OldTools Archive

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262498 Ed Minch <ruby1638@a...> 2017‑06‑18 Calipers
I found an intersting caliper in the accumulation:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ruby1638/35341445546/in/album-72157685104211466/

Ed Minch
262499 William Ghio <bghio@m...> 2017‑06‑19 Re: Calipers
> On Jun 18, 2017, at 8:51 AM, Ed Minch  wrote:
> 
> I found an intersting caliper in the accumulation:
> 
> https://www.flickr.com/photos/ruby1638/35341445546/in/album-72157685104211466/

Yep, love them. Have a handful next to the lathe and the layout dividers at the
bench too. They usually don’t cost any more than the garden variety, but now
that you have spilled the beans the prices will probably skyrocket.

Bill
262517 Michael Parrish <michaelparrish@o...> 2017‑06‑21 Re: Calipers
Is there any functional difference between the round and flat leg style 
calipers?

Michael
262518 John Ruth <johnrruth@h...> 2017‑06‑21 Re: Calipers
Michael,


For me, the difference comes at the end of the job when you go to wipe down the
dividers to put them away. The round-leg style cleans up just a little bit
easier.


Starrett calls, or used to call, the higher-priced round-leg models "Toolmaker's
Calipers," to distinguish them from those made for mere mortal machinists.
Perhaps they are easier on the fingers if you wield them all day.


John Ruth

________________________________
From: OldTools  on behalf of Michael Parrish

Sent: Wednesday, June 21, 2017 10:33:17 AM
To: OldTools List
Subject: Re: [OldTools] Calipers

Is there any functional difference between the round and flat leg style
calipers?

Michael
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262521 Thomas Conroy 2017‑06‑21 Re: Calipers
Ed Minch wrote:
I found an intersting caliper in the accumulation:

https://www.flickr.com/photos/ruby1638/35341445546/in/album-72157685104211466/


Speed nut. I believe they have been a no-cost-difference option on all Starrett
spring dividers and calipers for over a century. I've also seen English dividers
with the same design. I'm surprised that you only have the one; I'd guess that
half of my dividers have speed nuts. I too love them, they really do make
readjusting the dividers faster and easier than the simple nuts. On the other
hand, I have at least friend I respect who hates them, and says that they never
hold. I think, though, that she has never figured out how they work and doesn't
close the speed nuts properly before starting to turn them. Myself, I see no
advantage to the plain form.
Tom Conroy
Berkeley
262524 Thomas Conroy 2017‑06‑21 Re: Calipers
Michael Parrish asked:

"Is there any functional difference between the round and flat leg style 
calipers?"

The screw thread of the round-leg ones is finer than that of the Fay and Yankee.
It makes them distinctly slower in use. That's why I prefer the Fay (the square-
legged ones where the screw goes through the leg). I don't need the extra
precision of the finer screw.

Tom Conroy

Recent Bios FAQ