Something different for a change - if anyone here is interested.

I find myself using Micrometers and Calipers multiple times a week now that I am spending so much time in my home work shop. I've got at least 8 micrometers of which all are Starrett's with the exception of one Brown & Sharpe model #13. While I usually do prefer Starrett tools over all, in the case of my 0" - 1" Mic the Brown & Sharpe is my favorite.

I have at least one Mic in every one inch increment up to 6 inches but my 0" - 1" is the most used of all.

As far as Calipers go my all time favorite is my 6" Starrett Dial Caliper which I bought new around 42 years ago. It's got a special attachment to make it much easier and more accurate for depth readings as well. I also have some Vernier Calipers which I don't use much anymore because they are very hard to read. My Mitutoyo instruments are also good quality but I just don't gravitate to them much (once in a while) - one tends to use what they like the best I suppose.

I've also got a plethora of Starrett, Brown & Sharpe and Lufkin Compasses, Comparator Calipers and Machinists Squares as well as pretty much any type of thread measuring gauges, Wire Gauges, Feeler Gauges one could dream of. I do use those on occasion too.

I know many who read this won't give a hoot about brands and their only use of a Caliper might be for Reloading (COL) purposes, but I figured I'd also mention the following for those who are.

There are many gently used, vintage Starrett, Brown & Sharpe, etc high quality measuring tools and instruments on ebay at ridiculously low prices that are there for the purchasing if one needs them or is interested in high quality instruments. Some are actually not any or much more than the cheap Chinese alternative some guys buy new.

Well, I hope there are others here who are interested in high quality measuring tools of yesteryear. Chime in if you are!

Spent many summer vacations working in a friend of my Dads machine shop. Ended up with a selection of Brown and Sharp measuring tools. Dial calipers, micrometers, and assorted other precision measuring tools.

When I started in L/E I sold them at Giveaway prices. Oh-well. Chief, I am happy that you still have your tools and enjoy using them.

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Always Stay Strong!

I frequently use my RCBS dial calipers for things other than reloading

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213th FBINA

Some I purchased new, some used on ebay. Others I got from my Dad and some from my Grandfather too. All get used and I truly enjoy using high quality instruments.

When at a friends house and I'm assisting them (showing them the ropes) at Reloading, they usually hand me a plastic piece of junk Caliper they bought online, from Midway, Brownell's etc. Yeah they sort of work but using them makes me cringe - lol! If I know I'll be using one a lot - I will bring my own - ha ha.

Only if they're still accurate.
Generally I use Mitutoyo for day to day stuff.

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SWCA #3356, SWHF#611

Absolutely use a Brown and Sharpe dial caliper a lot that a very kind gentleman on this site gave me.I find I cannot do without this tool and a one inch mic' everyday that comes along.I remember in high school a LONG time ago being taught how to use these tools in math class; do they do that now?

If you are old enough to remember the "Durango Kid" in the cowboy movies of the 40's he was played by Charles Starrett and heir to the Starrett Tool company. Jeff

I see the huff and puff of starrett tools Is alive and well...The original Mitutoyo tools from Japan were the best....and the Brazil tools next.

My retired professional opinion>>Starrett tools sucked back then....

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triggers dog-pile egomaniacs

All I have are Starrett and Brown & Sharpe. Amortized over time and considering how often I use a micrometer and dial caliper, they are far from expensive. I've used the cheap stuff. While they may work as well as a quality instrument, they don't last very long if you use them frequently.

I still have quite a collection of measuring tools left over from 40+ yrs in QA. I regularly use my dial calipers, hole gauges and radius gauges. Since nearly everything was compliments of the US Government, Starrett and B&S are the main brands.

If you ever get the chance to buy a Starrett 1" #734 digital Mic, DONT!
Irritating device if I ever had one... My most trusted are the Mitutoyo and NSK brands

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Shooter Ready
Standby

My complaint is the battery operated digital stuff. While I like the convenience of the readout; I hate the battery as it usually dead a month later when I need it. Is there a corded version??

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Mike Maher #283

I have a set of Browne & Sharpe "slide" calipers that I can hardly read, because over the years the numbers have gotten smaller. :-)

Only have 2 micrometers left, a 1" Browne & Sharpe, and a 1/2" Starrett. I moved out of the shop in January 1975 and stopped using my tools except for home projects. I have a el cheapo set of digital calipers that I purchased from the ALDI food store. They are ok for most reloading measurements, and are only accurate to about .003.

I sold several nice machining tools over the years, but don't do that any more. I still have my old tool chest that I bought new in the spring of 1965, it's about to celebrate it's 56th birthday. Not many tools but LOTS of Precious Memories stored in it.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

A sticker attached to my toolbox.:.... always got a kick out of it

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triggers dog-pile egomaniacs

Old Joe Clark,

I love the Gerstner tool box!!!

I never got around to buying one but always wanted one. Now I have no more room in my Shop for another tool box. The last box I got was my Dads small Snao-on from 1937 and that took up the last inch of tool box space. It's actually a Machinists chest of sorts and worked out well.

Misswired,

from the color, the tool box looks like a Kennedy.

from the color, the tool box looks like a Kennedy.[/QUOTE]

Wrinkle finish....

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triggers dog-pile egomaniacs

Re Post #13 we were discussing Flechettes a few days ago. Is that one in the top picture, top drawer lower left hand corner. A dark bomblet looking item with fins?
Steve W

That is a bomblet. They were used by aerial bombarding infantry formations from a few thousand feet up. Very nasty! They were just shoveled out the bomb bay doors. Sort of like 100,000 machine gun rounds hitting a couple acres all at once!

Ivan

It dawned on me the other day that my 1to2 thru 5to 6 Mitutoyo mics will be 35 yrs old this spring. My 0 to 1 Starretts are 38 yrs old. they were a gift from my first employer. Time flies when your having fun.

I gave both my grown boys old Starretts for Christmas. I have made it a new policy on my bench that we go old school.

I spent 45 years in Quality Assurance. the last 30 - 35 in aerospace products, starting as an inspector and ending my career as a Quality Assurance Engineer. I found early on that you should by the best tools you can afford. I have my preferences:

Micrometers, I like Starrett, the old Lufkin were good, and I also used a Set of Pratt & Whitney (Successor to Lufkin) 0-1 mics for many years

Dial Calipers, my preference was Brown & Sharp. Starrets have an open rack and were prone to getting debris in the gear teeth while B&S and others have a cover over the rack to help avoid this.

Dial indicators, again B&S preferred, Higher grade Starrett ok,

Mitutoys tools are good, less expensive tools but I found their mic's over built and heavy compared to Starrett B&S, etc. I once had a Mitutoyo 0-.500 mic that was almost as big as a Starrett 0-1. Mitutoyo Dial calipers I have found to have softer jaws and more prone to wear than Starrett or B&S

That's my two cents other than to say I wouldn't own a set of plastic calipers; then again, I also still prefer analog over digital tools

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Sceva
OGCA SWCA NRA

I have three calipers. A Mitutoyo dial caliper, an Etalon dial caliper, and my favorite, a Mauser pre-WW2 Vernier caliper. I use the Mauser most of all. I have used vernier calipers since I was 12. I find them easier to use than a dial.

I have a pair of Scherr-Tumico micrometers. A 0 to 1" and a 1 to 2" I have no idea where I got them. I have had them a long time, and they work.

Part of my resume includes an apprenticeship at GM and working in both a tool room and die room. Some of the work included tolerances of .0001 of an inch. Many users of precision measuring devices forget that these tools should be calibrated periodically, especially if working with tight tolerances. Acceptable practice for us was checking on a yearly basis, but if two people were working on the same job, they would check their mics against each other to make sure they were both on the same page.

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So many S&W's, so few funds!!

I have B&S and Starrett but the 0" to 1" I usually grab is an old Craftsman my dad had many years ago. It sure looks like a Lufkin to me.

I have a Starrett caliper and mic and a set of off brand mics that go to 6"
I have an inexpensive 6" calipers in my desk drawer, in my regular tool box and reloading room.

But my favorite caliper is a digital Mitutoyo

I have some standards to check mine with

I went through the Boeing and Cessna in house tool & die schools, worked for both about 5 years total. During a round of layoffs, moved to KC and did t & d various places around town. Moved to my own shop full time in 2006, still at it full time.

I have a lot of metrology equipment, too much to list all of it. Lots of mikes, calipers, indicators, gage blocks and pins, surface plate, 4 height gages, rockwell testers, optical comparator, etc.

I prefer B&S and Mitutoyo tools over Starrett. The older Starrett tools are very good, and what they built the brand on. In the last 30 or 40 years, Starrett has gone downhill in quality, while B&S and Mitutoyo (I call them Mr. Yoyo) have both maintained high standards. It's sad about Starrett, they were once the premium brand.

You can often find all of these and more for a song on eBay. Super value.

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protocalldesign.com

BTW - forgot to mention..... my NEWEST measuring tool is the Mitutoyo which has to be 41 years old because I purchased it new just before I got married. All the others are at least 60, 70 or 80 years old! ALL work perfectly.

My buddy gave me his dad's machinist tools and chests many years ago after his Dad passed away. He told me he had no use for them and didn't know how to use most of them. I offered to help him learn but he said if he needed something done where the tools would be used, I could do it for him. I didn't argue.
I also have several measuring tools I've purchased over the years. Have Starrett's, Brown & Sharpe, Mitutoyu. I even have a nice Craftsman 1" mic. that has been accurate from day one.


I have heard that the new Starrett tools are not as well made as they used to be, but I can't vouch for that since the ones I have are old and in good working condition.

Great discussion. I've been measuring parts for about 45 years working in the quality field, mostly machined stuff. Over the years I have used and/or calibrated most every make if micrometer, caliper, height gage and indicator made. Early Mitutoyo are good and I've seen some really good Starrett mics (depends on the model). I still have Mitutoyo mics I bought new in 1990 and they still read accurately to 50 millionths.



Sent from my SM-G960U using Tapatalk

My buddy gave me his dad's machinist tools and chests many years ago after his Dad passed away. He told me he had no use for them and didn't know how to use most of them. I offered to help him learn but he said if he needed something done where the tools would be used, I could do it for him. I didn't argue.
I also have several measuring tools I've purchased over the years. Have Starrett's, Brown & Sharpe, Mitutoyu. I even have a nice Craftsman 1" mic. that has been accurate from day one.


I have heard that the new Starrett tools are not as well made as they used to be, but I can't vouch for that since the ones I have are old and in good working condition.
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Bill Graf
Member #2272


I only have one relatively new Starrett tool and that is a 6" Protractor. I bought it new in box about 4 years ago and it has been perfectly fine - it's still made in USA. Don't have experience with current production Mic's, Calipers, etc though.

Nice of your buddy to gift you his Dad's stuff!!

When I worked in the shop I ran gear hobbing machines, Hardinge second operation machine, an old South Bend lathe, and my favorite, a Levin hand operated screw machine (aka jeweler's lathe) with a miniature drilling attachment. It was a great piece of equipment.

They would take a job that they didn't have a clue how to make, and bring them to me. I've machined molybdenum, titanium, monel, hastelloy, aluminel, and who knows what else.

The most difficult job that I can remember was machined from FMYB, (free machining yellow brass), my favorite material. It was machined on the Leven. I have a few odds and ends from that job in my memory box.
The part was 5/32" diameter x 5/8" long, with various diameters turned, and a .020 dia holed drill about 9/16" deep from one end, and either a .007, .010, or a .013 diameter hole drilled from the other end into the .020 dia hole.

I well remember the learning curve that I went through with that little part. No one had ever used the drilling attachment on the Levin, but I figured it out. The first .020 dia holes took about 20 minutes per hole, the last cycle time that I heard for the same hole was about 20 seconds.

Have a blessed day,

Leon

I use a 6 inch Mitutoyo electronic caliper. Mostly for reloading, but also for the lathe and mini mill. Along with Starrett micrometers I get by.

I just decided last week to list my machinist tools on ebay..selling 5 starrett micrometers that probably cost 750 new 20 years ago for 150....bore gauges, adjustable parallels, dial indicators...i haven't used them.in years and if I sell enough stuff, I'll sell the Gerstner tool box too....i kept 2 micrometers, both 0 to 1", a starrett and a lufkin that has a holster, and both dial calipers, one starrett, the other a no name, and my starrett combination square set with the 24" rule. At some point i have to give stuff up.

Robert

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Robert
SWCA #2906, SWHF #760

If anyone is interested and has a need for I have a boxed set of micrometers, I think that is the correct term, that I was given over 40 years ago and have never used. Made by Central Tool Co of Cranston Rhode Island. If anyone is interested in having and using them for the price of a flat rate USPS mailing they are yours. I have pictures I can email you. Just PM and express a desire First come first served.

Could be, but a lot of the Craftsman Mic's were made by Slocomb

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Sceva
OGCA SWCA NRA

I saw those referred to as "Yellow Dog Bombs" because supposedly only a yellow dog would use them.

My offer has been accepted.

Well fellas..... this thread brought a smile to my face in that there are still some who actually know about and use precision measuring instruments. Probably mostly because of our age and maturity. Most young adults under the age of 40 don't even know what they are! The only only measuring tools most of them have are the apps on their cell phones.

I bought a Frankford Arsenal electronic micrometer about 5 years ago after my mechanical dial mic went bad. I am totally impressed with the quality and accuracy, but especially the price. I also have to say that my go to mic is a little Ames 1" dial micrometer that was my father's and been using it for 40 years without a single issue. No idea how old it is or what they cost today, but would not be without one.

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Gary
SWCA 2515

Only once, in 1989, did I need that level of accuracy, designing glovebox tooling for DOE. I asked the site purchasing agent if he had calipers, and he told me to follow him. He unlocked a huge storeroom that contained the contents of the entire McMaster-Carr catalog, which was how he spent excess project funds.

We climbed over about a dozen skids of materials until we found an unopened case of Mitutoyo digital calipers. They worked fine and did what I needed them for.

Your post is welcome and reassuring. While I have a good quality caliper and micrometer that require no batteries, I'm not familiar with "apps".

You didn't run into Swiss made Etalon tools very often inside the circles I've worked. Here is a zero to one inch mic, notice the .0005 graduation line between each thousands mark. With a little practice you could quickly read the tenths scale.

ETA: pics

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triggers dog-pile egomaniacs

Not sure about "yesteryear" But I do love my 0-1" Starret digital micrometer from the '90s. It's a joy.

Later on I started using the electronic stuff from Harbor Freight with no ill effect. Definitely not as smooth and crisp though.

When I was building $400K pick n place chip handlers the other techs would come borrow my $20 Centech caliper because they had left the big $$$ Mito on & the battery died.

Found it necessary to purchase my own seven to twelve inch mics working in a small job shop. The eight to nine inch were the primary mics needed for a specific project, somehow, never got them back. Was surprised to see a couple of the mics have never had the shipping wrapping and protective coatings cleaned off..... that was over twenty years ago

Can’t recall anyone else having a zero thru twelve inch personal set of micrometers

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triggers dog-pile egomaniacs

I haven't seen them in years, but in my mother's garage there is a set of at least three large micrometers as in your photo. I think there may be some accessories as well. They are encased in a fitted, wooden box. My dad's been dead a long time, but he had an engineering background, so I'll assume he used these in his work. It might take a week to find them, but perhaps I should just to make sure they're in good shape. Have no idea of the brand or age.

Nothing fancy, and no digital tools. Just don't care for battery op stuff.
A Mitutoyo 1" mic that I seem to have had forever gets a lot of use.
A 2" B&S that not so much use but does come in handy.

Dial calipers, 6" length. A couple of those. One left in each of the shops is the plan so I don't have to keep walking back and forth to get one. But that doesn't always work out either.
They are both Asian mfg,,can't remember the brands, nothing popular or famous in the biz I don't think. But they do the job OK for what I need.
They double for use when needed during reloading.

I still have a vernier caliper 6" that I use occasionally. Given to me by another gunsmith that I worked with early on and who showed me a lot about the trade.

Shotgun bore dia measuring mic. That's dial indicator also.
Use it to measure chokes also.

Machinists are known to take very good care of their tools, so it's not surprising to see really old machinist tools in perfect condition. However, I still remember seeing a A/C Mechanic using his Starrett Mics as a C-Clamp. Sadly, put a set of mics in the hands of a young person today and all you'd get is a blank stare.

Tend to agree with both of your statements. Starrett mics would make a very nice C-Clamp..... and yes we old machinist’ took care of our tools......10 to 15k invested in tools.....and most of us couldn’t afford to replace them.

Knowing this Etalon mic will never be used by myself; I’ve torn it down today for a 20 year cleaning cause it was a little stiff

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triggers dog-pile egomaniacs

I have an old Omega brand micrometer that was in with a bunch of used handloading equipment I bought almost forty years ago. I'm not familiar with the brand. Are these considered to be of good quality, junk, or somewhere in between?