Central Tools Mic Set, CL Deal

[scooternut]

Grabbed a poorly stored Central Tools micrometer set through -4" on CL for $20. Some pitting in places that you wouldn't want, but the entire set cleaned up very nice with wd40 and scotch brite.



Before and after in the pics, hard to see the difference though.



More info as to dating the tools would be nice if you have the knowledge.

 

[MShaw]

Since you have the standards I would check them carefully before relying on them. Also, if you have or know someone with size blocks they can be checked at .105, .110, .115, and .120. If all the readings are not at the same position relative to the graduation line the anvils are not parallel. This can be corrected by a gage repairer but is not cheap. Also check at .200, .400, .600, and .800 to be sure there is no lead errors in the screw.

 

[scooternut]

Thanks MShaw, They checked out surprisingly well on the standards after I cleaned up the surfaces. Good advice with the gage blocks, however, I do not own a set at this time or have any loose ones.

At this stage of my machinist career, aka, beginner garage hack, repeat-ability with the same tool is probably more important than dead on balls accurate, but a man can dream though.

I do have a set of mitutyo 0-1, 1-2 that I bought nearly new, and a vintage looking mechanical digital starett 0-1 that is proving to be my go to. Perhaps I could sell off the Mitutoyo if this Central set proves out, though I did get them at a great price as part of a lot.

 

[davethorik]

If you sanded the faces of the spundle or anvil, or the ends of the standards, I'd check them against something else just to be sure.

 

[scooternut]

Thanks, but I just cleaned them up with a scotch brite type pad and wd40, the faces were in good shape, just needed a bit of clean up.

 

[ganymede]

Hey , nice set that cleaned up well.
I can't give a date but they had switched from clamp ring to lever style spindle locks by the early 80's.

 

[ganymede]

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