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I found this caliper and divider set. I dont currently one one and was wondering what you guys thought of the set. Reg 44.00 on sale for 22.00 How often do you guys use them in a build?

http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/202048 ... viewHeader

thanks
matt

I have a dial caliper. They also have a digital one on sale. What do you guys think of this?
http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/202012 ... liper.aspx

•Take accurate digital readings in millimeters, inches or fractions at the touch of the function button
•The large, easy to read, 1/2" x 1-1/4" LCD screen displays measurements in .0005", .01mm, or 1/64" resolutions
•Make inside, outside and depth measurements to 6"
Features include:
•Auto power off
•Zero setting at any position

I do enjoy having my 6" digital on hand. Helpful for metric to standard conversions too.

I do think that a 24" would be wonderful (dial or dig) for doing non-standard fret layouts, but don't want to think about what it would cost! LOL

I have a full set of dividers that I don't ever seem to have a use for. On the other hand I've worn out several dial and digital calipers and I use mine constantly. One other tool I use a lot is a pencil compass from Lee Valley http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=32626&cat=1,42936,42937 but I don't remember it being that expensive, maybe I got it on sale. I usually use it as a rough marking gauge and occasionally as a compass.

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Steve Smith
"Music is what feelings sound like"

I have a number of dial and digital calipers. The ones I reach for the most are the 4 inchers I got at grizzly http://grizzly.com/products/searchresul ... aliper%204 they have a nice selection

_________________
John Hall
blues creek guitars
Authorized CF Martin Repair
Co President of ASIA
You Don't know what you don't know until you know it

I use calipers and dividers on every build.

Many dividers also have sharp tips that are handy for scribing lines... the points are much finer than pencil lines.

In fact, I was just using them last night to layout a bridge...

Thanks

John

Go to ebay and get a real good Japanese or American Dial face caliper, stay away from digital. They are going real cheap if your selective, like $15.00 or less!

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Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

I have this one http://www.woodcraft.com/Product/202011 ... liper.aspx It cost more but I bought on sale for 40.00. It also does more.

I haven't used my manual calipers or scribes at all for guitar building, only for lathe
work. But as said, I use my 6" digital measuring calipers constantly- for plate thickness,
body depth, layout work, etc. I'm from the engineering school, so I find it much easier
to use the digital calipers that measure to 0.001", not the fractional kind.

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Gene

Politicians and diapers must be changed often, and for the same reason- Mark Twain

Thanks for the help. I 'll look into a dig caliper that does both at the same time

I have a cheap digital but it only measures to two decimals. It is handy but uses more batteries than I had expected. If you get one be sure to buy a pack of batteries. There is nothing like a dead digital . I would suggest a good dial that reads in thousandths.

Bob

I have a digital and a few other types, but prefer my 6" dial caliper which also measures to .001". Batteries are a pain on the digital unless you use it constantly. which I don't, having to find build time where I can. On the digital I have, the batteries go dead fairly fast if you don't remove them when not using the thing for a couple of months.

http://cgi.ebay.com/MITUTOYO-DIAL-CALIP ... 53deb739a9


So cheap its scary? They have really taken a price plunge in the past year. $85.00 fine tool for $10 bucks.

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Here is what a Parlor Guitar is for!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oEa8PkjO6_I

Thanks I am watching a few on ebay right now. See if I can grab one.

I find those spring calipers to be very useful when tapering top thickness to the edges of the lower bout. I use two, and set them to a couple of thickness presets, then I don't have to keep measuring and looking at the numbers. If it fits you are right on, if it won't go, you are still too thick. It's quick and requires much less time than measuring. Also, they have more reach than the depth of the digital. IMO, they are different tools with different uses. Dividers can be useful for many tasks too.

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Waddy

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