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Essential measuring tools for the home shop - Printable Version

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RE: Essential measuring tools for the home shop - EdK - 08-30-2012

What would be used to accurately measure holes that are smaller than the telescoping gauges can measure?

Ed

RE: Essential measuring tools for the home shop - DanH - 08-30-2012

Thanks for the explanation Tom.

Dan

RE: Essential measuring tools for the home shop - DanH - 08-30-2012

(08-30-2012, 03:52 PM)EdK Wrote: What would be used to accurately measure holes that are smaller than the telescoping gauges can measure?

Ed

I use pin gauges at work to measure small holes in plastic parts. Due to the draft in the holes it's tough to get an exact value but you can get pretty close (+- a thou or 2).

Dan

RE: Essential measuring tools for the home shop - EdK - 08-30-2012

(08-30-2012, 03:59 PM)DanH Wrote:
(08-30-2012, 03:52 PM)EdK Wrote: What would be used to accurately measure holes that are smaller than the telescoping gauges can measure?

Ed

I use pin gauges at work to measure small holes in plastic parts. Due to the draft in the holes it's tough to get an exact value but you can get pretty close (+- a thou or 2).

Dan

I have pin gauges and that's what I've been using and they've worked good enough for what I've done so far. I was just wondering if there is a better, maybe more accurate way of measuring smaller holes.

Thanks for the reply Dan. Smile

Ed

RE: Essential measuring tools for the home shop - doubleboost - 08-30-2012

A good 12 inch & 6 inch steel rule
A 6 inch vernia
A good 1 inch mike
I was given a set of moor &wright micrometers up to 6 inch as well as a set of internal mikes
They came from a retired machinist (he calls in now and then for a bit play)
My 1 inch mike was given to me on my 18 th birthday
It has given me nearly 40 years of trouble free service
I recently bought a 18 inch height guage this is a really usefull bit of kit.
I remember at collidge as part of a practical exam , we had to measure a cylinder bore for taper and ovality
Before we even started the teacher told us to measure the bore with a steel rule and write down 3.75 inch
That would get you a pass
He had people get it to within 2 thnths but be 1 inch out RotflRotfl
Get the big size first
John

RE: Essential measuring tools for the home shop - Highpower - 08-30-2012

(08-30-2012, 04:11 PM)EdK Wrote:
(08-30-2012, 03:59 PM)DanH Wrote:
(08-30-2012, 03:52 PM)EdK Wrote: What would be used to accurately measure holes that are smaller than the telescoping gauges can measure?

Ed

I use pin gauges at work to measure small holes in plastic parts. Due to the draft in the holes it's tough to get an exact value but you can get pretty close (+- a thou or 2).

Dan

I have pin gauges and that's what I've been using and they've worked good enough for what I've done so far. I was just wondering if there is a better, maybe more accurate way of measuring smaller holes.

Thanks for the reply Dan. Smile

Ed

I have a few sets of pin gauges but usually find myself reaching for the small hole gauges in most cases. I guess the accuracy depends on how good of a "feel" you have when measuring the hole.

Full ball:
[Image: small_hole_gage_set_full_ball_1.jpg]



Flat head:
[Image: 154-902_full.jpg]

RE: Essential measuring tools for the home shop - stevec - 08-30-2012

I rely on my small hole guages, my telescoping guages and my mics. The digital verniers, even my Mitutoyo ones are only ever used for "approximations" And "rough" work because they're fast..

RE: Essential measuring tools for the home shop - PixMan - 08-31-2012

I have the Starrett versions of those small hole gauges, both the full round set S829EZ and the half-round S830EZ, plus for larger holes the S579EZ set of telescopic with dual sliding arms. The No.579 telescopic work fine and I trust my meaurements within .001". I really don't care for the feel of the 829/830 gauges, and prefer to use gauge pins. The trouble is, I haven't bought any of those yet. ;)

[Image: IMG_0744-r.jpg]

RE: Essential measuring tools for the home shop - TomG - 08-31-2012

Since we are talking about small hole measurement AND posting pics (I love pics), I may as well point out the ultimate in small hole measurement, the dial bore gauge. This thing is like a set of small hole gauges on steroids. To use it, you select the proper head size for the hole you want to measure and calibrate it with a micrometer or a ring gauge, which is sort of like a female version of the micrometer standard. The dial is then offset so it reads zero when the bore you are measuring reaches the desired size. It will read the diameter of the hole being measured directly to .0001" and has a plus/minus .025" range.

I bought this set for a job I did a while back and due to it's cost, I don't think it would be appropriate for the hobby machine shop. As you can see, I've only used it a few times and most of the heads remain in their original wrappers. A set of small hole gauges and pin gauges will do just fine.

Tom

[Image: 004_1.JPG]

RE: Essential measuring tools for the home shop - TOM REED - 08-31-2012

Very nice set tom. What if you don't mind did they set you back? tom