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Posted: 1/3/2013 5:18:40 PM EDT
| Can anyone recommend a decent dial indicator for general purpose machining and gunsmithing? The options are a little overwhelming |
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I haven't pulled the trigger on a long stem 0.0001 Interapid yet, they are damned expensive. I think the B&S BesTest is the best overall value. Watch the monthly sale at MSC and ENCO. I snagged one on sale at the Grizzly store in Springfield, Mo a couple of years ago. http://www1.mscdirect.com/eCommerce/NavigationServlet/Measuring-Inspecting/Dimensional-Measuring-Tools-Instruments/Drop-Test-Indicators-Holders-Accessories/Test-Indicators/Dial-Test-Indicators/_/N-77dbl?refinement=4288726149&searchandizedOk=Y |
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Are you looking for a dial test indicator or a dial indicator aka a drop indicator?
Dial test indicators, I use Compac, they are made by Tesa who also makes the Interapid indicators. Same quality but isn't calibrated at 12.5 degrees like the Interapid indicators. Drop indicators, I like the Kafer made Brown & Sharpe (marked made in Germany) or Mitutoyo. Also at a higher price point the made in Switzerland Mercer are Tesa manufactured indicators and are top of the line, but they have metric stems (8mm v. 3/8") but you can get an adapter if you need to hold it by the stem. The Bestest indicators have soft bodies, it's light duty in comparison to the two test indicators I mentioned. Trust me I have all three and I know form experience about the soft dovetails on the bestests. Other than the soft bodies they are accurate and well made (also made by Tesa, but it's made to a price point and the soft body is the compromise). Some general advice about test indicators, get a vertical dial test indicator, it minimizes to eliminates the need for a mirror when indicating in a hole. Don't cheep out and get the smaller dial, it's worth the money to get the 1.5" dial. And the long range dial test indicators are really nice to use day to day, but will cost you more than the single rev indicators. |
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Go to the Long Island Indicator Service Inc web site for lots of good reading.
http://longislandindicator.com/ |
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A couple good dial indicators and calipers on the bench is nice to have but if you like to shop in scrap bins at some
metal supply shops like I do sometimes then a cheap caliper from Harbor Freight works good enough to keep in your car or truck and if it get broken then its not a big loss. I have a couple calipers with me at all times as I seem to always be looking for steel or aluminum. They have cheap dial indicators too but I would only use them on something that doesn't need to be perfect. Cheap tools that if get broken you can laugh at the loss are here |
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