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 Post subject: Thickness Calipers
PostPosted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 12:24 pm 
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Cocobolo
Cocobolo

Joined: Thu Jan 06, 2005 2:40 am
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Location: United States
I've got the guage but need ideas for the "body" to measure top thicknesses. Stew-Mac's is a little pricey. Anyone have any pics of their set-up? Thanks.


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 Post subject: Re: Thickness Calipers
PostPosted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 2:07 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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This is mine that I made a few years back. I works quite well.

Attachment:
Caliper5.jpg


Shane


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 Post subject: Re: Thickness Calipers
PostPosted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 2:25 pm 
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excellent piece of work there shane . I see that in my future as well . [:Y:] [clap]

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 Post subject: Re: Thickness Calipers
PostPosted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 4:13 pm 
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Shane, that's really elegant.

Mine's plain, but works. Made of scrap maple.

Attachment:
l1.jpg


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 Post subject: Re: Thickness Calipers
PostPosted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 4:23 pm 
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Here's mine, another simple plywood affair. It is inexpensive and it works, but no beauty prices for this one... :lol:

Attachment:
8-1.jpg


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 Post subject: Re: Thickness Calipers
PostPosted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 5:38 pm 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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When my 30 year old IV caliper jumped off the bench last fall, I decided to go digital and have inches and mm. Cannabalized the lever and used a scrap of Coco...

Image


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 Post subject: Re: Thickness Calipers
PostPosted: Thu Feb 18, 2010 5:40 pm 
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ummmmmmmmmmmmmmmm haans will u send me that one ? laughing6-hehe I like it , I like it

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The Shallower the depth of the stream , The Louder the Babble !
The Taking Of Offense Is the Life Course Of The Stupid One !
Wanna Leave a Better Planet for our Kids? How about Working on BETTER KIDS for our Planet !
Forgiveness is the ability to accept an apology that you will probably NEVER GET
The truth will set you free , But FIRST, it will probably Piss you Off !
Creativity is allowing yourself to make Mistakes, Art is knowing which ones to Keep !
The Saddest thing anyone can do , is push a Loyal Person to the point that they Dont Care Anymore
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http://wiksnwudwerks.blogspot.com/
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 Post subject: Re: Thickness Calipers
PostPosted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 10:46 am 
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Cocobolo
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Thanks for the ideas. I was wondering, would there be any advantage to having a "table" as the bottom arm so that a top would sit flat and not have to be held while it is being measured? Or is that simply over-thinking?


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 Post subject: Re: Thickness Calipers
PostPosted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 11:47 am 
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Koa
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No, that would work, but if that's what you want, I'd do it on a drillpress table, like this (not mine).
Attachment:
drillpress thickness.jpg

Then, go ahead & build the type others have shown, as you'll probably want that too.


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 Post subject: Re: Thickness Calipers
PostPosted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 12:22 pm 
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Actually, a flat table would not work for "top thickness", as it would mask unevenness on the table side, and only measure the thickness of the thickest variant. It would not measure thickness at the point of measurement. You need two points that are opposite each other to get accurate readings, even then you get variations if you slightly lean the top or piece you are measuring.

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 Post subject: Re: Thickness Calipers
PostPosted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 12:32 pm 
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Koa
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Yep, you're exactly right Waddy! Too quick on the draw! oops_sign

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 Post subject: Re: Thickness Calipers
PostPosted: Fri Feb 19, 2010 8:31 pm 
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Koa
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Dave Stewart wrote:
No, that would work, but if that's what you want, I'd do it on a drillpress table, like this (not mine).
Attachment:
drillpress thickness.jpg

Then, go ahead & build the type others have shown, as you'll probably want that too.



You know I just noticed the effect of leaning the side too much and getting a thicker reading - I think it may have lead me to over thinning a little bit. I was going to make a new holder that has a 1 inch by 1 inch platform to rest the wood on - maybe a little platform of granite or Corian since that is flat. What do you all think ?

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 Post subject: Re: Thickness Calipers
PostPosted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 7:29 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Nope, you need two pins that touch. I had to bevel and round the nylon screw I used because it gave "various" readings.


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 Post subject: Re: Thickness Calipers
PostPosted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 7:46 am 
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Brazilian Rosewood
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Location: England
I made this a good few years ago, as a temporary fixture as I needed one quickly, meaning to make a better one when I had the time. Well I've had the time but as this did the job perfectly never felt the need to up-date it.

Colin

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 Post subject: Re: Thickness Calipers
PostPosted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 7:56 am 
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Koa
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Looks just like mine. So when you move the board you have to be careful to hold it even, and if you move it - just move it to get the lowest reading. I was hoping for something a little more reliable. I guess you can't have everything.

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 Post subject: Re: Thickness Calipers
PostPosted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:34 am 
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It will only give you an approximate reading, but that should be close enough. There are too many variables in tilt. If you had tiny points, it would be more accurate, but then you'd damage your surface. So, yes there is always a trade off.

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 Post subject: Re: Thickness Calipers
PostPosted: Sat Feb 20, 2010 9:25 pm 
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Koa
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Location: Calgary, Canada
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Here's one I built about ten years ago based on the one in the benedetto book and still use today for archtops rough thicknessing. It gets me within 64ths which is usually close enough at least for me. A piece of maple, a small pulley, a guitar string, bent piece of 1/4" tubing and a piece off a broken tape measure.


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