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Post by wisconsinjoe on Sept 18, 2020 8:52:06 GMT -8
Okay, maybe my previous post was kind of expensive. Here's one that should be about $15. Its brand name is KAPRO and what makes it different is that the stainless steel ruler is held in by a strong magnet, not an annoyingly difficult to adjust thumb screw.  20200912_135924 by Joe Mirenna, on Flickr This is the one tool I touch most on any given day. I don't count pencils because somehow I lose the darn things constantly. The beauty is that you can easily move the blade to any spot, yet it is held securely with a strong magnet. I use it to accurately measure thicknesses. When I want to lay out a short line more accurately than my tape measure, I just pull the blade out to have a nice flat ruler. Often I want to scribe a line along a flat surface, say to mark a center line for screw holes. I just set the blade out close to my mark, adjust with a push, and then scribe away. When I found these several years ago at Menards (our local lumber chain), I bet I bought a half dozen to give as gifts to all my builder friends. At $12 a pop, that was a well appreciated gift. Not sure where to buy now, but I'd start with Mr Google. |
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theresa
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from Northern Maine ~ Proud new owner of Lola, a 1960 Shasta Airflyte and Pearl, a 1962 Mobile Scout
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Post by theresa on Sept 19, 2020 15:10:54 GMT -8
Okay, maybe my previous post was kind of expensive. Here's one that should be about $15. Its brand name is KAPRO and what makes it different is that the stainless steel ruler is held in by a strong magnet, not an annoyingly difficult to adjust thumb screw. 20200912_135924 by Joe Mirenna, on Flickr This is the one tool I touch most on any given day. I don't count pencils because somehow I lose the darn things constantly. The beauty is that you can easily move the blade to any spot, yet it is held securely with a strong magnet. I use it to accurately measure thicknesses. When I want to lay out a short line more accurately than my tape measure, I just pull the blade out to have a nice flat ruler. Often I want to scribe a line along a flat surface, say to mark a center line for screw holes. I just set the blade out close to my mark, adjust with a push, and then scribe away. When I found these several years ago at Menards (our local lumber chain), I bet I bought a half dozen to give as gifts to all my builder friends. At $12 a pop, that was a well appreciated gift. Not sure where to buy now, but I'd start with Mr Google. I'd love to see a video of this in action! |
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John Palmer
Senior Member
Hi, From a vintage trailer guy located in Santa Ana, CA. It's good to see lots of activity here.
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Post by John Palmer on Sept 19, 2020 18:07:46 GMT -8
I might suggest you also look into a dial caliper. They are made in inch sizes, metric sizes, and the newer digital ones, are convertible. But we are not using these tools as they were originally designed.
Mine was a swap meet purchase years ago with a broken dial indicator. I use it as described by Joe above. The advantage is for us old guys, you do not need to "see the little numbers", you just use the sliding arm, and the end has a sharp pointer that you scribe the line. You can easily measure "inside", "outside", and it has a rod the comes out the end that allows you to measure "depth", all in one one tool, that can be used with "one hand". Mine is a Mitutoyo dial caliper, I bought it damaged for something like $10. years ago. I agree, it's used everyday in my shop.
John
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sawset
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1958 Mobile Scout
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Post by sawset on Sept 21, 2020 4:50:02 GMT -8
When working in the shop, I usually feel lost without a tool belt with pouches.
The always stock items are tape measure, tee square like above, pencil, a couple screw drivers phillips and straight, and an 8oz claw hammer.
The dial calipers are on the shelf above the bench, and used as much as the others.
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WhitneyK
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'67 Shasta Compact
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Post by WhitneyK on Sept 23, 2020 19:11:40 GMT -8
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Post by wisconsinjoe on Sept 24, 2020 19:17:33 GMT -8
Thanks WhitneyK. I was too lazy to do the research
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Post by wisconsinjoe on Sept 24, 2020 19:23:28 GMT -8
But, whoops, that Home Depot one is the OLD STYLE thumb screw model. It's the MAGNETIC version that makes it quick and cool.
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WhitneyK
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'67 Shasta Compact
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Post by WhitneyK on Sept 25, 2020 19:02:26 GMT -8
But, whoops, that Home Depot one is the OLD STYLE thumb screw model. It's the MAGNETIC version that makes it quick and cool. I fixed the link |
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Post by wisconsinjoe on Sept 27, 2020 11:07:44 GMT -8
Thanks WhitneyK. It's still a good bargain for a great tool.
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