Flea Market Starrett Find

[catch2otwo]

Went to the Oakland flea market to find a floor jack. Ended up buying a bunch of other tools instead. Anyway, found a Starrett dial indicator with magnetic base and metal box for $20 bucks. The dial indicator's small hand doesn't quite zero. I also can for the life of me figure out how it attaches to the magnetic base's arm. I think its missing some parts. Any starrett experts out there that can shed some light on what I bought? Did I waste 20 bucks?

 

[Rickster]

Starrett is top of the line... can't go wrong for $20!!!

 

[littleponderosa]

Dial should turn. Nice score.
Bill

 

[PelicanPines]

You ****.

 

[catch2otwo]

Dial should turn. Nice score.
Bill

the big dial turns to zero the big hand, but how do you zero the little hand

 

[d.mcfarland]

Great deal!

 

[bob15]

Loosen the screw on the side of the dial, then the face will move.

 

[bob15]

What back plate does the indicator have? Could you post a picture of it

 

[davethorik]

If you need one, twenty bucks was fine.
If you don't, 20 bucks was not fine.
They are dust collectors for the most part.
Specific usage that if you haven't done it before this purchase you're likely to never do it after this purchase.

You did fine if you have a use for it, and if it functions as it should.

Disregard this post, the big boy Starrett mag bases fetch big $. They are not common. You could always resell for a profit, if its too big or not something you need. You ****.

 

[Millwrong]

Awesome score, especially with a base! I wouldn't sweat the secondary dial, its not very common (for me, anyway) to indicate over .050, and most units don't even have one anyway.

 

[catch2otwo]

Disregard this post, the big boy Starrett mag bases fetch big $. They are not common. You could always resell for a profit, if its too big or not something you need. You ****.

For such a beefy base it def doesn't stick as hard as some of the bases I have at work with the actual knob. Not sure if that's normal.

 

[Dave455]

Great deal - the magnetic base is worth well over $20!

Decent dial gauges (Starett are decent) can easily be serviced if needed.

I've never used a dial gauge in an application where zero matters. Generally you're only looking at relative heights!

 

[paulsomlo]

The small dial can be moved to coincide with zero - it requires removing the back and getting into the mechanism. If you've ever wanted to delve into watch repair, this will be a good introduction.

See if the hole in the attachment that sits at the end of the rod on the mag base, fits the stem on the indicator. Otherwise, there are attachments which will mate with a lug, which should be on the back of the indicator.

Here's a link that should give you some ideas: http://www.starrett.com/metrology/metrology-products/precision-measuring-tools/indicators-gages/Holders#currentPage=1&displayMode=grid&itemsPerPage=24&sortBy=wp/asc

If in six months, you still feel you wasted 20 bucks, PM me - I'll be glad to give you your 20 bucks back and pay for the shipping.

 

[ducksface]

Post a good pic of what you have.
Someone will tell you what's missing.
There's a better than fair chance I have parts to replace your missing parts.
Free to you depending on the part.

 

[leg17]

Usual usage does not require any particular reading when the indicator is 'at rest', or unloaded. Simply determine what the dial reads when the little hand is 'zero' and then rotate the big dial to zero if it makes you feel better. A great find and useful to many machinists. Thats a nice base and a $100 indicator in the machine shop market.

 

[pepi]

The magnet is Starett, the fixture is not.

 

[Shadowdog500]

That Indicator is working fine. good score!
Yours is a half a thousands indicator which is a bit better than a regular thousands indicator

That little dial is not supposed to be at zero.
It is just below zero so you can load the indicator a bit to take it to zero.

here is a picture of a brand new indicator. The hands are in the same position as yours.

 

[catch2otwo]

thanks for all the explanations. Learn something new everyday. Ill try to get some better pics. Have to clean the garage...

 

[PugetDude]

Great find!
Starrett stuff usually commands top dollar.

 

[fourjeepin]

If you need one, twenty bucks was fine.
If you don't, 20 bucks was not fine.
They are dust collectors for the most part.
Specific usage that if you haven't done it before this purchase you're likely to never do it after this purchase.

You did fine if you have a use for it, and if it functions as it should.

+1 for disregarding this guy. I bought a Starett 16" piece of plate that looked like a ruler (can't remember what it was called) for $1 at an estate sale. Sold it on eBay for $50.

 

[cgrutt]

Nice find! I have an old Starrett dial indicator that actually has a tube attached to dial to connect to the base. Not sure if yours does or not?

As far as Duckface comments go, I had been put off before lol. Sometimes when you sit back and consider what he's saying makes sense, LOL. I'll leave it at that...

 

[ducksface]

https://www.bmisurplus.com/products/51115-starrett-658-magnetic-base

Here you go.
Just as a quell....

I don't do resale but it appears there's some big bucks left on the table by this retailer.
If shipping is cheap enough one of you can make a bunch.
They want 18 bucks.

 

[ducksface]

https://m.ebay.com/itm/L-S-Starrett...805181?hash=item44167901bd:g:CY0AAOSwJ~RZuv1e

Here's a picture of the backside mount for your indicator.
15 bucks

 

[kb1982]

Looks like a great tool to degree in a camshaft with. Got any vehicles that need a performance boost lol????

Sent from my Z962BL using Tapatalk

 

[Alex in Canada]

Wow, nice find! You ****.......but would you take $25!?

 

[ducksface]

https://m.ebay.com/itm/L-S-Starrett...805181?hash=item44167901bd:g:CY0AAOSwJ~RZuv1e

Here's a picture of the backside mount for your indicator.
15 bucks

This auction ends soon at 15% of what was proposed as a good deal.
I have one, maybe you should also.