Use micrometers often?

[DeadNutz]

Last year the wife and I decided to inventory our micrometers that are just boxed up as we had no idea how many we had. I dug out the sealed boxes from SoCal and we were surprised when we opened them as everything was boxed up in 2010. All of this gear was in our QC room which we had to maintain even if we didn't use it.

We found outside micrometers from 1" to 13" with multiples of many sizes with many new ones that had never been calibrated. Most were Mitutoyo with Starrett and Polish ones also. Multiple depth mic sets and a couple of inside mics from Starrett and a new Mitutoyo inside tubular mic. I asked if she wanted to sell them and she declined and said let's just hang onto them.

I think that I've only used maybe a 1" or 2" outside mic a couple of times in the last few years as a dial or digital caliper is fine for most of what I do. How often do you use micrometers in your home shop?

[slip knot]

I got a pretty good selection of outside mics. But for inside mics I got a guy at work who loans me his. Mostly checking engine tolerances.

[pep]

I was using a digital caliper switched to the digital mic. It is actually more accurate, the flats work great on round stock.

Works great with the lathe, most think the kungfu lathes, and the dials are chinese, calibration off.

I am very happy to report and have discovered that is false, the .00001 vary some but overall real good.

This last project completed depended on the mic and the lathe calibration to make the things come together.

The 1/2 pins that are yet to be assembled, being an interference fit are ready. Working on some bushing and then it goes together.

[TexasT]

Can't say I use em often, but we have been getting an old engine together. Just a little v6 with a hair dryer, but it needs the crank and such checked out.



Came in a wooden box

Can't be sure but at least I try to keep it honest.



Fowler Bore Gauge just for fun, right.



As I age the light becomes a pretty important part of seeing.



I bought this thing years ago and it sux, hence the Fowler unit.



And lastly, One of my prized possessions. This wrench came from my father in laws stuff. The B.E. on it are his initials. I use it to turn the bolt on the engine stand so it is there and I can see it. I hope my son will have it one day.

[Uncle Buck]

Cool stuff! The quality of the Lufkin mics equals Starrett, Brown and Sharpe,  and Mitutoyo in my opinion.

There are several other exceptional quality lesser known brands that I frequently hunt in search of bargains to buy.

[john k]

My shop time is intermittent but usually have my O-1 mic in hand at least once a month,  outside calipers a bit more often.  Recently was offered a Lufkin inside micrometer set, O-8, and 2 Lufkin mics 4-5, and 5-6, coould say no.

[Uncle Buck]

My 0-4" mics are Starrett I bought new, the 5&6" were only added about 10-15 years ago. New Mitutoyo bought dirt cheap thanks to a hot tip from member Elroy. Then 6-8 months ago I started buying a broad range of machinist goodies from Ebay several of which were mics. I now have mics up to 10" (I can't imagine I will ever use those big sizes but don't regret buying them) Most of the mics I bought were Brown and Sharpe, Lufkin, Scherr Tumico,  and even one German made mic of unknown pedigree.  Now I have more Brown and Sharpe and Lufkin/Pratt & Whitney than Starrett.

I think a lot of guys only look at Mitutoyo and Starrett brands. Those are not the brands to look at for guys like me with shallow pockets! I still favor both brands but have come to appreciate a number of other brands and purchased some of them in the last year. I now include in my tool searches tools from England, Germany and Japan.

Tools from the following countries I don't trust to be high quality and accurate. (I could be wrong, but don't know) Russia, Poland, Ukraine, and of course China.

[bonneyman]

...Tools from the following countries I don't trust to be high quality and accurate. (I could be wrong, but don't know) Russia, Poland, Ukraine, and of course China.

Russia doesn't need accuracy, because they have nukes. If they get within a mile or two, that's close enough!   

[Uncle Buck]

See, that is sorta how I looked at it too, though the pics made the items look tempting enough. LOL