Gage pins

[Winegrower]

I have pins up to a half inch...beyond that the cost and storage space are just too much for the occasional use. I do use the smaller pins pretty frequently, since they are very reliable measurement tools.

 

[Janderso]

I had a job where my internal mics with the tiny rod points and my snap gages just were not agreeing. The gage pins told me the mics were right. That really saved my butt.

Glad to hear it.
It's so easy to quickly and accurately identify a bore size with gage pins over snap gages.
Not to say snap gages are inaccurate but sometimes I'll get different readings. Probably due to my inexperience overall.

 

[ChazzC]

I have the cabinet. It's very convenient but gigantic. 19 wide, 33 deep, 14 high. It came on a pallet.

I don't have anything in my Shop that is 33" deep, other than 18" deep shelves that have plastic bins on a dolly in front of them.

 

[woodchucker]

I don't have anything in my Shop that is 33" deep, other than 18" deep shelves that have plastic bins on a dolly in front of them.

my thought was that it would be better using up a few drawers in a tool chest. At least you get to use the rest of the cabinet.

 

[ChazzC]

my thought was that it would be better using up a few drawers in a tool chest. At least you get to use the rest of the cabinet.

That' would be my choice: 4, 3" tall x 33"± wide x 19 deep drawers.

 

[Batmanacw]

I just used my gage pins again. I needed to press a brass fitting into aluminum. I drilled and reamed the hole and then checked it with gage pins. The 0.3906 reamer left a hole a 0.3908" pin (0.391" nominal) would not fit into. That pretty much gives me a pretty accurate size. Lol!

I turned the brass piece to 0.3915" and pressed it in with a small arbor press. Easy peezy.


I really love having them on that shelf under my workbench where I use them the most. Once the last two sets are here next week I'll label the shelves so I can grab the right case easier. Those suckers are heavy so stacking them is not quick and easy.

 

[durableoreo]

I don't have anything in my Shop that is 33" deep, other than 18" deep shelves that have plastic bins on a dolly in front of them.

No, I mixed it up between measuring and and typing. It 27"deep. But the fundamental problem is the same---it's deeper than my benches.

 

[RJSakowski]

Love my gauge pins. I have from 1/16" to 1/2" by .001". Tells you a hole is round, straight, and on size. Also use for a quick mic check.

I love my gage pins as well and use them all the time. But a gage pin won't tell you the a hole is round or straight for that matter. A hole can have lobes, it can be a barrel shaped, or it can be be curved. The pin gage just tells the the largest pin that will fit the hole.

 

[epanzella]

I love my gage pins as well and use them all the time. But a gage pin won't tell you the a hole is round or straight for that matter. A hole can have lobes, it can be a barrel shaped, or it can be be curved. The pin gage just tells the the largest pin that will fit the hole.

If the hole is curved the pin will only go in part way. If the hole is not round the largest pin that will enter the hole will have a space somewhere around it's circumference. It won't show tenths but if you're not building for NASA it can tell you a lot.

 

[durableoreo]

I love my gage pins as well and use them all the time. But a gage pin won't tell you the a hole is round or straight for that matter. A hole can have lobes, it can be a barrel shaped, or it can be be curved. The pin gage just tells the the largest pin that will fit the hole.

I think you can use an air gage setup to find lobes, taper, barrel, and other errors. My understanding is that gauging small holes is one of those problems in metrology that just doesn't have an easy answer. It's probably possible with a roundness machine, too, but that's mainly for shafts. Also, you've got to give the money tree some TLC. I've heard some of those units have air bearings with TIR under 0.000,005"