Dial Indicators
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
Dial Indicators
I'm looking to purchase a used dial indicator to do the run out on the rotors, which one do most of you use/recomend? I will also need the base so a recomendation for that would also help.
Thanks.
Thanks.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Dec 2006
Posts: 2,483
Likes: 1
From: Bay Area CA
Great value for the money and it's on sale now.
http://littlemachineshop.com/product...1782&category=
Burning Brakes
Joined: Jan 2006
Posts: 1,152
Likes: 23
From: Kawartha Lakes and PEC, Ontario
Tech Contributor
Joined: Aug 1999
Posts: 15,187
Likes: 4,009
From: Connecticut, USA
You can find the cheap ones all over for $15-$30. Remember you get what you pay for. I used a couple of them and they lasted maybe one differential rebuild before I threw them out. They have cheap internals and tend to start sticking, not good if you want to measure something precisely. I only use a Starrett now and they run about $100+. If you're just using it once in a while you may be ok, the mag bases suck as well. I always C clamp them when checking bearings or rotors.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Race Director
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 19,610
Likes: 778
From: Forked River NJ
with Gary. I use mine quite often and do use it for work also. I have a Mititoyo indicator with a good base that is quite solid. The cheapys are good for a little while but like most other tools you get what you pay for.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2007
Posts: 6,422
Likes: 591
From: McHenry Illinois
You can find the cheap ones all over for $15-$30. Remember you get what you pay for. I used a couple of them and they lasted maybe one differential rebuild before I threw them out. They have cheap internals and tend to start sticking, not good if you want to measure something precisely. I only use a Starrett now and they run about $100+. If you're just using it once in a while you may be ok, the mag bases suck as well. I always C clamp them when checking bearings or rotors.
Good luck.
Good luck.
If you're going to depend on your tools, buy good ones.
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Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
You can find the cheap ones all over for $15-$30. Remember you get what you pay for. I used a couple of them and they lasted maybe one differential rebuild before I threw them out. They have cheap internals and tend to start sticking, not good if you want to measure something precisely. I only use a Starrett now and they run about $100+. If you're just using it once in a while you may be ok, the mag bases suck as well. I always C clamp them when checking bearings or rotors.
Good luck.
Good luck.
Thanks
Burning Brakes
Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 1,006
Likes: 28
From: Lutz Florida
Central Tools is also a good quality brand - Made in USA. If you do an internet search you can find the dial indicator with magnetic base for around sixty dollars new.
I have seen sets on eBay too. Snap-on makes a good set(I think it may be made by Central Tool too).
I have seen sets on eBay too. Snap-on makes a good set(I think it may be made by Central Tool too).
Thread Starter
Safety Car
Joined: Mar 2005
Posts: 4,255
Likes: 82
From: Brampton Ont.
I've been checked used Starett's and Mitutoyo's on Ebay and have noticed that some say, "hasen't been calibrated in a while". Is calibration something a DIY er can do, or is it like a torque wrench that has to be sent in?
Instructor
Joined: May 2009
Posts: 125
Likes: 0
From: tacoma wa
am a machinist and use mine daily. mitsutoyo is good starret is better. these guys are correct you get what you pay for but for average use i think you could get away with a $30-$60 range one pretty well.
i dont run name brand mag bases, they all seem to perform fairly well. mini mag is a great product but cant tell you what my cheap bases are for brand. generic.
oh for indicators e-bay could be a crap shoot as to when these are dropped, hard telling what working order they will end up in.
doug
i dont run name brand mag bases, they all seem to perform fairly well. mini mag is a great product but cant tell you what my cheap bases are for brand. generic.
oh for indicators e-bay could be a crap shoot as to when these are dropped, hard telling what working order they will end up in.
doug
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
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From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
We went to a flea market a while back and I came across a man selling some Starrett and another US made indicators. They were last word/tell tale indicators. But he had one that had never been out of the box. I don't know if I got a good deal or not but I bought most every thing he had for $36. I have been meaning to post pics but have not ran into a thread that called for it. Maybe I need to run downstairs and snap one just so I can show what I found.
Race Director
Joined: Feb 1999
Posts: 19,659
Likes: 34
From: Lenoir City Tennessee
Ci 6, 8 & 10 Veteran
St. Jude Donor '05-'06-'07-'08-'09-'10-'11-'12-'13-'14-'15
CF JASOC Member
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 8,040
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From: Downtown Annapolis, MD. The Future is where we all have to live. Let's not screw it up.
St. Jude Donor '08-'09-'10-'11
My Grandfather was a machinist at FoMoCo in Detroit back in the 20s-30s and then a Master Tool and Die maker at the Washington Navy Yard in the 50s-60s.
I have literally dozens of Starrett micrometers and dial gauges, and the only thing I've ever really used with any frequency are the dial gauges for doing the run-out on C3 rotors.
When you gotta have 'em, you gotta have 'em.
