Tricks of the trade when aligning things?

[Winegrower]

To get X parallel to Y, adjustable parallels are the ticket.

 

[C-Bag]

After learning of the Center-Mike I had to know more, so did a search. In addition to some descriptions, I found one for sale on Etsy in better condition than & at a lower price than what came up on eBay, so I bought it:

Etsy:
View attachment 429457

After cleaning and giving a coat of Renaissance Wax:
View attachment 429458
The box I had (yes, the instruction plaque isn't centered, but it does cover a blemish in the lid).

I'd always struggled with measuring accurately between center's of holes. In a thread about just that member UglyDog asked what everybody used besides the Center-Mike and everybody on the thread went "what?" I went immediately to ebay and found one for I think $35? Two days later most of the many C_M's were gone and the remaining had gone through the roof. When H-M speaks about tools, ebay empties Mine was who knows how old and was semi frozen with I think old grease. Freed up easy enough and the original wood case in a good shape.

One thing, it looks like you are missing the test gauge. That is a very necessary piece to learn how to use the Mike properly. It's for your practice, not to calibrate the Mike. It's the plate with holes in it shown the instruction plate.

 

[ChazzC]

I'd always struggled with measuring accurately between center's of holes. In a thread about just that member UglyDog asked what everybody used besides the Center-Mike and everybody on the thread went "what?" I went immediately to ebay and found one for I think $35? Two days later most of the many C_M's were gone and the remaining had gone through the roof. When H-M speaks about tools, ebay empties Mine was who knows how old and was semi frozen with I think old grease. Freed up easy enough and the original wood case in a good shape.

One thing, it looks like you are missing the test gauge. That is a very necessary piece to learn how to use the Mike properly. It's for your practice, not to calibrate the Mike. It's the plate with holes in it shown the instruction plate.

Many of the ones I saw were also missing the test gauge, but I figured that I can make one (or have my buddy the semi-retired machinist make one after I show him the tool). I have a set of center measuring "jaws" for one of my digital calipers which perform well, but this is such a neat device that I had to add one to my collection.

 

[C-Bag]

this is such a neat device that I had to add one to my collection.

Exactly. I’m grateful every time I use mine for the instructions and the test plate. I’ve only used it a handful of times but each time I have to learn all over. It’s not like any other tool I have so even though I now get the idea it take a couple of times to get within .001 or less. The test plate is to 4 places so just like using a micrometer you have to develop a feel. The holes in the test plate are counter sunk on one side so it provides a finer edge to develop feel. I remember first getting it and had no idea what that plate was. I could see how it could get lost. It was remarkable how many were on eBay that first time I searched. It was like a lost art and I never would have stumbled on to it without UglyDog and H-M.