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Elroy

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If you had a mag base indicator stand and a pair of vice grips, you could always make some like Elroy did:

Picture006.jpg


And mount a "half thousands" indicator

Picture002.jpg
 
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stricht8

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That looks like the HF model. It probably is just a rebagded HF indicator made in china. The HF can be bought for around $25 and comes in a wooden box. This site is awesome:

http://longislandindicator.com/

I bought a German made (Kafer) indicator from them about 5 years ago. They are very nice and helpful. They operate out of the basement of their home in Haupaug Long Island.
 
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remileblanc

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NB, Canada
i own several fowler indicators and they are very good. they are some of the better imports out there. they wont compare to the mitutoyos or starretts i have but they are probaly the same as the snap-ons or matcos.
 
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tw33k2514

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I think im gunna find the cheapest set I can find with the flex arm, and vice grip, and then replace the indicator itself with something of better quality.
 
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Elroy

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tw33k2514 said:
I think im gunna find the cheapest set I can find with the flex arm, and vice grip, and then replace the indicator itself with something of better quality.
Click to expand...

Sounds like a plan. :thumbup:

All the indicators would have standard mounting configurations and would be fully interchangeable.
 
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vssjim

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You cxan get a Central tool set on Ebay fairly cheap and the Central indicators are fairly smooth now a days
 
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sanddrag

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They way I see it, you're so likely to drop the thing or bang into it with something heavy by accident, that you might as well get a cheap one so long as it works for what you need. Personally, I haven't had a problem using my $10 one from Harbor Freight to indicate my mill vises and parts straight to the axis. Another $10 for the magnetic base, and it's been great too. Of course, everyone says Starrett is great, but what kind of work are you doing? How good is good enough?
 
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Daedalus

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I have a Fowler dial indicator with mag base and checking rotor runout is all I use it for. Works fine as long as I don't spin the rotor too fast, which causes the needle to jump. It seems their prices have come down a good deal in the past several years, and I have to think it's due to competition...unless they used to be made in the USA. I'll have to check mine.
 
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bugman53

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When it comes to measurement tools STARRET ALL THE WAY. Fowler is pretty good though.
 
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ironheadtom

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I've been machining for 30 years. Fowler stuff is fine. No problems. Have used the harbor Freight ones as well and they seem to be ok too. Especially if you're going to use it just once in a while. The H.F. mag bases seem to suffer a little with extra cheap hardware.
 
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Mickey O

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I've got one of these (pic below) that I clamp on to the barrel part of the Vise Grips, works good, I also drilled and tapped a vice grip to mount a dial indicator (no pic, at other garage). I don't like the flexible type like the link above (assuming it's the type I've seen in person before) they can move a bit and eventually loosen up. Elroy's set up looks real nice and rigid like you want them. I'd also recommend buying a decent dial indicator even if you have to buy used.

dial-clamp.jpg
 
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Bolster

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bugman53 said:
When it comes to measurement tools STARRET ALL THE WAY. Fowler is pretty good though.
Click to expand...

Welcome to the forum Bugman, and I hate to be disagreeable on your first post, but: no. Starrett's reputation is no longer "all that." Some Starrett is high quality, some isn't. You have to pick and choose your new Starrett carefully. I recently purchased a pair of 6" Starrett calipers and had to return them because the quality was so poor (plastic, dial would move when tightened, etc.). Replaced them with Mitutoyos costing 2/3 as much, and they're quality.

I don't think there's ANY tool you can give a blanket statement to anymore. You have to pick and choose the good stuff from any brand.

If I was looking to use indicators where I could drop them I'd use inexpensive ones. Check ENCO.
 
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benjamming

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stricht8 said:
That looks like the HF model. It probably is just a rebagded HF indicator made in china. The HF can be bought for around $25 and comes in a wooden box. This site is awesome:

http://longislandindicator.com/

I bought a German made (Kafer) indicator from them about 5 years ago. They are very nice and helpful. They operate out of the basement of their home in Haupaug Long Island.
Click to expand...

Thanks for the great link. Their brand & mfg comparisons are very interesting. I didn't see a date on the page to determine if it is outdated or not.
 
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Fubar

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I have Central tool stuff, didn't see than mentioned here. It's good quality, but the stuff is old and who knows now...
 
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Bolster

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When I took a machining class, we were working on $50K machines but with $10 indicators. The shop prof had a policy to use cheap indicators exclusively...for the sake of easy replacement. Yet, they were better than we students were. In other words, we were not as accurate as the cheap Chinee indicators were. When I get to be a good enough machinist I'm holding "tenths" then I'll buy good indicators.

In my home shop, I have a HF calipers and a Mitutoyo calipers. The HF get most of the use, because they're easily replaceable if I drop them. The Mits come out for important work.
 
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X1 Mike

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bugman53 said:
When it comes to measurement tools STARRET ALL THE WAY. Fowler is pretty good though.
Click to expand...


Actually when it comes to indicators there is none better than an Interapid. If I’m making something that I would have to trust my life to I would reach for my Interapid every time. With that being said for checking disc run-out where you have a fairly large tolerance I would use a cheapy model and leave my Interapid in the box. :thumbup:
 
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pfbz

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Bolster said:
When I took a machining class, we were working on $50K machines but with $10 indicators. The shop prof had a policy to use cheap indicators exclusively...for the sake of easy replacement. Yet, they were better than we students were. In other words, we were not as accurate as the cheap Chinee indicators were. When I get to be a good enough machinist I'm holding "tenths" then I'll buy good indicators.

In my home shop, I have a HF calipers and a Mitutoyo calipers. The HF get most of the use, because they're easily replaceable if I drop them. The Mits come out for important work.
Click to expand...

Especially since the OP was only looking to check disk brake runout, etc.

*FAR* from an ultra-precision measurement.

Sort of like using a $400 torque wrench to set lug nuts. A $10 HF torque wrench is perfect for those kind of jobs! I had one dedicated for lug nuts when I was frequently swapping race tires...

Just as a $25 HF dial indicator is perfect for checking disk brake runout.
 
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mrholeshot

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Get the Fowler for brakes. When it comes to wheels you will have to deal with manf tolerances. You don't need a Starrett for that because you will have some runout anyway. I've seen the HF units measure just fine for this.
 
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mrholeshot

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arkangel06

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X1 Mike said:
Actually when it comes to indicators there is none better than an Interapid. If I’m making something that I would have to trust my life to I would reach for my Interapid every time. With that being said for checking disc run-out where you have a fairly large tolerance I would use a cheapy model and leave my Interapid in the box. :thumbup:
Click to expand...

Quoted for truth intrerapid are the best.

Followed by brown and sharpe the mitutoyo.
 
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nexum1919

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you can always get the flex shaft/matching locking pliers/case from HF, and be on the lookout for a good priced dial indicator on craigslist in the mean time.
 
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Elroy

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Elroy said:
If you had a mag base indicator stand and a pair of vice grips, you could always make some like Elroy did:
Click to expand...

Elroy would like to reemphasize the utility of these vice grip based dial indicator mounts. Checking the bearing spread is a simple and rigid set-up

L1010180.jpg


Lets see a magbase indiactor do this so easily. It's not going to happen.

Elroy made these up several years ago and they have proven their worth on several occasions. Feel free to duplicate
 
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