Dial Indicators

[Birdhunter]

Recently, I have had to do some tool adjustments ... table saw, jointer, bandsaw. I’ve started using dial indicators. Being a non-recovering tool junkie, I’ve moved up the indicator food chain. The indicators than came as part of a set are of a quality that Harbor Freight would be ashamed to sell. I got two Mitutoyo indicators as an Amazon deal. Substantially better quality. I just had to try a Starrett indicator. Wow! What an amazing tool. Heft, whisper smooth movement. Incredibly sharp scale visibility. As soon as the Noga indicator arrives, I’m tackling the run-out on my ancient Delta drill press.

 

[Cheese]

I got two Mitutoyo indicators as an Amazon deal. Substantially better quality.
I just had to try a Starrett indicator. Wow! What an amazing tool. Heft, whisper smooth movement. Incredibly sharp scale visibility. As soon as the Noga indicator arrives, I’m tackling the run-out on my ancient Delta drill press.

The Starrett's have always been a notch up from the Mitutoyo's across most of their product line. The only exception is possibly the dial caliper line. The Starrett's are smoother and more enjoyable to use but the Mitutoyo's seem to be made from a harder stainless and are thus longer lived.

Other serious considerations are Brown & Sharpe and Interapid, both Swiss manufactured.

Here are several Starrett dial indicators that will all measure to .001". They are all a pleasure to use.

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And here is a Brown & Sharpe that will measure to .0005". I actually prefer this gage to the equivalent Starrett item.

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An Interapid that will measure to .0001".

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[Stan Tillinghast]

It used to be that buying for my firearms hobby was my main fix. Now it's you guys!
I just bought a Fein systainer I don't need, and now it's a Mitutuyo dial indicator.
I'll find some use for it, just haven't figured it out yet.
Actually I may need to buy a $1000-1500 power tool, e.g. drill press or lathe, to justify this purchase.  [eek]

 

[Birdhunter]

I thought Brown & Sharpe had gone out of business.

 

[Cheese]

I thought Brown & Sharpe had gone out of business.

Well kind of but not really.  [smile]

The Hexagon AB Metrology group purchased Brown & Sharpe in 2001.

Here's a quick history of B&S.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brown_&_Sharpe

Hexagon AB has a number of divisions including TESA which manufactures B&S and Interapid dial indicators. TESA also manufactures B&S calipers and other measuring instruments and markets them under the B&S name.

Interestingly, besides the TESA division are the Leica and the Leitz divisions, no relationship to the Leitz saw blade people.

 

[Birdhunter]

There is a great book on the history of the company. It’s really sad how the company fell from greatness to bankruptcy. The company made incredible contributions to this country.