Replies

1. 
   jackplane | Oct 20, 2006 02:04pm | #1

   I don't know the video, but a dial caliper from General can be had for 30$ or less. Available almost anywhere and reads in both 1/64s and metric- I use one a lot for tune-ups.

    

1. 
   Mumda | Oct 20, 2006 02:18pm | #2

   A dial indicator and a dial caliper are two different things: one measures deflection and the other measures size.

1. 
   jackplane | Oct 20, 2006 03:54pm | #7

   The one I have is one in the same- can be used for both measurement and deflection. 

2. 
   Mumda | Oct 20, 2006 02:21pm | #3

   You don't need a super expensive one. Most will read .001", anything more accurate would be a waste of $$ IMO.

   Check your phone book for "machine tool sales" or "machinist supply". I think you can get a cheap import at one of those places. Brown and Sharpe is good quality and cheap also.

   You can try an auto parts store too.

3. 
   Mike&L | Oct 20, 2006 02:47pm | #4

   Hi Woodman,

   Go to the Library and see if they have a copy of "The Tablesaw Book".  I'm pretty sure that there's an article about fine tuning your saw in it. 

   Also what I've found helpful is to search this site for appropriate articles.  Sometimes I have to search using different keywords to find exactly what I want, but 90% of the time I find what I'm looking for, right here.

   Mike D

    

4. 
   RickL | Oct 20, 2006 03:16pm | #5

   For woodworking the imports are more than adequate. I find the best measuring tools and prices are at the machinists supply like http://www.use-enco.com and http://www.wttool.com A 1" travel indicator will run about $15 and a 6" caliper is about the same. We even use the imports for basic metal working. Not building the shuttle afterall. Get the 1/2" button tip to set jointer knives.

5. 
   mufti | Oct 20, 2006 03:22pm | #6

               I know what you mean, I read too much in the middle of the night as well, it's an age thing.

   The best advice (for me as well) is if its working well, leave it alone. I have just spent in total about three days trying to get this PC working again after being too smart under the cloak of "improvement". O.K., I have succeeded I hope, but it my memory holds up I won't mess again!

   Best wishes, David

6. 
   Stuart | Oct 21, 2006 04:17am | #8

   Like Rick L. mentioned above, Enco is a good place to get an inexpensive dial indicator that should work well enough.  Get a magnetic base at the same time so you have something to hold the indicator in place.  You can get a kit with an indicator and base for around $30.  Harbor Freight sells them, too.

   
   

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   Edited 10/20/2006 9:19 pm ET by Stuart

1. 
   user-181778 | Oct 21, 2006 08:16am | #9

   Through Amazon Grizzly has a dial indicator with magnetic base for $22.25 - plenty accurate, cheap.

7. 
   Turbo | Oct 22, 2006 06:17am | #10

   You may want to puruse http://www.TS-aligner.com Woodmann. A 63 y/o friend uses one of the early Craftsman's TS's, inherited from his grandfather. He has to do a lot of clamping for fences, etc., though his work is right on target.

8. 
   highfigh | Oct 22, 2006 06:40am | #11

   I got my indicator from Grizzly and it works fine. As was said, accuracy greater than .001" is needless.

   OTOH, if you can make all of your cuts with no problems, crosscutting never leaves saw marks on the wood and the cuts are square when the saw and miter gauge say they are, I don't know if you really need to mess with it. You know the saying, right?

   "I cut this piece four times and it's still too short."
1. 
   polarsea1 | Oct 22, 2006 12:25pm | #12

   I've got John White's book and I can't recommend it highly enough, he covers tuning and aligning of all common woodshop tools without expensive jigs and devices. It's clearly written and easily understood.