Thanks for the input,lots of good points. I past on set on ebay cause looking at the pics of that set,some of the blocks look different. So I don't think all blocks were original to the set. So going to keep my eye's open for next few weeks as suggested and see what popups. Yea that Shars set be nice to have but at that price its out of my league,and Shars is closed for the next two weeks,so need to rust into purchase
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Gage Blocks?
- Thread starter Kroll
- Start date
KBC in Canada has a 36 pc set of shop grade blocks for $161 CDN.
www.kbctools.ca
Given the exchange rate right now you could order from Canada and I bet they’d be fairly cheap.
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KBC,36PC WORKSHOP GAGE BLOCK SET NIST CERT,2-670-036,KBC Tools & Machinery
KBC,36PC WORKSHOP GAGE BLOCK SET NIST CERT,2-670-036,KBC Tools & Machinery
Given the exchange rate right now you could order from Canada and I bet they’d be fairly cheap.
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I bought an almost complete (70 out of 81pc?) Mitotuyo metric set off eBay to calibrate my micrometers for $40 or so a few years back. Calibrated mics, put back in draw, never used since 
Being a metric man in the US has its advantages, also got a 0-225mm Starrett depth gauge for $50 of eBay
Being a metric man in the US has its advantages, also got a 0-225mm Starrett depth gauge for $50 of eBay
i was lucky enough to find blocks on ebay when things were still cheap
the most amazing set i got was from a real perfectionist, they were hand made fractional blocks, precise to .0001"
www.hobby-machinist.com
the most amazing set i got was from a real perfectionist, they were hand made fractional blocks, precise to .0001"
The Survey of Antique Fractional Gage Blocks
i was surfin' on the site that sounds alot like E-Pay.... i found a wonderfully handcrafted set of antique fractional gage blocks that spoke to me :grin big: so i got them! not knowing the accuracy of the blocks, i decided to clean and measure them and cross check with other mic's and...
www.hobby-machinist.com
I have the Shars English 81 piece gauge block set, and I also just bought the Shars 87 piece metric gauge block set. In both cases, I bought the Grade B economy, which is all I could afford.
The Shars sets are very presentable. Generally, I think Shars has terrible quality, but I would never have been able to afford better. I would say that these are fine for hobby use. Each gauge block has a unique serial number, and the etchings that show the dimension are very easy to read and the etchings look like they will last forever.
In both cases, I remember being very impressed with the appearance of these gauge block sets.
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Kroll, this is just an opinion but a gauge block set, just like a pin gauge set, is sort of an extravagance in a hobby shop. Nice to have for the rare occasion you'll use them but I'm not sure that justifies the cost. If you're willing to use the blocks for setting up cuts and such then great, but do you normally work to sub-tenth tolerances? Are you concerned that using them might scratch them and affect their accuracy? Most guys are ... so the blocks sit. Then you tell yourself that you'll use them to check your mics but to really calibrate your mics you need a set that is accurate to between 2-6 millionths, which is a Grade-0 set.
I speak from experience. I own a pin gauge set, a Grade-B gauge block set from a Metrology Lab and a Mitutoyo Cerastone Grade-0 mic calibration set. In the last 25 years the pin gauges came out maybe twice. Over that same time period the Grade B set came out a handful of times to check my mics so I could trust their readings. I just got my Mit set a few months ago and that has been used to check all my smaller mics so it has come in useful but this isn't something the average hobby guy really needs.
If I were just starting out, I would not buy a full pin gauge or gauge block set. I would look for a good used Grade-A Starrett or Mitutoyo mic calibration gauge block set on ebay. It will not be lab-grade but it will give you the confidence you need to trust your mics - good enough. Then spend your money on stuff you will really use.
I speak from experience. I own a pin gauge set, a Grade-B gauge block set from a Metrology Lab and a Mitutoyo Cerastone Grade-0 mic calibration set. In the last 25 years the pin gauges came out maybe twice. Over that same time period the Grade B set came out a handful of times to check my mics so I could trust their readings. I just got my Mit set a few months ago and that has been used to check all my smaller mics so it has come in useful but this isn't something the average hobby guy really needs.
If I were just starting out, I would not buy a full pin gauge or gauge block set. I would look for a good used Grade-A Starrett or Mitutoyo mic calibration gauge block set on ebay. It will not be lab-grade but it will give you the confidence you need to trust your mics - good enough. Then spend your money on stuff you will really use.
mikey,I'm in that boat with erikmannie. But your right on its a luxury thing,I purchase a small set at Resale shop but several blocks are missing. From what I could find which was not much was very pricey to replace. The set that I have is economy set but its an older set I guess. The other day I was needing to check a key way in bore which I had that block and it fit which put it at .119 Thanks to member he told me that is metric 3mm I would like to be able to mill a slot and use gage blocks to check size. With all being close quarters on mill checking a slot gets crowded. So does anyone know who may sell individual economy gage blocks? I can't spend that kind money for a new gage block set even from Shars so I may pass on that though and just look on ebay or keep trying to find some replacement gage blocks for set I have. Mikey thanks for putting this in prespective, back down to earth
I agree about the cost vs long term actual usage of these. I do like it that I have an ultimate reference to check out and set the micrometers. I have several micrometers, acquired at very low price, that were in really poor condition. Taken apart, de-rusted, and polished up, I managed to (home-brew style), lap the anvils, and use the C-Spanner to get them right. A single 25mm gauge block was all I needed.
I have also a couple of flea market sine bars, clearly hardly used. These things need the correct pile of exact gauge blocks to deliver the angle. I found it no problem to knock up a custom "use once gauge" from a piece of M10 bolt. I rubbed the ends to an adequate finish using a glass flat and abrasive paper lap, and fine tuned the other end, using a 25-50mm micrometer that I knew was truthful. It did not take long!
How often do need to do this? Honestly - not so often that I want to spend hundreds on lovely kit that sits in the cupboard 99% of rest of my life. I accept some want the very best to hand, but it's like I don't need a Rolex, nor any amazing tiny machine to tell the time anymore. Its right there on my phone!
I have also a couple of flea market sine bars, clearly hardly used. These things need the correct pile of exact gauge blocks to deliver the angle. I found it no problem to knock up a custom "use once gauge" from a piece of M10 bolt. I rubbed the ends to an adequate finish using a glass flat and abrasive paper lap, and fine tuned the other end, using a 25-50mm micrometer that I knew was truthful. It did not take long!
How often do need to do this? Honestly - not so often that I want to spend hundreds on lovely kit that sits in the cupboard 99% of rest of my life. I accept some want the very best to hand, but it's like I don't need a Rolex, nor any amazing tiny machine to tell the time anymore. Its right there on my phone!