Calipers help

Re: Calipers help *LINK*

Mark Kauder, Phenix City, AL

>Try these

Mark


http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=43201&cat=1,43513

Re: Calipers help

John Lucas

>Ken

I make my own from either thick copper wire or coat hangers depending on the shape of the vessel. I just bend them to a sort of C shape or closed U . that will fit the vessel and leave a gap of known size. Usually 1" Then I put this inside the vessel and touch the inside. I measure the gap on the outside with a ruler. If it says 3/4" then my wall is 1/4" at that point. It is vitally important to make sure you are measuring perpendicular to the wall at that point.

The nice thing about this method is you can rebend the metal to any shape needed.

Re: Calipers help

Dick Hines

>Better yet. Get a hollowing rige with a laser pointer. I think you are using Kelton hollowers. That is what I have and it works great. No question where you are in relation to the out side

Re: Calipers help

Darryl Hansen

>Yes David uses a "Hi Tech" approach to most everything as long as it is inexpensive :<)). Just get some stiff wire bend one end at a rather sharp angle. That end is used to follow the inside of the hollow form. Bend the wire so that the gap between the two ends is the thickness you want plus about 1/8th inch. Run the 90 degree end around the inside of your form keeping it perpendicular to the wall. If the space on the outside changes then you know you have a bump on the indie that needs work. This tool works on any size form and really is an inspiration.

Re: Calipers help

ken chase

>Thanks for the terriffic explanation. I guess I'm really dumb about some things. I just don't understand how this works. I'll pick up some wire tomorrow and give it a try.

Ken

Re: Calipers help

JamieDonaldson

>I make my Ellsworth calipers from galvanized clothes line wire- very stiff, and a big coil is cheap and will make many calipers for you and all your turner friends!

Re: Calipers help

Pascal Oudet

>here is a picture showing the bent wire caliper in use in a hollow form (the HF is cut here to show the hollowing process)

Pascal

and a zoom

Pascal Oudet

>zoom on the tips.

Re: and a zoom

ken chase

>Fantastic! Thanks so much. What indicates the thickness inside?

Re: and a zoom

Pascal Oudet

>I'm not sure I understand what you mean with "thickness inside". I do as John explained: outisde of the HF, I bend the wire to adjust the space between both tips to slightly more (2 or 3mm) than the desired thickness, then the inside tip is applied against the wall, and you should see 2 or 3 mm of space between outside tip and wall.

Pascal