Turing to Calipers & Bushing to Bushing

[tmhawk]

Hello turning people,
I've noticed that even when I turn right down to the bushing and then sand flush with bushings, sometimes it's still just a little proud of the nib or fitting. Many of you've said, "Once you use calipers, you'll never go back," cool. I've read several discussions about calipers. Some have 4 digits after the decimal (10 thousandths?) some have 3 digits (thousandths?) HF has 3 digit calipers retail $37 now $17 and maybe on sale for $9.99. Other places have the 4 digit, usually at least $29.95. Question: will the 3 digits work OK or do you need that extra 10thousdanth? Turing a blank where the bushing fits inside the blank is very nice, done it on Cigar's with a 10 mm tube. Can you do this with a 7 mm bushing that does not fit inside the tube? Like a Slim Line. How do you stabilize the bushings onto the blank? I thought maybe using a 1/4" bolt, cut off.
Thanks,
Tony
Phoenix, AZ

 

[stevers]

I have cheap calipers and they work fine. I don't personally think 10 thous is ness. Wood will move that much anyway.
When you turn BTB, you eliminate the mandrel. So your new BTB bushings go inside the 7mm tube. Then between the live and dead centers. The bushings for the slim look similar to the cigar bushings you have used, only smaller and are both the same. Same stepped design.

 

[low_48]

The cheap calipers do work fine, but for some reason they really like to eat the batteries. I'm changing the Harbor Freight all the time, the Mitutoyo at work can go for more than a couple of years.

 

[monkeynutz]

If you shop for calipers, consider these http://woodcraft.com/family.aspx?familyid=20110 at Woodcraft. They display both decimal and fractional at the same time. This makes them very useful for other things around the shop, without having to do math.

 

[tmhawk]

Hi guys,
Steve thanks for the heads up on the bushings, guess I'll have to buy some from johnny. Thanks to Steve, monkey and low for the info on calipers. The batteries are a consideration. WC has some for $29, maybe that's the way to go. The Mitutoyo sound great, $130 is waaay out of my league, LOL. (Wife says, "This is a HOBBY? More like a money pit." So got to keep her happy. Steve, Bullhead City is great, been there many times.
Thanks guys,
Tony
Phoenix, AZ

 

[stevers]

Ya Tony, we like it here, growing awfully fast though.

Absolutely no need to pay $130 for calipers. Got mine at the local auto supply store for $30 and they work great. Have changed the battery once after about a year of use. On the second one now.

Monkey, wish mine displayed both at once. That would be handy.

 

[Tea Clipper]

Originally posted by low_48

The cheap calipers do work fine, but for some reason they really like to eat the batteries. I'm changing the Harbor Freight all the time, the Mitutoyo at work can go for more than a couple of years.

The interesting thing about the HF caliper & batteries (or perhaps it's just mine) is that the display will start flashing (i.e. low battery indicator) not long after installing a fresh battery however it continues to work (going on over a year now...) so in my case, I won't actually change the battery until it dies. I don't believe my experience is unique either.

 

[rherrell]

I recommend the 4" ones. They're easier to handle and you don't need the 6" ones for pens. I also recommend getting two. Alot of pens have different diameters on each end of the same barrel so with two you can measure your hardware, set your calipers, and not have to keep changing back and forth.

 

[Rudy Vey]

Originally posted by low_48

The cheap calipers do work fine, but for some reason they really like to eat the batteries. I'm changing the Harbor Freight all the time, the Mitutoyo at work can go for more than a couple of years.

You may have a bad one from HF. I have two for some 3-4 years, and have changed the batteries on each only once so far. They are regularly used a couple of times weekly.

 

[randyrls]

Originally posted by low_48

The cheap calipers do work fine, but for some reason they really like to eat the batteries. I'm changing the Harbor Freight all the time, the Mitutoyo at work can go for more than a couple of years.

Steve; The cheap calipers do not turn off when you hit the power switch. Only the display turns off. You can verify and test a calipers by moving the slider to an arbitrary setting away from zero and setting the zero. Then turn off the calipers and wait 30 min. Turn them on and if they hold the zero setting the power was never off. The Mitutoyo will lose the zero setting. (I think)

 

[randyrls]

Originally posted by tmhawk

Hello turning people,
I've noticed that even when I turn right down to the bushing and then sand flush with bushings, sometimes it's still just a little proud of the nib or fitting.

Tony; I do use calipers and love them. I still use the mandrels, but I never trust the bushings and I frequently grind/file/sand down the bushings so they are about .005" below my target size. This keeps my skew edge off the bushings.

Trick: With calipers, set the calipers on the fitting, and then zero the calipers. Now you will see how much you need to remove for a perfect fit. (Hmmm... Isn't there a pen of that name?)

 

[DocStram]

I have a cheapie from HF . . . also going on three years and only one battery change.

 

[Rifleman1776]

What ever happened to just plain ole caliper calipers? Calipers do not need electronic digital read-outs for comparitive uses.
Try something like this: http://grizzly.com/products/Stainless-Steel-Outside-Spring-Caliper-6-/G9274

 

[rherrell]

Geez, Frank , I believe Moses had a pair of those when he was making writing implements for them tablets.

 

[aurrida]

have to agree with frank, keep it simple.

 

[Blind_Squirrel]

Originally posted by stevers

Ya Tony, we like it here, growing awfully fast though.

Steve,

When I grew up in Bullhead there was not even a stop light! It is amazing to me the size and number of things you have there now.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Originally posted by rherrell

Geez, Frank , I believe Moses had a pair of those when he was making writing implements for them tablets.

The ark too. I loaned him mine. Worked then, works now.

 

[Texatdurango]

Originally posted by Rifleman1776

What ever happened to just plain ole caliper calipers? Calipers do not need electronic digital read-outs for comparitive uses.
Try something like this: http://grizzly.com/products/Stainless-Steel-Outside-Spring-Caliper-6-/G9274

While I agree there is a place for calipers like this, trying to determine if a blank is within a few thousandths of an inch from a mating pen part, is NOT one of those places.

Tony, If you want nice fitting pen parts, a three digit caliper is a good choice as is a dial caliper which will never need batteries.

 

[Rifleman1776]

Originally posted by Texatdurango

Originally posted by Rifleman1776

What ever happened to just plain ole caliper calipers? Calipers do not need electronic digital read-outs for comparitive uses.
Try something like this: http://grizzly.com/products/Stainless-Steel-Outside-Spring-Caliper-6-/G9274

While I agree there is a place for calipers like this, trying to determine if a blank is within a few thousandths of an inch from a mating pen part, is NOT one of those places.

Tony, If you want nice fitting pen parts, a three digit caliper is a good choice as is a dial caliper which will never need batteries.

Why do you say that? A space is a space is a space whether or not you can read it out in little numbers.

 

[Texatdurango]

Originally posted by Rifleman1776

Originally posted by Texatdurango

While I agree there is a place for calipers like this, trying to determine if a blank is within a few thousandths of an inch from a mating pen part, is NOT one of those places....

Why do you say that? A space is a space is a space whether or not you can read it out in little numbers.

I say that because that is what I believe!
Are you saying you can take a 6" caliper like you provided a link for, that you adjust with a thumb screw and tell when a turned blank is within .002" -.003" of a mating pen part? If so, hats off to you, you're a better pen maker than I ever aspire to be and we'll leave it at that!

Heck, just laying the caliper down and picking it back up a few times, accidentally touching the thumb screw and you're off more than a few thousandths!

 

[sbell111]

I agree with Frank. A space is a space. You either have a little bit more to go, it's perfect, or you've gone too far. Old school calipers can communicate the message for each of these.

 

[ScribbleSticks]

Bullhead City, AZ....know the place well. I was born and raised in Needles, CA and drove up to Bullhead a couple times a month. I was about 10 when Don Laughlin opened his first casino and my parents would drive up there for the fried chicken dinners. I was sent to play with the carp down at the river while they "donated" their rolls of nickles and quarters to the 'one armed bandits'. Lots of great memories. As a young adult, I had a VW dune buggy that I drove all over that desert. After a flash flood, I found a hugh piece of desert ironwood burl. A couple of friends and I hauled it home, where it sat under a tarp and several old sheets of plywood. When we cleaned up my Dad's property while getting it ready to sell, I found it. I had forgot we had hauled it home. What a suprise. Total weight was 258 pounds!!! I sold all but about 25 pounds which I still have. The proceeds of the sale when to move and care for my Dad. I cut a little off the remaining block ever now and then for pens. It's a lot harder to sell a pen when the wood has so much personal history attached to it. Sorry, I didn't mean to hijack this thread. I'll leave now!!!

 

[Rifleman1776]

Originally posted by Texatdurango

Originally posted by Rifleman1776

Originally posted by Texatdurango

While I agree there is a place for calipers like this, trying to determine if a blank is within a few thousandths of an inch from a mating pen part, is NOT one of those places....

Why do you say that? A space is a space is a space whether or not you can read it out in little numbers.

I say that because that is what I believe!
Are you saying you can take a 6" caliper like you provided a link for, that you adjust with a thumb screw and tell when a turned blank is within .002" -.003" of a mating pen part? If so, hats off to you, you're a better pen maker than I ever aspire to be and we'll leave it at that!

Heck, just laying the caliper down and picking it back up a few times, accidentally touching the thumb screw and you're off more than a few thousandths!

Don't know who is better pen maker, not relevant. But disagree completely about a caliper getting out of adjustment. Most have an automatic locking feature, even the antiques often have this. Frequent handling does not change setting. In fact, that is what a caliper is designed for. Frequent handling and use to duplicate sizes. I believe you are imagining problems that do not exist.

 

[Ron in Drums PA]

Originally posted by Rifleman1776

What ever happened to just plain ole caliper calipers? Calipers do not need electronic digital read-outs for comparitive uses.
Try something like this: http://grizzly.com/products/Stainless-Steel-Outside-Spring-Caliper-6-/G9274

They work fine Frank and use them myself for larger projects.
For smaller stuff, I prefer a vernier caliper, $9.00

http://tinyurl.com/4xyojw

 

[stevers]

Wow, lot more folks then I figured know about our little gem in the desert. They just opened our Target/Kohl's
complex. Hope things turn around. Right now Target is like a ghost town most evenings.
Things aren't good around here right now. Housing market collapsed and everything went with it.
And gas is 340.9 plus and climbing.

 

[Rmartin]

I'm with Frank.

A pen blank can be turned to the proper fitting without ever needing to know the size. Set a caliper to the fitting, lock it in, and then turn the blank to the distance inbetween the caliper. Simple.

Minor gloat alert!

I traded 2 cigar pens for a box of very old calipers and odd measuring things just before Christmas.

 

[JimB]

You can go to dealnews.com and get a HF coupon for the 6" digital calibers for $9.00.

 

[tmhawk]

THANK YOU JIM.
Whoohooo. Those Calipers are $39.99 at the store. They are listed as $16.97 on the internet, HOWEVER, when I asked for the internet price the lady said, "Do you have a print out? Our Printer is NOT working." LOL, I laughed until I cried. Went home printed out the page and bought one. NOW, I'm going back with the COUPON and buying another one for $9.99. (Someone suggested two calipers to do each end of the bushings) WHAT a great site JIM. You da' man.
Thanks,
Tony
Phoenix, AZ

 

[GBusardo]

Originally posted by tmhawk

THANK YOU JIM.
Whoohooo. Those Calipers are $39.99 at the store. They are listed as $16.97 on the internet, HOWEVER, when I asked for the internet price the lady said, "Do you have a print out? Our Printer is NOT working." LOL, I laughed until I cried. Went home printed out the page and bought one. NOW, I'm going back with the COUPON and buying another one for $9.99. (Someone suggested two calipers to do each end of the bushings) WHAT a great site JIM. You da' man.
Thanks,
Tony
Phoenix, AZ

If and when your battery dies, you can get a replacement three pack at Wallyworld for under 4 dollars. An almost lifetime supply. If you do not have one of these, get one, they will come in handy for more things than you can think of.

 

[tmhawk]

Hi Gary,
Well, I went to HF today and bought my Second Caliper. $9.00 with the coupon. ALSO got the 29 pc. set of Drill bits sized to 64ths, for $9.00. WHAT a great buy. 2 Calipers and I will go to Uncle Wally's and get batteries. What a great storehouse of information we share here.
Thanks Gary.