How Much Do I Need To Spend on a Dial Gauge ?
- Thread starter Tsquare
- Start date
What do you intend to do with this 'dial gauge'? There are many forms and functions of gauges with dials on them. Can you link to a picture of what you are thinking of. Look at this site; http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRHM?...=67251740294&gclid=CKSrpeq2m8gCFUSBfgodVB4FbQ
lg
no neat sig line
bob15
Well-known member
What are you talking about?
Tire pressure gauge, dial indicator, test indicator, dial calipers, angle gauge, etc?
Tire pressure gauge, dial indicator, test indicator, dial calipers, angle gauge, etc?
Setting the hub bearing play on my cars, rollout on my drill press restorations, etc.
One of these.....
Attachments
ibedayank
Well-known member
going to have to narrow it down some more.... how much travel how senitive???
bolt on mount ... clamp on... magnetic???
bolt on mount ... clamp on... magnetic???
bwringer
Well-known member
Even a real cheapie will generally give you a good idea of what's going on. There are very few situations where it would matter whether you could tell the difference between .002" and .0025"
MSC sells some nice inexpensive dial indicators kits with magnetic bases and a selection of points.
MSC sells some nice inexpensive dial indicators kits with magnetic bases and a selection of points.
sberry
Banned
If its for the box why spend? Ok, that was smart azz but the why is a good question especially for a hobby type. I have one, cant recall where I used it last. Must be a decade anyway and it was on some machine not found at home.
shockwave
Well-known member
If you are looking at dial indicators
Vise grip style with worm gear
Magnetic base style with adjustable joints
Both are easy to set up and I prefer the vise grip style fowler and central are decent brands
Vise grip style with worm gear
Magnetic base style with adjustable joints
Both are easy to set up and I prefer the vise grip style fowler and central are decent brands
guy48065
Well-known member
Cheap ones are just as accurate as the name-brands...they just don't look or feel as nice.
Ign
Well-known member
This. Buy the cheapest dial indicator you can unless you're a precision machine shop. Accuracy is PLENTY good for all but the most demanding of tolerances, and when you drop it (which you will) you've only destroyed a $10 import so no tears. I'd buy the cheapest import from use-Enco.com, .100 per revolution and face color of your choice. Click on the HOT DEALS catalog and go to Measuring Tools. Don't use the search engine on the main page.
383 240z
Well-known member
I use this set up in the shop all the time. Pretty accurate, cheap enough. I actually like the
arms on this better than mu Noga base
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHARS-1-Tra...01-Accuracy-/300938766455?hash=item4611592877
arms on this better than mu Noga base
http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHARS-1-Tra...01-Accuracy-/300938766455?hash=item4611592877
JoeFin
Well-known member
if you like the arms on that better then your Noga - your using it wrong
But I do agree with your selection. Without knowing what tools the Op is using it for, the Shars would most likely be sufficient.
383 240z
Well-known member
I have an older Noga, it's great, bought a new one, and here is what I had to say about it in another post:
I bought a new Noga just under a year ago. After using it 3-4 times a day, 5 days a week, and I can say i'm not happy with it. I do have the one with the fine adjustment on the head.
I love the mag base. I love the arms. The plastic knob is fine. It feels good in my hand.
the arms are good as well. they come tight and stay put.
here are my gripes. The adjusting head works ok put has to much side to side slop for my tastes. and there is no way to tighten it. The small swivel inside the head is pretty hard to keep tight. The spring in the head is to weak to hold up my Mitutoyo digital indicator. it holds my Starrett dial indicator just fine.
I figured that the head MAY have been worn out, even though the machinist next to me had had his for 8 years and its still fine, so I ordered a new head Just that little part was $45. The whole thing was only like $100. Guess what the new head was just as loose as the first one.
On a while I bought a $20 China one from eBay, I like it. it has the 3/8" and dovetail mount, the arms are just as nice as the Noga. I just swapped the Noga base on to it. The China base worked fine, but the switch and finish are nicer on the Noga.
Your mileage may very. I wouldn't buy a Noga again, I can wear out 4-5 of the China ones and still break even Keith
As to my not knowing how to use it, I'm a machinist by trade, pretty sure I'm capable of using a mag base.
I bought a new Noga just under a year ago. After using it 3-4 times a day, 5 days a week, and I can say i'm not happy with it. I do have the one with the fine adjustment on the head.
I love the mag base. I love the arms. The plastic knob is fine. It feels good in my hand.
the arms are good as well. they come tight and stay put.
here are my gripes. The adjusting head works ok put has to much side to side slop for my tastes. and there is no way to tighten it. The small swivel inside the head is pretty hard to keep tight. The spring in the head is to weak to hold up my Mitutoyo digital indicator. it holds my Starrett dial indicator just fine.
I figured that the head MAY have been worn out, even though the machinist next to me had had his for 8 years and its still fine, so I ordered a new head Just that little part was $45. The whole thing was only like $100. Guess what the new head was just as loose as the first one.
On a while I bought a $20 China one from eBay, I like it. it has the 3/8" and dovetail mount, the arms are just as nice as the Noga. I just swapped the Noga base on to it. The China base worked fine, but the switch and finish are nicer on the Noga.
Your mileage may very. I wouldn't buy a Noga again, I can wear out 4-5 of the China ones and still break even Keith
As to my not knowing how to use it, I'm a machinist by trade, pretty sure I'm capable of using a mag base.
bob15
Well-known member
For run-out, I find a test indicator more accurate:
454ragtop
Well-known member
Hey Keith, how's the china fine adj. in this one as compared to the Noga?
Thanks, Jim
383 240z
Well-known member
Actually its pretty nice. After I bought the cheap chi-com one, the Noga became my back up. Shars also sells this one with a test indicator. http://www.ebay.com/itm/SHARS-030-T...ic-Base-NEW-/350840996260?hash=item51afc0c1a4 I have both, they are money well spent. Keith
454ragtop
Well-known member
Thanks Keith. Kind of funny, it's $8.90 to ship the base with either the dial indicator or the test indicator, but it's $12.65 to ship the base only!
Have plenty of indicators, but looks like I may have to get one more since the total price difference is so small.
Jim
Have plenty of indicators, but looks like I may have to get one more since the total price difference is so small.Jim
383 240z
Well-known member
The only complaint I had on the indicators is the tips like to loosen up. Drop of locktite stopped that. Glad I don't change tips very often!! Keith
davethorik
Well-known member
The indicators at HF are about as cheap as it gets and they work fine.
Thanks to all replies.
I was looking at magnetic, but I am sure I will need a clamp on also. Just need avg accuracy - nothing to sensitive is necessary. My needs are basic. Just wanted to make certain that if I went the low end route that I wouldn't be making a mistake, and kidding myself about the measurements I was taking. sounds like the lower end gauges are accurate enough for my purposes, will buy the Shars off EBay, looks like a good unit for my needs. One last question, do the Shars come in a case for storage purposes. Grizzly has a setup comparable in price and comes in a plastic case.
383 240z
Well-known member
no case, they come in a cheap cardboard box, I just stick mine on the side of my chest, been hanging there for over a year. I toss it in the cart, if I'm rolling to the other side of the shop. Keith