The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Guns, Politics, Gunsmithing & Reloading Gunsmithing Dial indicators and holdersGo | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
| Dial indicators and holders | Login/Join |
| one of us |
About time I got one for the home bench. Dial or digital, magnetic base, swing arm? Are the imported ones OK for home use? I'll be measuring things like lug setback, no lather work. | ||
|
| One of Us |
For the occasional user the chinese dial indicators sold as "specials " by Enco or MSC should be just fine.By all means get a mag base, I would avoid the type that use a cable to tension a column of swivel joints though. They never seem to pull up solid and unmovable. | |||
|
| one of us |
Is this the cable type you refer to, the lower one with the gooseneck?  | |||
|
| One of Us |
Yes, thats the type I don't care for, other folks must like them cause they have been around forever. | |||
|
One of Us |
All you ever needed to know about indicators is on this web site. There are pages and pages of excellent information on indicators. http://longislandindicator.com/ I have dealt with them and they are good folks. The only tip they don't tell you is that NOGA makes a fantastic magnetic base. Sets up in seconds. | |||
|
| one of us |
JMHO, but the best indicators ARE imported. Interapids and Mitayoyo are at the top of the heap (at least when it comes to the 1/10 and 5/10's indicators). | |||
|
| one of us |
Would you mind explaining 1/10 5/10's? I'm sure it's a degree of accuracy but I though most dial were incremented in .001's. Gunmaker, I've been looking at the NOGA bases, any preference? Thanks, Rob | |||
|
| One of Us |
If you get the J&L sale flyer or download them online they usually have a Noga base for sale in there. I wouldn't get any with a short arm. They are a high quality base. There's two different kinds of indicators. Dial and Test. I've got quite a few 1" Teclock dial indicators I use for different things. Travel on my lathe, firing pin protrusion, chambering etc. The test indicators I have I usually use for dialing in a 4jaw. I've got an Interapid .0001" and Bestest .00005" that I use for dialing a barrel in for benchrest style chambereing. I also have an Interapid .0005" large dial that I use extensively. I only have Swiss made test indicators. I wouldn't recommend any others. Especially cheaper Chinese versions of the high end units. Run away....Run away.... My dial indicators .001" are much cheaper and were made in Japan. Check the web site I linked above. They repair indicators and have very detailed information on the quality and repairability of many different brands. They fixed my .0001" Interapid that I purchased used for $5. It works flawlessly now. My total investment on that little one is under $100. If you're going to get into indicators cheap then buy a cheap dial indicator. If you need a test indicator then spend the time researching the info on the longisland site and buy a quality Swiss made one. You'll never regret it! | |||
|
| One of Us |
Ditto, I have two of the Interapids, one I keep at the lathe, the other with the mill. (and the two are only about 14 ft. apart.) Jim Kobe 10841 Oxborough Ave So Bloomington MN 55437 952.884.6031 Professional member American Custom Gunmakers Guild | |||
|
| one of us |
Rob "Tenths" is machine builders lingo for .0001 (or 100 millenths if you prefer). The dial is marked in .0001 increments or in .0005 increments, depending on the resolution required. I keep 2 of each in my tool box, for doing setup work. | |||
|
| one of us |
Got it, thanks. If I'm only going to have one for general work what resolution do you recommend, .001, .0005, .00025 or .0001? Also, I see the NOGA bases come in different length arms, is the 22.25" too long? Thanks, Rob | |||
|
| One of Us |
Yes that's too long. Try these links http://www.jlindustrial.com/CGI/JISRIT?origin=VIRTUAL:V...d=%26mode=%26epcode= http://www.jlindustrial.com/CGI/JISRIT?origin=VIRTUAL:V...d=%26mode=%26epcode= http://www.jlindustrial.com/CGI/JISRIT?origin=VIRTUAL:V...d=%26mode=%26epcode= http://www.jlindustrial.com/CGI/JISRIT?origin=VIRTUAL:V...d=%26mode=%26epcode= Both the Interapid and Bestest are made in the same factory. All these linked parts come up for sale at a much better price on a regular basis. The only way to find the sale price is by looking on the flyer. Trying to limit yourself to only one indicator is kind of like trying to limit yourself to only one gun....Shotgun?? Rifle?? Pistol.... The test indicator is invaluable for dialing in a vise on a mill and a lathe with 4jaw chuck. Dial indicators are used for measuring distance. For a test indicator I'd get .0005 resolution to start with. I got by with one of these and a 1" dial indicator for 15 years. Now that I'm using a different chambering method I need the higher resolution of at least .0001". Again....Run away from the cheap NOGA copy and Chinese test indicators. They will fustrate you at the worst of times. The longisland link will tell you the same thing. Not worth the time or money to try and save a buck buying something you want extreme precision out of every time you use it. | |||
|
| One of Us |
I know it’s an old thread...... But Bestest and Tesatest are the same. Interapid is its own beast. And look for Jeweled indicators. Alina is another good brand if in nice shape. Look on Ebay. Compac for $20-30 at times. Folks haven’t heard of them. Like the best mics in the world....Etalon. .00005 on the vernier Very cheap at times. And sometimes travel indicators (plunger)and standard by Hamilton Watch. .Some travel to .000020. For position. AGD 4 size and .004 full travel. | |||
|
| One of Us |
A brown human hair measures .004" and a blonde about .0025". A cunt hair is ?? | |||
|
| one of us |
I'm partial to redheads... | |||
|
One of Us |
I have probably 10 test indicators and 1 travel indicator I have no use for Interrapid I have mostly Best Test Brown & Sharp in just about every size face and color you can name. 1" 1.5" White, Black, Green, .0005 .0001 short stem and long stem Mag base.......there is only one you will ever need.....NOGA beats them all without breaking a sweat. ________________________________________________ Maker of The Frankenstud Sling Keeper Proudly made in the USA Acepting all forms of payment | |||
|
| One of Us |
What do you have against Interapid? A great Jeweled indicator. Also the only long needled one I’ve been able to find. Do you know of another long needle? | |||
|
| One of Us |
| |||
|
| One of Us |
Interapids are accurate but swing the same direction for positive and negative readings......I've yet to run into a tooling guy who thinks this was ever a good idea. Interapids are almost non existent is the shops I've worked in B&S and Mitutoyo seem to rule My long tip indicators are Brown & Sharp....but they arent as long as the length you mention. ________________________________________________ Maker of The Frankenstud Sling Keeper Proudly made in the USA Acepting all forms of payment | |||
|
| One of Us |
'm kinda like a few on this forum.I have several, B&S, Mitutoyo, Interapid, Federal, Teclock, Starrett and others. My go to is my Mitutoyo 513-504. It has a slim body and a short tip. You can go on about your long tip indicators all you want, but they jump way to much indicating deep into a bore. Remember, the longer the probe, the "less accurate" it will read. Probably the wrong term. If you have a .5" probe and change it for a 1." probe it will go from a .0001" indicator to a .0005" plus indicator. For the smith a .0001" long reach is only used to indicate a throat during setup to chamber. I may chamber a little differently or should I say my set up may be a little different. I have a set of Deltronic pins for each bore size that I chamber. The pins are in a set of 25 in .0001" increments. I chamber in the headstock and indicate the pins on either side. I predrill the chamber and reach in with my Mitutoyo 513-504 and check my indication in the bore. Yes, I drill short. I taper bore to my bore indication. OK,this is different than most will believe or do. I either use no bushing or a loose one on my reamer. Reason being I want my reamer following my prebored and not a potential wandering bore ahead of my chamber. If you understand good machining practices you will understand my method. Don't even get started on the Gordy method, a long indicator rod won't straighten a bore. | |||
|
| One of Us |
I think B&S now own Interapid Jim Kobe 10841 Oxborough Ave So Bloomington MN 55437 952.884.6031 Professional member American Custom Gunmakers Guild | |||
|
| One of Us |
Depends on what needle the indicator is made for. .001 on My 2.750” interapid is just as accurate as .001 your B&S .250” needle. Much more error in induced by not paying attention to cosine error. Which with the interapid you can check easily. And a Compac will outshine most made today. And going from 1/2” to 1” will take it from .0001 to .0002.......not .0005 Just for accuracy I’m saying this. | |||
|
| One of Us |
Tesa....which is B&S. Lol. Tesa and B&S have been doing work together for decades. | |||
|
| One of Us |
My surface plate and tooling show .0005. I know what you are saying, but Just saying: Just for accuracy I’m saying this. The Interapid is not my favorite. On your Interapid .001 accuracy against a B&S. You may be right, but my go to is the Mitutoyo 504-513. I also like my Etalon Mics. | |||
|
| One of Us |
This indicator is getting the most action these days in our shop. Ruby tip, fantastic accuracy, 1.5" face and cheap.   ________________________________________________ Maker of The Frankenstud Sling Keeper Proudly made in the USA Acepting all forms of payment | |||
|
| Powered by Social Strata |
 | Please Wait. Your request is being processed... |
|
Visit our on-line store for AR Memorabilia