Where can I purchase Metric set-up blocks

[Frank Pellow]

I have these Imperial set-up blocks from Lee Valley: http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=45089&cat=1,43513,51657

and they are very good  [smile]

but they are good only when one restorts to an archaic measuring system  [sad]

For several years I have been bugging Lee Valley to produce a Metric version of the blocks, but that just doesn't seem to be happening.

Where can I find a metric equivalent in North America, preferably in Canada?

 

[PaulMarcel]

You could look for metric key stock.  McMaster-Carr have them in metric.

 

[Frank Pellow]

You could look for metric key stock.  McMaster-Carr have them in metric.

Thanks Paul, but that's not quite the same thing and it would be expensive to purchase sufficient stock to do the same job.

 

[GPowers]

I have been looking for th same thing.

It is easy to find imperial set up blocks, but metric ones are elusive.

When I was in the Cabinet class last November I thought Steve Bace had a metric set. 

 

[Tom L]

Frank,

On the do-it-yourself front, you can get a small mix of metric keys from Harbor Freight for about $10:

http://www.harborfreight.com/60-piece-key-stock-set-67606.html

I bought this a while back to make my own metric setup block set after my own futile search.  I had planned to label them with permanent markers, maybe super glue a few together to catch missing sizes, and make a custom box.  But alas, I have not got around to it yet.

From the looks of it,  you can add up all small sizes excluding 1,2,4 and 7mm by putting together several of the other blocks (in 3,5,6,8,10,12 mm  thicknesses).    If I can find where I stashed them, I'll measure the crosswise dimensions of a few of them to see if that adds in at least the missing 4mm or 7mm pieces of the puzzle).

Tom

 

[coffeebean]

I have these Imperial set-up blocks from Lee Valley: http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=45089&cat=1,43513,51657

and they are very good  [smile]

but they are good only when one restorts to an archaic measuring system  [sad]

For several years I have been bugging Lee Valley to produce a Metric version of the blocks, but that just doesn't seem to be happening.

Where can I find a metric equivalent in North America, preferably in Canada?

KBC Tools - has two different sets, availale in both us and canada.
See below, Metric Block Pairs.
http://www.kbctools.com/can/Navigation/NavPDF.cfm?PDFPage=694

 

[Frank Pellow]

I have these Imperial set-up blocks from Lee Valley: http://www.leevalley.com/en/wood/page.aspx?p=45089&cat=1,43513,51657

and they are very good  [smile]

but they are good only when one restorts to an archaic measuring system  [sad]

For several years I have been bugging Lee Valley to produce a Metric version of the blocks, but that just doesn't seem to be happening.

Where can I find a metric equivalent in North America, preferably in Canada?

KBC Tools - has two different sets, availale in both us and canada.
See below, Metric Block Pairs.
http://www.kbctools.com/can/Navigation/NavPDF.cfm?PDFPage=694

Thanks. 

I see that  they sell part of what is in the Veritas Imperial set, that is the large block with the holes.  But I don't see the equivant of the small 3/4 inch, 1/2 inch, 1/4 inch, 1/8 inch and 1/16 inch block that are in the Veritas set.

 

[Frank Pellow]

By the way, I was able to find very expensive sets of metric gage blocks with lots and of parts, but they would be overkill.  Something along the lines of blocks 1mm, 2mm, 3, mm, 5mm, 1cm, and 2cm would do the job for me.

 

[nclemmons]

Frank

I have the imperial set and agree a metric set could be very useful.

I wonder if we might get Woodpeck to create a set and do a 'short run' of them?  They are now doing short-run custom tools that are available once and there might be enough interest on FOG to get them to manufacture them.  They do custom milling of aluminum and it would be relatively easy to mill up a set of aluminum set-up blocks.

neil

www.woodpeck.com

 

[PaulMarcel]

I sent Rich of Woodpeckers an email and a link to this thread.  He's been making one-time tools recently for Woodpeckers so I suggested he consider making these setup blocks in Metric and Imperial; I'd buy both sets as I don't have anything decent for Imperial and I'm livin' in Imperial-land.

Who knows, maybe he'll like the idea and chime in.

P.S., I've noticed in a couple places the name 'National' being used instead of 'Imperial'.  Guess we want to remove the colonial bit from our whacky measuring system.

EDIT: ha! Neil and I have the same idea... okay, everybody send Rich an email

 

[Jesse Cloud]

I would love to find some metric set up blocks.  I'll email woodpeckers.

BTW, the blocks with the holes are really neither metric nor imperial, just 90 degrees.  Yes, they are offered in 1, 2, and 3 inch sides, but having them in metric wouldn't add value, unless I misunderstand their purpose.

 

[Frank Pellow]

I would love to find some metric set up blocks.  I'll email woodpeckers.

BTW, the blocks with the holes are really neither metric nor imperial, just 90 degrees.  Yes, they are offered in 1, 2, and 3 inch sides, but having them in metric wouldn't add value, unless I misunderstand their purpose.

The metric ones sold by KBC and referenced in the reply by coffeebean have sides of 25mm, 50mm, and 100mm.  I would find such a block to be of use in conjuction with the smaller blocks that I am asking for. 

 

[GPowers]

I would love to find some metric set up blocks.  I'll email woodpeckers.

BTW, the blocks with the holes are really neither metric nor imperial, just 90 degrees.  Yes, they are offered in 1, 2, and 3 inch sides, but having them in metric wouldn't add value, unless I misunderstand their purpose.

How does one use 1-2-3 blocks? Picture or Video would help a lot.

 

[waho6o9]

Ebay  has something . Visit store: Ebay Storesqualityprices_123
Other item info
Item number: 170407848217

metric 25 50 75 blocks.  Good luck.  

Visit store: Ebay StoresDiscount Machine Shop
Other item info
Item number: 350280019480

 

[GPowers]

I sent an e-mail to Rich at the general e-mail address mailroom@woodpeck.com. Does anyone have a better address,

Thanks

 

[GPowers]

I do not think this threat is about 1-2-3 blocks but set-up or gage blocks. They are normal done is a soft metal as not to damage the carbide tips on saw blades and Router bits.

 

[skinee]

how about these frank :http://www.rftoolshop.co.uk/router-boss-accessories/343-router-boss-metric-gauge-setup-blocks.html
or these:  http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-woodworkers-gauge-block-set-prod371365/

from here in the uk but i would be happy to send you a set to canada if they will not supply you direct.

 

[Frank Pellow]

how about these frank :http://www.rftoolshop.co.uk/router-boss-accessories/343-router-boss-metric-gauge-setup-blocks.html
or these:  http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-woodworkers-gauge-block-set-prod371365/

from here in the uk but i would be happy to send you a set to canada if they will not supply you direct.

That's more close to what I want than any I have seen so far.   But, I don't like the circular shape.  I find the rectangular shape of the Veritas Imperial blocks to be good because they can sit where I put them.  This would not work for certain applications with the bocks from Axminster.

 

[skinee]

there are also these from axminster although expensive:
http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-47-piece-axminster-gauge-block-set-prod364778/

 

[Frank Pellow]

there are also these from axminster although expensive:
http://www.axminster.co.uk/axminster-47-piece-axminster-gauge-block-set-prod364778/

Expensive, and far more parts than I want.