Metrology items from Craiglist

[PixMan]

I often go to the local Craigslist looking for deals on machinist tools. That usually means metrology tools such as micrometers, calipers and the like.

Today I got two sets of gauge pins, the "inch" size in the "minus" tolerance range. This means nominal to -0.0002" size. The sets are 0.060" to 0.250" and 0.251" to 0.500". Between the two sets of these Chinese made ones there's about 14 pins missing, so I talked the guy down to $40 from his asking price of $70. A good many of the pins in the 0.251"-0.500" set still have the original anti-rust protective wrap on them.

He also had screw thread plug gauges, so I got #8-32UNC 2B, #10-32UNF 2B, 1/4-20UNC 2B and 3/8-16UNC2B go/no-go gauges, plus 1/8-27 NPT and 1/4-14 NPT gauges. $60 for those wasn't as good of a deal but the pipe thread gauges alone are worth it because they're rather hard to find on the used market and always in good condition (as these are.)





Not a bad haul for $100. Having quit the cigars, I can restart with some long overdue tool acquisitions.

[EdK]

Nice score Ken.

Ed

[PixMan]

Thanks Ed. I'm already searching for sources for the missing pins, but won't buy any until I have the complete inventory of what's there and not there.

It occurred to me when I was inspecting the lot that I need to make sure the ones I do have are in the holes as they are marked, and no duplicates. Once I get that inventoried, I'll make the sets complete as that's the way I roll. I've got the Starrett Small Hole gauges, but pins are just plain more accurate to verify size.

[Mayhem]

A much more sound investment of your money than cigars!

[PixMan]

I agree Darren. It's best that I divert funds from a rather unhealthy habit to one that can be more disastrous on the budget but at least I'll live to suffer the consequences.



So I was wondering: What do sets of metric gauge pins use for increments and set ranges?

[Mayhem]

(02-01-2015, 09:19 AM)PixMan Wrote: ...So I was wondering: What do sets of metric gauge pins use for increments and set ranges?

I have absolutely no idea.  It's not something I have looked into.

[EdK]

(02-01-2015, 09:19 AM)PixMan Wrote: ...

So I was wondering: What do sets of metric gauge pins use for increments and set ranges?

Meyer Gage says this about their CLASS Z METRIC GAGE SETS "All sets in .02mm increments".

Ed

[EdK]

This ebay seller has individual pin gages. He has 17,420 sales with 100% positive feedback. They're the Vermont brand so should be of good quality.

http://www.ebay.com/sch/m.html?_odkw=&_s...acat=11804

Ed

[PixMan]

Thanks Ed.

I got curious about their pricing and went to Vermont Gage's website. I can probably do better buying direct from them because I'll need about 14 of them. At $2.25 each in the 0.061" to 0.500" range (right where these two sets are), I can get all I need for about $40. shipped.

I know it wouldn't have cost much more than that to buy either set new, but I'm still going to be under what the total cost for the two sets shipped to me would have been. And I'll have at least 14 of them which are higher quality.



http://www.vermontgage.com/Newprices/ZZPins/index.html

[EdK]

Oops! My bad.

I didn't realize Vermont Gage sold direct on their web site. I think one of my sets ended up with two of the same pin size so I'm missing one. I'll have to go see which one I need to get and order one from them. Thanks for posting that.

Ed