25 years ago, my wife and I were at a flea market. Some guy was selling a Starrett micrometer. I had an idea of what it was worth and he was only asking $40 for it. I had just bought a house and had no urgent need for it. I kick myself all of the time for not grabbing it.
many years ago in my younger days, I used several different types of them in the commercial printing business, running newspaper press'. I've probably have lost my touch for them. sucks getting old, but beats the alternative.
Everything seems to be digital these days. I have a couple micrometers and one vernier caliper that I need to refresh my mind on how to read and get my reading glasses out to get the numbers. Daryl
I was a tool and die maker’s apprentice before I lost my mind and joined the Army. Still have my one inch, two inch, depth Mike and a six inch dial caliper. Still use them for OAL and case trimming while reloading. Loved that stuff, but by the time I retired, machining had moved on with cad machines and I was way behind the power curve. Just kept blowing up duds for money. Now I’m retired, I might find me an old Bridgeport milling machine and a decent lathe and see what kind of mischief I can get into. Eod1sg Ret
The first tools I bought as an apprentice machinist were 0-3" Mitutoyo mics 6" Etalon caliper 1" NSK dial indicator (2) Interapid test indicators Mag base Edge finder Dead blow hammer Kennedy tool chest The bare minimum a machinist will need, and worthless if he doesn't know how to use them. Boss let me purchase these "on time" and make payments. He also gave me a well-thumbed Machinery's Handbook. He took me under his wing, became my mentor and friend. That was over 40 years ago. (RIP, Doyal.)
I went to an estate sale on the last day a few years ago. There were two Mitutoyo digital micrometers (.00005 precision) and a Mitutoyo dial caliper sitting in with some other items. Just out of curiosity, I asked what they wanted for them. When they said $20 for all three I almost broke my wrist getting the cash out.
You, sir, had me giggling for a few minutes there. 'Cause isn't that just the truth? Remember: There's no difference between theory and practice. In theory.
My dad was a metal fabricator in my earlier years. He showed and taught me how to use a micrometer back in the 70's. Let me take it to "show and tell" at school one day. Everyone was amazed that I could measure the diameter of their hair down to the thousandth of an inch. I was the "cool" kid for that one day. I inherited them all after he passed and some POS I hired to clean out my house when moving I'm pretty sure swiped them. God knows what they were worth monetarily, but they were more of an emotional value to me.
I have both a regular 0-1" analog and also a metric. They were both free from former employers. The inch micrometer had a few rust stains from being in a toolbox that had gotten wet. The stainless steel micrometer was fine. It only needed to be cleaned and oiled. The metric was not being used and was surplussed when a bunch of unused instruments were being cleared out due to a lack of storage space. Both passed calibration when I checked them about three years ago.
25 years ago, my wife and I were at a flea market. Some guy was selling a Starrett micrometer. I had an idea of what it was worth and he was only asking $40 for it. I had just bought a house and had no urgent need for it. I kick myself all of the time for not grabbing it.
ReplyDeleteI recently bought a Starrett at a local garage sale for $1. Probably could have talked them down.
DeleteMy best at a garage sale was $10 each for a 275 lbs anvil and a 12" Wilton vise.
Deletemany years ago in my younger days, I used several different types of them in the commercial printing business, running newspaper press'. I've probably have lost my touch for them. sucks getting old, but beats the alternative.
ReplyDeleteEverything seems to be digital these days. I have a couple micrometers and one vernier caliper that I need to refresh my mind on how to read and get my reading glasses out to get the numbers.
ReplyDeleteDaryl
I was a tool and die maker’s apprentice before I lost my mind and joined the Army. Still have my one inch, two inch, depth Mike and a six inch dial caliper. Still use them for OAL and case trimming while reloading. Loved that stuff, but by the time I retired, machining had moved on with cad machines and I was way behind the power curve. Just kept blowing up duds for money. Now I’m retired, I might find me an old Bridgeport milling machine and a decent lathe and see what kind of mischief I can get into. Eod1sg Ret
ReplyDeleteThe first tools I bought as an apprentice machinist were
ReplyDelete0-3" Mitutoyo mics
6" Etalon caliper
1" NSK dial indicator
(2) Interapid test indicators
Mag base
Edge finder
Dead blow hammer
Kennedy tool chest
The bare minimum a machinist will need, and worthless if he doesn't know how to use them.
Boss let me purchase these "on time" and make payments. He also gave me a well-thumbed Machinery's Handbook. He took me under his wing, became my mentor and friend.
That was over 40 years ago. (RIP, Doyal.)
And a Starret 6” scale, possibly wit hook
DeleteI went to an estate sale on the last day a few years ago. There were two Mitutoyo digital micrometers (.00005 precision) and a Mitutoyo dial caliper sitting in with some other items. Just out of curiosity, I asked what they wanted for them. When they said $20 for all three I almost broke my wrist getting the cash out.
ReplyDeleteWere you wearing a bandana over your face? What a steal!
DeleteMeasure with a micrometer, mark with chalk, cut with an axe.
ReplyDeleteYou, sir, had me giggling for a few minutes there. 'Cause isn't that just the truth? Remember: There's no difference between theory and practice. In theory.
DeleteYou just described my handyman skills
Delete& cover with paint...
DeleteThat's about the size of it. Thanks for the laugh.
DeleteMy dad was a metal fabricator in my earlier years. He showed and taught me how to use a micrometer back in the 70's. Let me take it to "show and tell" at school one day. Everyone was amazed that I could measure the diameter of their hair down to the thousandth of an inch. I was the "cool" kid for that one day. I inherited them all after he passed and some POS I hired to clean out my house when moving I'm pretty sure swiped them. God knows what they were worth monetarily, but they were more of an emotional value to me.
ReplyDeleteI have both a regular 0-1" analog and also a metric. They were both free from former employers. The inch micrometer had a few rust stains from being in a toolbox that had gotten wet. The stainless steel micrometer was fine. It only needed to be cleaned and oiled. The metric was not being used and was surplussed when a bunch of unused instruments were being cleared out due to a lack of storage space. Both passed calibration when I checked them about three years ago.
ReplyDelete