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Thickness Calipers
http://mowrystrings.luthiersforum.com/forum/viewtopic.php?f=10128&t=26122		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  SStallings [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 12:24 pm ]
Post subject:  Thickness Calipers
I've got the guage but need ideas for the "body" to measure top thicknesses. Stew-Mac's is a little pricey. Anyone have any pics of their set-up? Thanks.
Author:  Shane Neifer [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 2:07 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thickness Calipers
This is mine that I made a few years back. I works quite well.

Attachment:
Caliper5.jpg


Shane
Author:  WudWerkr [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 2:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thickness Calipers
excellent piece of work there shane . I see that in my future as well . [:Y:] [clap]
Author:  Pat Foster [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 4:13 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thickness Calipers
Shane, that's really elegant.

Mine's plain, but works. Made of scrap maple.

Attachment:
l1.jpg


Pat
Author:  Arnt Rian [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 4:23 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thickness Calipers
Here's mine, another simple plywood affair. It is inexpensive and it works, but no beauty prices for this one... :lol:

Attachment:
8-1.jpg
Author:  Haans [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 5:38 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thickness Calipers
When my 30 year old IV caliper jumped off the bench last fall, I decided to go digital and have inches and mm. Cannabalized the lever and used a scrap of Coco...

Image
Author:  WudWerkr [ Thu Feb 18, 2010 5:40 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thickness Calipers
ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm haans will u send me that one ? laughing6-hehe I like it , I like it
Author:  SStallings [ Fri Feb 19, 2010 10:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thickness Calipers
Thanks for the ideas. I was wondering, would there be any advantage to having a "table" as the bottom arm so that a top would sit flat and not have to be held while it is being measured? Or is that simply over-thinking?
Author:  Dave Stewart [ Fri Feb 19, 2010 11:47 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thickness Calipers
No, that would work, but if that's what you want, I'd do it on a drillpress table, like this (not mine).
Attachment:
drillpress thickness.jpg

Then, go ahead & build the type others have shown, as you'll probably want that too.
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Fri Feb 19, 2010 12:22 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thickness Calipers
Actually, a flat table would not work for "top thickness", as it would mask unevenness on the table side, and only measure the thickness of the thickest variant. It would not measure thickness at the point of measurement. You need two points that are opposite each other to get accurate readings, even then you get variations if you slightly lean the top or piece you are measuring.
Author:  Dave Stewart [ Fri Feb 19, 2010 12:32 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thickness Calipers
Yep, you're exactly right Waddy! Too quick on the draw! oops_sign
Author:  John A [ Fri Feb 19, 2010 8:31 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thickness Calipers
Dave Stewart wrote:
No, that would work, but if that's what you want, I'd do it on a drillpress table, like this (not mine).
Attachment:
drillpress thickness.jpg

Then, go ahead & build the type others have shown, as you'll probably want that too.



You know I just noticed the effect of leaning the side too much and getting a thicker reading - I think it may have lead me to over thinning a little bit. I was going to make a new holder that has a 1 inch by 1 inch platform to rest the wood on - maybe a little platform of granite or Corian since that is flat. What do you all think ?
Author:  Haans [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 7:29 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thickness Calipers
Nope, you need two pins that touch. I had to bevel and round the nylon screw I used because it gave "various" readings.
Author:  Colin S [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 7:46 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thickness Calipers
I made this a good few years ago, as a temporary fixture as I needed one quickly, meaning to make a better one when I had the time. Well I've had the time but as this did the job perfectly never felt the need to up-date it.

Colin

Image
Author:  John A [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 7:56 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thickness Calipers
Looks just like mine. So when you move the board you have to be careful to hold it even, and if you move it - just move it to get the lowest reading. I was hoping for something a little more reliable. I guess you can't have everything.
Author:  WaddyThomson [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:34 am ]
Post subject:  Re: Thickness Calipers
It will only give you an approximate reading, but that should be close enough. There are too many variables in tilt. If you had tiny points, it would be more accurate, but then you'd damage your surface. So, yes there is always a trade off.
Author:  Darrel Friesen [ Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:25 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: Thickness Calipers
Here's one I built about ten years ago based on the one in the benedetto book and still use today for archtops rough thicknessing. It gets me within 64ths which is usually close enough at least for me. A piece of maple, a small pulley, a guitar string, bent piece of 1/4" tubing and a piece off a broken tape measure.
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