesterday I had a walk around to see how many sets I could see laid about on the bench tops I counted at least six.