Question about storing micrometers...

[redwrench60]

I purchased a good quality, 1" high resolution (.00005") outside micrometer and I'd like to preserve the fine surface of the contact points and store the tool in the correct way. So, do I leave a gap in the contacts to prevent frame distortion from being stored under tension? Or if I leave them gapped am I risking the air rusting the exposed contact surfaces?

Chime in Machinists and micrometer nuts!

 

[CSFJ]

I was always told to leave a gap. However, I did notice on mine the other day, that there was the beginning of some build up on the contact surfaces. It polished out easily, and I moved the mics inside the house instead of leaving them in the garage.

 

[APEowner]

You shouldn't be cranking it down so together is fine but either way keep a descent bag or two in the drawer with it to avoid rust.

 

[Doug Arthurs]

I like to save desicant bags when i buy something and put them in with my precision tools.

 

[ganymede]

Don't all modern mics have tungsten carbide measuring surfaces. ?
If not Id just store them with a little oil on them and wipe it off before use.

 

[bp460]

You are much more likely to have corrosion issues along the rotating spindle. Spray or wipe the spindle and faces with WD40 and store them slightly open.

-Brad

 

[DBendr]

Don't all modern mics have tungsten carbide measuring surfaces. ?
If not Id just store them with a little oil on them and wipe it off before use.

Not all of them.
I just keep mine on plastic lids laying on a piece of slighly oily microfiber from the eyeglass place.Last time I had lenses done I asked the girl for a few extra and they worked out good.3 are canned nut lids and one is a coffee lid....LOL

 

[Evilunclegrimace]

You are much more likely to have corrosion issues along the rotating spindle. Spray or wipe the spindle and faces with WD40 and store them slightly open.

-Brad

Any thing is better than WD-40 for long term storage! The solvents in WD evaporate and leave behind a gummy residue. Spray some WD in to a small container like a jar lid on leave it on a window sill or set it on a radiator for a couple of weeks and see what happens. You might be surprised. WD-40 is very good for Water Displacement but it is a poor long term lube.

 

[redwrench60]

I figured if I used an oil I was thinking about using Remoil spray but I didn't want to gum up the works or attract a bunch of dirt, grit and shavings either.

 

[bmk]

A little sewing machine oil works fine. Leave a gap. They'll be fine.

 

[Richard Cranium]

Just don't use 3 in one oil, they have paraffin in it. It is a wax that will build up.

 

[pendragon1998]

How about Breakfree CLP?

 

[larry_g]

Starrett puts out a real good oil for these things. Probably the correct stuff. Mineral oil I believe. You also should know that a tool with that resolution is only good in a lab with standard temperatures, and not handled with bare hands.

http://www.zoro.com/starrett-tool-a...YfeiIokfmZhgykMvyFpIwBoCIlbw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

lg
no neat sig line

 

[77Mini]

I would think Gun oil would work well for storage.

 

[Davefr]

Starrett puts out a real good oil for these things. Probably the correct stuff. Mineral oil I believe. You also should know that a tool with that resolution is only good in a lab with standard temperatures, and not handled with bare hands.

http://www.zoro.com/starrett-tool-a...YfeiIokfmZhgykMvyFpIwBoCIlbw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

lg
no neat sig line

^^^What he said. Use the right product for the job.

 

[jallyn]

The reason you leave a gap is to allow for thermal expansion and contraction. Materials grow and shrink when the temperature changes. If the tool is stored with the anvils touching then the thermal expansion stretches the threads on the micro-level and damages them. For a regular bolt or screw who cares?, but this is a precision instrument where we are interested in preserving the threads even on the micro-level. After all it is called a micrometer because it can measure a literal micrometer...a millionth of a meter. And the German name for a micrometer is Messschraube...literally "measuring screw". So that's why everybody says to leave a gap for storage, to protect the measuring screw from damage that would be caused by thermal expansion.

 

[LXCam]

I like to save desicant bags when i buy something and put them in with my precision tools.

That and as said by most leave an air gap. That's what I do

 

[redwrench60]

Good responses guys. I have metric and standard dial calipers I use for fast and dirty measurements but I want to reserve this mic for really precise measurements so I want to treat it right. It is pretty amazing that we can have a tool capable of repeatably measuring 5% of one thousandth of an inch!

 

[bp460]

Any thing is better than WD-40 for long term storage! The solvents in WD evaporate and leave behind a gummy residue. Spray some WD in to a small container like a jar lid on leave it on a window sill or set it on a radiator for a couple of weeks and see what happens. You might be surprised. WD-40 is very good for Water Displacement but it is a poor long term lube.

I definitely agree that WD40 is not the correct choice for long term storage... for that I would use LPS 3 or a similar product. The OP didn't mention long term storage, so I will clarify my answer. I use WD40 as a cleaning solvent and for short term storage... maybe a week or two at most. It is cheap, not sticky, wipes away quickly and also dissolves long term storage coatings.

-Brad

 

[NORTON'S SHOP]

I was always told to leave a gap. However, I did notice on mine the other day, that there was the beginning of some build up on the contact surfaces. It polished out easily, and I moved the mics inside the house instead of leaving them in the garage.

What we were taught in trade school many, many years ago was to lightly close the mic on a piece of paper and the pull the paper out. Never polish the contact surfaces. More than likely of you have corrosion (or build up as you call it) on the contact surfaces, there are probably the same issues going on elsewhere, making it pretty much a wall hanger.

 

[Dave455]

Living in the (very damp) U.K. I don't even store my micrometers in my shop, I store them in my house! More secure, no damp, and less temperature variation! This has been standard practice for 3 generations!

I do have one, very old, very used Moore and Wright mic that lives on my bench. I find that the steel used for these is of such high quality, that given a wipe with light oil I've never had rust issues!

Store with the measuring faces apart. Some manuals tell you to do this, and you have to do it with any mic larger than an inch anyway!

If you do get any corrosion, you have to clean it off, or the problem will just get worse. You only have a problem if your cleaning is uneven as anything else will adjust out! Even Mic's with heavily corroded faces can be restored by a minimal re grinding.

Micrometers are for the most part extremely durable tools!

 

[NORTON'S SHOP]

And never, ever store a mic closed. Calipers? Yes, store those closed.

 

[rlitman]

It is pretty amazing that we can have a tool capable of repeatably measuring 5% of one thousandth of an inch!

As said above, don't expect that level of accuracy if you're holding the mic. Actually, I've found that even .001" accuracy is iffy when handheld. Do you have a micrometer vise?

 

[OkRider]

Starrett oil or this stuff works great.

http://www.midwayusa.com/product/1322125805/kano-microil-precision-instrument-and-gun-oil

 

[bmk]

Say what??? Who says you can't get a micrometer to read closer than .001 when hand held? That's nuts.

 

[redwrench60]

As said above, don't expect that level of accuracy if you're holding the mic. Actually, I've found that even .001" accuracy is iffy when handheld. Do you have a micrometer vise?

I do not have a micrometer vise but I can see how something like that would be required for ultra fine measurements. Being a tool nut in general I'm just fascinated with the mechanics of the instrument.

 

[redwrench60]

I have so many oils, lubes, sprays, dopes and sauces I was kind of hoping one I already have would fit the bill.

 

[cnc-me]

I like to save desicant bags when i buy something and put them in with my precision tools.

This ^

 

[helterskelter]

Lot of misinformation in this thread.

1. Use Starrett instrument oil ONLY (one drop on the threaded barrel only during disassembly/clean). Do not lubricate any other portion of the micrometer.

2. Keep the micrometer in a climate controlled environment (bring them inside if required). This is the most important step to maintaining it.

3. You can clean the faces by closing them lightly on a piece of paper and sliding it out. Re-check zero after this procedure. Typically if a previously good mic does not zero it has some dust on the faces. Clean and re-check zero.

4. If you cannot measure to within .001'' with a micrometer you should probably stick to tape measures and yard sticks. Practice with gage blocks until you get the correct feel. A skilled inspector can measure confidently within a couple tenths all day. Certainly within .0005''.

 

[davethorik]

I always store any measuring tool that has contacting faces with those faces apart. 0-1" and smaller mics, dial calipers, vernier calipers, etc.


For long term storage, I have seen micrometers dipped in oil and then the plastic that hardens, like plasti-dip. We send used end mills out to be re-sharpened and they come back this way, light oil and the plastic dip.