OldTools Archive

Recent Bios FAQ

274808 Dan Beck <drumsandbacon@g...> 2021‑11‑21 Adjustable Knob for a Johnson Combination Square
I know this is a long shot, but I’m wondering if anyone has an adjustable knob
that fits a Johnson combination square that they’d be willing to sell me for a
couple of dollars. Mine broke and it seems like a waste to throw the whole thing
away. That being said, I can buy a new Johnson combo square for like $15 so
spending the same got just for the knob seems dumb, too.

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3339687?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3339688?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0


Also wondering what the easiest way to remove the minor rust on the ruler? 

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3339689?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

Thanks,
Dan

-- 
I'm a simple man. I like pretty dark-haired women and breakfast food.
274815 Kirk Eppler 2021‑11‑22 Re: Adjustable Knob for a Johnson Combination Square
Do you need the knob, or the bolt? Looks like the nub that rides in the
groove of the rule broke off yours.

If it’s the bolt, figure out the pitch. I have a spare somewhere.

Kirk in Half Moon Bay, CA

On Sun, Nov 21, 2021 at 11:09 AM Dan Beck  wrote:

> I know this is a long shot, but I’m wondering if anyone has an adjustable
> knob that fits a Johnson combination square that they’d be willing to sell
> me for a couple of dollars. Mine broke and it seems like a waste to throw
> the whole thing away. That being said, I can buy a new Johnson combo square
> for like $15 so spending the same got just for the knob seems dumb, too.
>
>
> https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3339687?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0
%2C0
>
>
> https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3339688?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0
%2C0
>
>
>
> --
Sent from my iPad, apologies for the Auto Correct errors. Kirk
274817 Dan Beck <drumsandbacon@g...> 2021‑11‑22 Re: Adjustable Knob for a Johnson Combination Square
Thanks for the clarification, Kirk. It’s the bolt, I guess. It’s kind of all one
piece. It is as you said “the nub that rides in the groove of the rule” that
broke.

I will figure out the pitch when I get home this evening. 

THANKS!
274818 Chris Wolf <hframe79001@g...> 2021‑11‑22 Re: Adjustable Knob for a Johnson Combination Square
I've had good results with gentle use of metal polish to remove light rust
like that.

I mostly use Wizard Metal Renew currently, but Simichrome, Wenol, and
Autosol give similar results. 

--Chris

Check out H-frame, the site for vintage Black & Decker Workmates
<https://h-frame.weebly.com/>

-----Original Message-----
From: oldtools@g... [mailto:oldtools@g...] On Behalf Of Dan Beck
Sent: Sunday, November 21, 2021 2:10 PM
To: oldtools@g...
Subject: [oldtools] Adjustable Knob for a Johnson Combination Square

...(stuff deleted)...

Also wondering what the easiest way to remove the minor rust on the ruler? 

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3339689?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2
C0%2C0
274834 Dan Beck <drumsandbacon@g...> 2021‑11‑25 Re: Adjustable Knob for a Johnson Combination Square
Sorry for the delay. The pitch of the bolt is 0.75mm or 1/32. 

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3340893?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3340892?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

Here’s some other measurements, too:

27.5”




https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3340891?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3340890?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3340889?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3340888?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3340887?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3340886?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

Thanks,
Dan


-- 
I'm a simple man. I like pretty dark-haired women and breakfast food.
274835 Dan Beck <drumsandbacon@g...> 2021‑11‑25 Re: Adjustable Knob for a Johnson Combination Square
[Edited Message Follows]

Sorry for the delay. The pitch of the bolt is 0.75mm or 1/32. 

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3340893?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3340892?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

Here’s some other measurements, too:

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3340891?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3340890?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3340889?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3340888?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3340887?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3340886?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

Thanks,
Dan


-- 
I'm a simple man. I like pretty dark-haired women and breakfast food.
274836 Erik Levin 2021‑11‑25 Re: Adjustable Knob for a Johnson Combination Square
The screw appears to be 1/4" nominal, but the threading is unclear from your
measurements. 1/4"-28 is common (fine thread), but 1/4"-32 isn't unknown.
Measuring the way you did with the caliper isn't great, as the tips of the jaws
don't match the thread form well. Try this:

Set the tips in two threads or so apart, then zero the caliper.
Open it five more threads and measure.
Divide the measurement by five to get the pitch.

If the value is 0.03125", you have 32 thread/inch.
If it is 0.0357", the threading is 28 thread/inch.

Of course, the best way is a thread gauge.

The reason to zero the unit with the tips set two or three threads apart is to
get the zero where they actually seat.
The reason for measuring five threads (or better yet, ten) is to reduce the
error that remains, due to variation in the individual threads and due to the
imperfect fit of the jaw tips, as well as get an extra digit of precision, as
the difference between 0.0313 and 0.0357 is a little ding, or a speck of dust.



*** This message was sent from a convenience email service, and the reply
address(es) may not match the originating address
274838 Dan Beck <drumsandbacon@g...> 2021‑11‑30 Re: Adjustable Knob for a Johnson Combination Square
Thank you for the info, Erik. I was able to find an old Brown & Sharpe 630
thread gauge and the bolt is (as you guessed) the common 28 thread/inch.

So, to reiterate - I am looking for a Combination Square Lock Bolt. This thing:

https://groups.io/g/oldtools/photo/270151/3345582?p=Created%2C%2C%2C20%2C2%2C0%2
C0

If anyone has one that they’d be willing to sell for a couple of bucks, please
let me know.

Thanks,
Dan 

-- 
I'm a simple man. I like pretty dark-haired women and breakfast food.
274840 Erik Levin 2021‑11‑30 Re: Adjustable Knob for a Johnson Combination Square
Dan wrote:

>I was able to find an old Brown & Sharpe 630
>thread gauge and the bolt is (as you guessed) the common 28 thread/inch.

In this case, I'd grab a few 1/4-28 bolts, hacksaw, and files. Making one of
these shouldn't take too long. (I've done this for old squares with unobtainable
odd size lock bolts a couple of times. 1/4-28 is off the shelf, reducing the
work to the reduced section and nub, rather than all features)


*** This message was sent from a convenience email service, and the reply
address(es) may not match the originating address
274920 Dan Beck <drumsandbacon@g...> 2021‑12‑09 Re: Adjustable Knob for a Johnson Combination Square
Some very generous galoot anonymously sent me the bolt I needed for my broken
combination square. I’m not sure who to thank but thankful I am! This is a
wonderful community and yet again I am blown away by the generosity.

Best,
Dan

-- 
I'm a simple man. I like pretty dark-haired women and breakfast food.

Recent Bios FAQ