Calipers....What Do You Use?

Re: Calipers....What Do You Use?

Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.

>This Stewart caliper is very good for measuring the bottom of a bowl or vessel. The rod goes inside the vessel. The thickness is shown at the bottom of the pic.

Wally

Re: Calipers....What Do You Use?

Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.

>This caliper, made in Australia, (unfortunately no longer available) is very accurate for measuring in the upper portion of the vessel. The left leg goes inside the vessel.

Wally

Re: Calipers....What Do You Use?

adrien

>Wow! I wonder if Ellis would be interested in creating a new library: instead of tool grinds, this one would be Caliper Shapes...... Ellis???

Re: Calipers....What Do You Use?

Keith Tompkins

>Great idea , Wally. Funny, I have drawn up plans for a measuring system using a plumb bob. The laser systems have made it obsolete before I got a chance to make one!

The Stewart caliper works well, I'm also in the process of making one of those.

Finally, I made a curved tool rest out of a Volvo 850 tie-rod end. ha ha.

Re: Calipers....What Do You Use?

David Galloway

>My recent hollow turning demands better calipers. Thanks for the suggestions. I have been using the old Elsworth coat hangers but when I see I can spend more money....that's music to a woodturner's ears. Gadgets o'plenty. And it makes my wife love me even more!

Thanks for the pictures. I particularly like the one that you made. a great suggestion.

David

Re: Calipers....What Do You Use?

Jay in Ohio

>Wally,

Since seeing that you've presented this as a challenge, I accept. For spindle work I use a standard set of 6" wing dividers and external calipers in addition to a veneer caliper and dial gauge/caliper.

For bowls and hollow forms I use a set of double ended Sorby thickness calipers or the old standby bit of wire a la elsworth(?).

I'd love to buy more...but I'm focused on a better quality lathe at the moment.

Warmest Regards,

~Jay Kilpatrick

Lack of Interest? NOT

Russ Fairfield

>382 hits (latest count) on a topic does not relate to lack of interest. Not when the normal is about 150.

Re: Lack of Interest? NOT

Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.

>It wasn't the lack of interest Russ, just the lack of responses from other hollowform turners. Any post with "Pic" on it get lots of hits.

Wally

Re: Lack of Interest? NOT

Arch

>Hi Wally,

I use a figure 8 with one straight leg. Your calipers look to be a really useful advance, and your work sure proves it. Trying to hide my ignorance by nitpicking; should both of the caliper's leg ends be curved? Probably not necessary for the thin walls you can make.

All best, Arch

Re: Calipers....What Do You Use?

Chuck Ludwigsen

>As far as what I currently use? It is a hybrid between the thumb-and-finger model, the only figure 8 caliper I have, and a Bill Grumbine style depth gauge (flat board with a dowel in it to measure depth inside and then again outside).

I have seen a commercial model at the local club meeting that strikes me as very good and a good investment. The photo below is from "The Woodturners Catalog".

But I would like to take this thread in 2 directions.

1) I would like examples, pictures, descriptions, or rough drawings of shopmade calipers that others can make. I would be willing to do my best to draw them out in a measured template drawing and link to my website (the jig owner will get the credit I assure you). Many in this forum need to spread limited funds tightly but would benefit greatly from anything that improves quality.

What say you? Anyone have rough plans, pics, or drawings that they would like some assistance "cleaning up?"

2) How do you insure that the spot measurements at several locations are not hiding any subtle flat spots or fat spots across a range of the vessel? I am really talking about those that might not register as a "bump" with our fingers. What types of calipers have you made or purchased that register a profile while also showing the thickness across a profile length?

All thoughts are welcome.

Chuck in Memphis, TN.

Re: Calipers....What Do You Use?

Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL

>Wally, Good Thread. I have not posted because we are fighting the "Netsky" Virus on our computer system, and I did not have time to take a picture until noon today.

Here are the three Bowl calipers that I have. The last is a Sorby model that I got off the discount table at Highland Hardware, and is the one that I use the most. It suits most of the shapes and sized that I do, but would not work well for a long slender hollow form.

Mark

These *LINK*

Garrett in Victoria BC CA

>I finally broke down and bought these from Lee Valley. They work very well, and as with all LV stuff, look and feel good. (This is the Canadian site, so check your US$ price.)

Cheers, Garrett


Lee Valley Turner's Calipers

Re: Calipers....What Do You Use?

Brad Vietje

>Wally -- Do you use something like this for small forms ? I sometimes make tiny hollow forms, turned on the pith, and shoot for about 1/16 inch or so -- they are real light, like a tiny bird. I often leave a very thin, natural edge rim the entire diameter of the stick or log, and there is a fair amount of undercutting just inside a small opening, usually too small for my pinky.

The only thing I've found that seems to work is a custom bent wire. I leave a gap between opposite ends of the wire about twice as thick as my target thickness, try to get one end in there, and then see how much gap there is outside the vessel. Combined with sound, this usually works pretty well.

safe Spinning,

Brad Vietje

Thetford, VT

Re: Calipers....What Do You Use?

Wally Dickerman at Green Valley, Az.

>Brad, I too turn quite a few very small, thin walled vessels. I use the Australian calipers shown above. Actually it's a set of two. One for the area from the rim to the wide part of the vessel, and the one shown for the rest. They're quite accurate. The Stewart caliper works great for the area near the bottom. When you're turning pieces that are 1/16 inch and even less, accurate measuring devices are very necessary.

I also use sound, and I know the sound you hear just before going through the side of the piece.

Wally

Re: Calipers....What Do You Use?

Ric Erkes

>Wally, you stirred things up a little. No excuse for not posting, other than thinking I wouldn't have anything to add. Sorry to have to post individually.

My first is an example of the wire gauge that some have already mentioned. I first saw David Ellsworth use one. It is 3/16" thick and can be found at a local Hardware store for around 3 bucks. (Cut it in half for my next gauge pic.)

To use it, set a gap size, and then run the gauge along the sides and note the remaining gap.

Re: Calipers....What Do You Use?

Ric Erkes

>This one is a home made Stewart style. I used the other half of my 3/16" wire and taped it to a 1/2" internal diameter plastic tube. Through the tube goes a 1/2" dowel. Cut off the dowel at the top end of the tube when the dowel bottoms out against the wire. Then place a washer on the end of the dowel to aid in visualizing the distance.

This gauge is very helpful along the bottom of the piece and under rims.

(The bowl in the picture was just handy. The gauge is a little overkill for that one.)

Re: Calipers....What Do You Use?

Ric Erkes

>Here shows how you can place the tip into a recess between the jaws to get an accurate gauge of the bottom thickness.

Re: Calipers....What Do You Use?

Ric Erkes

>This is a simple bowl depth gauge with one simple addition. Put an off center hole in it to use in a piece with a small opening and a wide shoulder, as in the picture.

Use the center hole in a wide mouth bowl.

(Another high cost gauge.)

Re: Calipers....What Do You Use?

Ric Erkes

>Okay, so you don't think I'm too cheap, I did buy this one. I couldn't figure out how to make it.

This one is handy in two ways. It memorizes the thickness of a piece and can be pulled out an examined. It can also be set at a fixed opening and then run along the sides to watch for inconsistancies.

Sorry Wally I didn't post right away, because like others I appreciate your inputs. I may have to make one of yours!

Ric

Re: Calipers....What Do You Use? *LINK*

Bill Grumbine, Kutztown PA

>Well, I'm getting here later than I wanted to, but that is life here at the Five Barns complex. Nothing ever seems to work out the way I plan it. But anyway...

I use three or four different types of calipers, gauges, or whatever you want to call them. Below are two types of purchased calipers.

The double ended figure eight calipers are good for a lot of points on a hollow form. The bowtie calipers are especially valuable up near the neck where it is hard to get something else in for an accurate reading.

Here is my copy of the Ellsworth gauge. It is nothing more than a couple of feet of 10 ga copper wire. It is easy enough to bend to shape, but still stiff enough to maintain its shape.

Finally, here is my depth gauge. It is nothing more than two sticks through a board. Three points make a plane, giving you an exact point on the outside as to where the inside bottom is located. You don't need to break off anyone's antenna, and it allows very accurate marking without having to measure anything. If you are not sure how to use this thing, the complete article is on my website, listed below. The name of the link is Bowl Depth Gauge. It works on hollow forms as well.

I hope this helps some of you out. I know I have enjoyed seeing what other people do, and am looking forward to trying out some other methods.

Bill


Bill Grumbine's Personal Space