Dial indiators for gunsmithing

[skelso]

I have been away from the gun business for over 20 years. I recently decided to buy some equipment and start doing some work on my own collection. The lathe I bought is still in transit but I have been hitting up some used tool vendors, pawn shops, etc in my area looking for deals on tooling and accessories.

I found (2) dial indiators with boxes and all their parts. One is Mitutoyo, I don't reall the brand on the other. I can get them both for $80 tax included.

Here's my dillema:

From what I reall, at the gunshop, we would set barrels up with .001 indicators, then do final truing with .0001 indicators. These indicators I found are .0005 indicators and I can't decide if they would be very useful to have or not.

Thoughts?

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[Ray C]

I have been away from the gun business for over 20 years. I recently decided to buy some equipment and start doing some work on my own collection. The lathe I bought is still in transit but I have been hitting up some used tool vendors, pawn shops, etc in my area looking for deals on tooling and accessories.

I found (2) dial indiators with boxes and all their parts. One is Mitutoyo, I don't reall the brand on the other. I can get them both for $80 tax included.

Here's my dillema:

From what I reall, at the gunshop, we would set barrels up with .001 indicators, then do final truing with .0001 indicators. These indicators I found are .0005 indicators and I can't decide if they would be very useful to have or not.

Thoughts?

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Usually, the difference between a 0.0001 and 0.0005" mic is their overall swing range. A 0.0001 typically travels a total of +/- 5 or 6 thou and a 0.0005 will have a swing of +/- 10 or 15 thou. I have several of each and for most things, use them interchangeably with no problem at all. It's pretty rare to be cutting parts that really need tenths indication. Anyhow, if you have any eyesight issues, the tenths indicator will show movement a little better so, that's a factor you might want to consider.


Ray

 

[Stob]

I use a .0005" Mitutoyo that has a stylus that is about an inch long, but the indicator body itself has a "frame" that is about 3/8". I can predrill a chamber (except for a 223 class case) and run the indicator up into the drilled hole where the throat will be. I indicate there, dial in the barrel, then bore the drilled hole true to the bore. The reamer will then follow that bored hole.

I don't recall the Mitutoyo model number, but they are still available. Now some use Interapid indicators that come with I think about a 2" long stylus, so you can get up in the bore.

 

[wallyw]

For that price I'd take the 0.0005 indicators. If I didn't have a collection of 0.001 and 0.0001. Sounds like a good compromise to me. Enough revolutions so that don't need to rough in with 0.001 indicator. Half a mark would be 0.00025. Quarter of a mark about .000125. You get the idea.

Semper Fi,

WallyW

 

[skelso]

Thanks for all the replies. I have to say hanging out with y'all is going to get expensive in a hurry...

I decided to wait it out a few days then go back to get the indicators thinking if they were there then it was meant to be. Well, I went back today and they were still there. I asked if they could do any better on price and they said "nope, at $80 for the pair we are losing a few dollars". then I noticed a set of Starrett T guages and asked about them. They were marked $79.99 and the guy said "If you buy all 3, I'll let you have everything, tax included for $140". I knew I was going to do the deal but was looking to see if I wanted anything else. While I was looking the guy pulls a Starrett depth gauge out from under some boxes and says "This has been here for a few months with no intrest from anyone. If you want it, I'll throw it in if you buy the other 3 items."

Needless to say I dropped the $140! I think I did pretty well considering I'll need these at some point.







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[wallyw]

Nice buy.

WallyW