[b_chandler]

I was out in the garage Saturday planning to do all the things I've been talking about doing for the last two weeks. Work travel got the better of me recently so I finally got an opportunity to get some stuff done and take some pics of the mock up/build.

I've got a Swiss made Poly (readlastic) manostat (caliper) I've been using for years. I've been too cheap to by a good dial caliper and the novelty of being able to read this thing is kinda fun. Anyway, I'm taking ring side clearance measurements and things aren't jiving. So I check my tool against my feeler gauges. Nope, they don't match. Okay now WTF?!? Which do I trust? Worn out caliper or Chinese feeler gauges.

So then I go around measuring things that I know the measurements on. Come to find out the ol' caliper is good at big measurements, but gets flaky when you start gauging up small stuff. Soooo, other than moving some stuff around to make life easier. I got nothing done on the motor. Zip, zilch, nuh-uh.

Sunday was all about honey-do's. New weatherstripping and sweeps on two of three exterior doors and I went through more caulk than a porn star. (Get it? ) trying to fight a leak around the downstairs window that sits under the upstairs fireplace/chimney.

Oh yeah, so I guess I need to buy a new caliper. I may go all fancy and get one with a dial instead of reading it like a slide rule. Still don't trust the digital ones. I'm also going to see if I can find a good quality set of feeler gauges but I doubt I'll end up with anything more than the chinese, parts store stuff. I've got a really nice Starrett dial indicator and mag base. It was spendy, even came with a wooden case. I'm about to see if I can survive the sticker shock of a Starrett caliper. Good thing I got my honey-do's done. I'm gonna need some bargaining leverage

[r1hatman]

Here you go Good luck.

Harbor Freight Tools - Quality Tools at the Lowest Prices

[TOM RENZO]

Hay chandler you will need a good setof calipers and a fiew standards. Snap on has a good pair that is good to tenths. Basically calipers are not that accurate but the digital ones are real good. Dont trust a feeler gauge use a standard. A lot of precision tool catalogs have the starrett lint. That is the only way to go or maybe mititoyo is very accurate. And affordile. Just make shure you buy standards. Peace brother. .

[b_chandler]

Was just looking at a nice 6" Mitutoyo. Starrett is kinda spendy and made in China (when did that happen?) I totally forgot about standards. DUH what else are you supposed to use to calibrate or check calibration?

Thanks Tom.

[TOM RENZO]

I did not know starrett went china??? well to be honest its been years since i bought mikes. My dad left me with all the mikes i will ever need and they are all starett. Also have hardened carbide tips. Something you may want to consider if you buy mikes. The mititoyo stuff is top shelf thats no joke. They are right ON THE money. Dead nuts. Believe it or not dad used to use solid hardened alignment pins as standards. He clamed they were + - ten thou. I upped for a good set of standards. You can get a good set of tools for like 300 with a good set of standards and have some change left over for that OUTBOARD REBUILD. A guy loke you should have good mikes. I know they will be put to good use. Peace TOM

[b_chandler]

So I bought a 6" Mitutoyo (Made in Brazil...this is not a bad thing) and the depth gauge foot.

They'll probably be here Monday but I'll be in North Augusta, SC all week. Oh well.

[TOM RENZO]

Chandler good choice thats a nice one . I have one and i love it. Cant go wrong. With mititoyo. I bought it from DILLON to measure my spent rifle cases. They are real good and very accurate.

[b_chandler]

You reload? Hunting or competitive?

[TOM RENZO]

Both and i shoot in compitition but getting old. The young guys kick my $$$. But i still compete. I am also an NRA master instructor. I love the shooting sports. We have a range about an hour or so away and i enjoy shooting very much. Just grabbed a colt diamondback 22LR 6" love it DUDE.