Anybody have a "working reference" tattoo?

[Bolster]

I know, odd question. Your body as a tool?

Curious if anyone has ever gotten a "working reference" tattoo, such as a ruler, or bolt head sizes, or perhaps a table of speeds and feeds, or a protractor, etc. I can imagine it would be pretty handy to hold your arm up to a bolt and match to the correct size, then walk to the box and grab exactly the wrench you need. (I know, I know, you can do that already. I can't.)

 

[Bolster]

Some interesting body mod ideas here.

Implanting magnets in skin to hold stuff. One guy has LED lights in his nose. That could come in handy! Until you sneezed.

 

[Bull]

I have one organic measuring tool, but it can only accurately measure one length. I won't say what length that is, as I was raised not to brag.

 

[Bolster]

I have one organic measuring tool, but it can only accurately measure one length. I won't say what length that is, as I was raised not to brag.

LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL. Perhaps what you have there is a depth gauge!

 

[Bull]

LOL LOL LOL LOL LOL. I wasn't asking about yardsticks!

Yardsticks are a few millimeters, right? Yeah, that sounds about right!

 

[SpiderGearsMan]

yuck

 

[Bull]

Damn. I might have derailed a legitimate thread. Bolster, I can delete all of this and reset to post one if you want, just let me know.

 

[rsieracki]

I have one organic measuring tool, but it can only accurately measure one length. I won't say what length that is, as I was raised not to brag.

...hmmm what happened to that 'mini/micro' tools thread

all kidding aside i have no 'ref marks' inked on me but i know the dimentions of my hands to use as quick guesstimaters when 'figuring'

 

[Bolster]

Damn. I might have derailed a legitimate thread. Bolster, I can delete all of this and reset to post one if you want, just let me know.

Oh, it's all good, man, I about choked laughing at your response, and I certainly helped derail it farther. What's still got me laughing is the idea that your depth gauge is always the same length! Mine doesn't work that way, but yours must! What a man!

Not sure this is really a "legitimate" thread to begin with, but I have been contending with the urge to get a bolt-head tattoo, which would actually be useful. I could care less about "art" on my skin, but a template? That's interesting to me.

I'm curious how accurate a ruler on skin would be? How stretchy is skin? How accurate would it be in 5 years? Etc.

Measuring and memorizing dimensions of hands would be useful, I should do that.

EDIT: Index finger vertical: 9/16. horiz: 11/16. Thumb horiz: 7/8.

 

[larry_g]

Way back it mechanics school we had to measure our fingers and the incremental of the joints. My ring finger is 3" and each joint is 1". Try it out. You can get adept at measuring to a 1/4". I keep the big measuring tool for special occasions.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[TwoInch]

EDIT: Index finger vertical: 9/16. horiz: 11/16. Thumb horiz: 7/8.

measure your finger nails and thumbnail widths, they can be useful for approximating bolt heads.

i have measured the distance my index finger and thumb make in a full "L" shape(7"), which has been useful on occasions. also fully contracting my middle finger, and using the middle knuckle flat as an 1.5" and my pinkie knuckle is 1"

 

[EvilWelder]

I told my wife I am bringing the tattoo guy a SS pipe that I welded(TIG walked cup), and have him do it around my arm.

 

[Danglerb]

I've considered "righty tighty, lefty loosie" but I am starting to remember it.

 

[usdemt]

I got one when I was 16, then I grew 4 inches, but its pretty accurate to the metric system

Okay that was sarcastic, but for the other sarcastic replies, I cant measure much by length, in fact I cant quiet reach the bottom of a tuna can.....but I can sure blow the sides out


For an actual response, I can ID a bolt head up to 3/4 metric or standard so no real need for me. But my father is a funeral director and I have been helping him since I can remember. My first time I helped to pick up a body was at the age of 6. So it has been awhile. Anyway at a funeral you want to make sure the casket is on the truck (casket roller cart) equal on all sides so you judge length by the center of truck (its expandable so use the center peak) to the center of the casket (judged by the handles). Then to center it width wise you reach your hand under the front and back on one end till it hits the uprite and compare to the other by reaching your hand under there. Then repeat for the opposite side. It actually has come in hand mechanically quiet a few times if anyone understands what I am trying to say.

 

[E.T.Privott]

owned a shop in Colo. a few yr.s back and did a few but nothing like the ones I've seen out in TX. a lot of oil field workers have tattoos showing stuff they work with, and some of the things they come up with are great. some show respect for the tools and equipment (shift pattern for a twin stick oil field truck, wiring design for the rig motors, etc..) and some to show respect for the old guys that broke them out in the oil patch (pump-jacks, drilling rigs, cat motors, drill heads & drill bits, etc). now a lot of the guy in the armed services tattoo there dog tags on there rib cage to ID them if they get blown up, the rib cage stays together better than most of the body in the bigger blasts. as for myself i have a little squirrel tattooed on the inside of my left thigh reaching up ....... its an ice breaker kinda thing when i use to chase....i mean date fine young ladies in my younger days !

 

[richfinn]

I know a car fanatic with an old MG badge tattoo and another bloke I worked with had a little gold adjustable wrench on a gold chain round his neck

 

[otis66]

My index finger first joint=1". Index finger tip to end of fingernail=1/2". My index finger =4". If I extend my thumb and index finger= 7". When I walk, one step=1 yard (approximatley). I was taught to do this when I was an Engineer (51 Romeo) in the US Army and I've been using this info ever since.

 

[Bolster]

Wow, good tips in this thread! Thanks!

 

[otis66]

I forgot two . If I hold my index finger and my pinky out. Ie "may the funk be with you or Dio metal sign" just like the rocker>2". It equals 4-12-5". If I hold my hand with my pinky up and index finger extended (like i'm shooting with my finger)= 6-1/4".