Hollow turning calipers

Re: Hollow turning calipers *LINK*

Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL

>I find these calipers from Lee Valley to be just about the best ones around.

My only complaint is that I need an even bigger set. I think I am going to buy one of their big ones, and modify it.

Mark


http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=43201&cat=1,330,49237&ap=1

.050" drill bit

tdaniel

>I drill a tiny hole and stick a piece of wire thru it to check wall thickness in areas I can't reach otherwise. When I sand with oil the hole disappears.

TD

Re: .050" drill bit

John Trant (Baltimore/DC area)

>What a great idea!! I thought I had used (or at least heard of) just about every method for measuring wall thickness but I never thought of this. I would think a thinner bit would be better (such as a #50) but what do I know. Thanks for the tip!

John

Re: Hollow turning calipers

philj

>Thanks Mark

This is helpful for sure but I almost need something like double-ended calipers where the ends are at right angles to each other so that I can get around angle from neck to top. Any other thoughts. Thanks again

Re: Hollow turning calipers *LINK*

Ronny Eelen

>What about the Kelton calipers...


http://www.kelton.co.nz/caliper.html

sorry, .035"

tdaniel

>

Re: Hollow turning calipers

Tom Reiman

>I forgot who came up with this one, but just get a heavy duty solid copper ground wire and bend it into any shape that you desire. Leave the two ends a set distance apart, say 1", and then put the caliper inside and touch the inside of the form. Measure the distance (or eyeball) and subract from your original 1" and you have the wall thickness.

Works great because you can customize it for every point on your hollow form and all you have to do is re-bend it.

Re: Hollow turning calipers

tombuchner

>Phil

Take a hanger, cut two equal lengths, bend each end into a square hook so that when the are put together they form a continuous rectangle. when measuing the part next to the rim, put the hook of one into the hole and the straight part of the second above that hook on the outside, the gap at the other end is your thickness.

Hope this is somewhat clear.

Tom Buchner

Re: Hollow turning calipers

Don Henthorn

>Check some of Wally Dickerman's posts. He has a picture of a caliper he uses that isn't hard to make and does an excellent job.

Re: Hollow turning calipers

Ken from SW WI

>If I understand correctly, that's two L-shaped wires? Sounds like a winner to me, as long as they're both identical in length/shape and held somewhat parallel to each other.

Re: Hollow turning calipers

Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL

>Phil,

The Lee Valley ones are the only one's that I know of that will meet that requirement. I have many double ended calipers, and none of them will work a hollow form in the trasition from the body to neck if the opening is small.

Mark

Re: Hollow turning calipers

tombuchner

>Correct. But more like a squared off "J" than a "L". And, yes it is best if they are identical in length and shape.

Tom