Tube/Ball Micrometer
- Thread starter Hawk
- Start date
I use a small drill press vise in the loading rm to hold the mic.... Use an old Panavise in the machine shop to hold them. They make little mic holders too.
The point is,not wrestling or fumbling with holding the mic in use. Put it in the holder,then case in one hand,other hand turns the thimble.
The point is,not wrestling or fumbling with holding the mic in use. Put it in the holder,then case in one hand,other hand turns the thimble.
Bret4207
At the casting bench in the sky. RIP Bret.
As long as you have a standard to set and compare to, the biggest difference I've found in cheap vs high dollar tools ( I have both) is ease of use, visibility of markings, smoothness, finish. I've used an 18" Crescent wrench as a makeshift caliper before and 2 framing squares also, the 3 foot long Harbor Fright caliper is lots easier to use and doesn't require 3 hands to use and measure. I imagine Starret makes one too, but $12.00 vs 320.00.....
Charles Graff
Moderator Emeritus
I bought a Starrett tubing micrometer about 25 years ago for $10.00 in an Odessa Texas hock shop. There was a serious downturn in the oil business and the local hock shops was flooded with precision machinest tools. I took advantage of the opportunity.
alamogunr
Member
I got one on Amazon back in October. According to my credit card record it was $43.95 incl shipping. Bought it for the same reason you are looking. It is strictly manual w/ vernier, which is all I use. Got regular mike's and calipers before I retired because they were surplus. Everyone wanted digital.
Hawk
Well-Known Member
Get my new toy and checked the work I was doing. Dial Caliper said the test neck was 11 thousands. Tube micrometer said 12.5. Close.
I played with the micrometer and you can actually tighten it to read 3 or 4 thousandths off zero with just a little pressure. I guess the post is warping.
If I use the click knob on the end (can't remember what it's called), it measures pretty close.
I played with the micrometer and you can actually tighten it to read 3 or 4 thousandths off zero with just a little pressure. I guess the post is warping.
If I use the click knob on the end (can't remember what it's called), it measures pretty close.
Alan in Vermont
New Member
I found a decent tube mike at Shars Tools. Made in the Orient but it returns to zero flawlessly and gives the same dimension at the same places on case neck every time I try it. Only complaint I have is that it has a "different" friction thimble than I have seen before. The mics I am familiar with have the friction thimble work through the knurled end of the spindle. This one has a friction sleeve around the middle part of the spindle. Bright side is that it works extremely smoothly and is sensitive enough that there is no worry about messing up that slender ball anvil.
Cost was mid-$30 range and it shipped quickly.
Cost was mid-$30 range and it shipped quickly.
Ian
Notorious member
Alan is correct, "Friction thimble" is the technical term, fwiw.
The nature of the tube mic anvils requre a very gentle touch to keep flex from affecting the measurement. Practice measuring shim stock or other flat, precision object to get the required finesse committed the synapses.
The nature of the tube mic anvils requre a very gentle touch to keep flex from affecting the measurement. Practice measuring shim stock or other flat, precision object to get the required finesse committed the synapses.
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smokeywolf
Well-Known Member
There's two different styles of thimbles; "ratchet" and "friction".
I don't see the feature( ratchet/friction) for newbies at all Hawk,think more like leveling the playing field between users..... shift work would be an example.
Not gonna even get close to stepping up on a "soapbox" but...... when you enter the "tenths" door(.0001),everything matters.
Not gonna even get close to stepping up on a "soapbox" but...... when you enter the "tenths" door(.0001),everything matters.