BOLTR: Mitutoyo Dial Indicator

We have a look at top end Starrett jeweled dial indicators and compare to the Mitutoyo non-jeweled. We also test the Harbor Freight style cheap ones. 🔥STICKERS! www.etsy.com/ca/shop/AvEwerkz 🔥

[@jeremy499]

The ladies, they never called twice They'd complain that it didn't "look nice" They'd say "it'll do in a pinch but you're losing an inch" So I straightened it out in the vise!

[@arduinoversusevil2025]

hahah. PM me your addy please Jeremy. I'll send you stickers.

[@cwtoyota]

Best thing I've seen all day!

[@yaidontknowwhattoput]

Barking up the wrong tree laddy. Dave lives in the land down under​. You gotta pm him your limerick... or send some smoke signals.... bounce em of the ionosphere.... punch some holes in the ozone layer... I can keep going...

[@TrojanHorse1959]

+Jeremy, LOL! Excellent!

[@dubguy1121]

AvE would you ever do a how to Bridgeport for beginners video? I'm sure there's videos out right now but your explanations are always great.

[@gunsgt]

"He who dies with the most tools, win."

[@ThisOldTony]

nice fix on the indicator! and no, can never have too many. like hammers. except for that Tom fellow, maybe... that might be intervention territory.

[@geraldgepes]

I think Tom's hammers are a bit inspirational at this point, it's like "hey, come work for a science lab and you too can afford to indulge two addictions at once. As long as one of them is science".

[@SuperAWaC]

"Tom Lipton's Hammers" sounds like some kind of post-ironic electropunk band or whatever they're doing with the beep boop music these days.

[@PeregrineBF]

Or multimeters. Or lab power supplies. I've got a 1.0V rail, 1.8V, 2.5V, 3.3V, 5V, -5V, 15V, & -15V in one project. FPGA + op amps + comparator + transistors + ADC = lots of supply rails.

[@amargnwalkr]

Don't know who Tom is, but Jimmy Diresta has a pretty obnoxious hammer collection. Too many, I might even say.

[@afonsusmuralha]

oh look! Old tony is here! Thought you teleported to other timeline or something :P

[@arduinoversusevil2025]

Sup lads. I had to fix the Miti. I thought I'd make a VJO about it for guys like me who aren't K-Fen Noga 4 jaw super setter uppersl. The extra $150 it costs to go from Harbor Freight quality to Mitutoyo quality isn't worth it. Unless you are feeding a tool fetish, which, I am.

[@CorollaGTSSRX]

I'll show you a fetish

[@doorguner01]

CorollaGTSSRX 😂😂

[@rhyslewis4399]

lol

[@trailblazer632]

AvE hazard fraught has "good enough" tools as long as you know the limitations lol

[@polarViking]

AvE hey man, i was just about to think you where starting to get roomtempered, or something, long time no see. good vjo!!

[@SpyderMadeKaSog]

I've only been around the channel for a few weeks and have learned soooo much. 2 days ago I was working on my truck (1986 Chevy) and the window wipers were choochin slow so I took the wiper motor apart, and due to your videos I had an idea as to how it worked. It was a worm drive system, I greased her up and turned this adjustment screw thing and boom. Fixed. Thanks friend from the north. I would be lost without thou.

[@bubbastrick]

I just wanted say thank you AvE for making great videos. I enjoyed getting to share your videos with my Dad, but he passed away 3 weeks ago. Thanks for entertaining us and giving me something that reminds me of my Dad and makes me laugh too. I need it.

[@dieseltech386]

James Strickland I just lost my mother. I know your pain. Take care dude! Remember we gotta keep their memories alive.

[@robertlewis4666]

I buy measuring tools, I buy Mitutoyo. Never regretted a single purchase, the micrometers I bought from them 47 years ago still measure dead nuts accurate.

[@kukumundi]

Love how they've used concepts from watchmaking to make the mechanisms. The bridge-plate construction and the set rubies to reduce friction. Rubies like that are usually used on the high wear points like balance wheel (the oscillator) in mechanical watches, mostly as a bushing. They make lubrication easier and increase the service period of the watch significantly. In watches, it also means that the ruby can be replaced once it is worn, instead of having to hand machine and replace an entire metal plate.Also, the friction coefficient of this setup is very low, which means much less energy is required to turn the gear that the rubies bear. Super cool innovations from over a 150 years ago. Still going strong.

[@frozone7395]

I'm a highschool machine shop student. AvE teaches me better than my teacher does

[@trailblazer632]

Frozone its highschool. machine shop or any trade for that matter isnt exactly a high priority for them. they'd rather you wasted your time and money on a degree

[@frozone7395]

derek leverknight​​ I go to a technical highschool, not an academic one. If anything they're *more* focused on getting us into the work force.

[@wilmerschock]

I was an academic hs teacher and I can tell you the trades bound student is channeled into all applied level classes and they are not generally good classes for serious students.

[@FozziesRandomReviews]

The stuff I learnt here got me my job. Simple, informative and usually right... The memorable language used meant that I could remember and reel off information easier than I could from any other textbook during the interview.

[@frozone7395]

TheRetiredtrucker We have a theory class but we also have the shop class, that's when we're in the shop, our schools budget for manufacturing trades was really good this year so we took out all of our old manual lathes and put in all new CNC mill and lathes. We do work, we make parts for things in the school, NIMMS, and things of that nature. My teacher is just getting older and the class is 25 people, so it's tougher for me to learn from him, and for him to teach.

[@edkerridge71]

Dear AVE I am currently suffering from pneumonia and feel as if I am dying but when my phone dinged with a notification saying you uploaded I was cured who knew that a middle aged Canadian with the mind of a immature teenage would be better than antibiotics. Not all heroes wear capes. Ed

[@981porsche3]

How do ya know he doesn't wear a cape? Just sayin'

[@YoCatGaming]

981porsche Not a good idear to wear a cape around large machining devices.

[@decnet100]

@@YoCatGaming that all depends on where you attach it. Might get away with calling it a craftsman's apron.

[@milosevicnenad1993]

I do not have wife, but i have 5 dial indicators and no lathe or mill yet.

[@arduinoversusevil2025]

You' re on the right path!

[@JUSTINSTURGILLTRUCKING]

milosevicnenad1993 I have the same problem I have 2 dial indicators no lathe or mill yet can't find one at a decent price that's not all clapped out

[@KowboyUSA]

milosevicnenad1993 you got a great icon too (or whatever those little images by the name are called).

[@milosevicnenad1993]

AvE You lead the right way!

[@manoman0]

You're doing well, you're doing the right thing.

[@BrewMonkey1]

Grew up down the road from Starrett. Great grandfather made his career working there. Pretty damn cool seeing you use their insanely accurate tools in all your vidjeos

[@dylanheadrick3789]

I'm still thrilled that I picked up about a grand of starrett and mitutoyo indicators, v blocks, and mics for $20! Estate sales for the win! One of the indicators I picked up is that same starrett 196 with all of the hardware. Poor thing is missing it's crystal, but it works beautifully

[@dylanheadrick3789]

Also, in the doobly doo for a shticker

[@Mtaalas]

When measuring with calipers, always insert the test piece as far into the jaws as possible.

[@antiundead]

Yea the tip area on the main jaws are only for very sensitive parts. 90% of the time you want to put the part in the flat part close to the long body. If you always use the flat jaw tips to measure you can damage the tips, which can lead to burrs that bend inwards and mess up the clean flats. Also the jaws can become loose if you put a lot of pressure on that part repeatedly.

[@ArcChain]

these videos never fail to bring a smile to my face. thanks Ave, also, a shticker would be a welcome addition to my bare drawers

[@mctrusp]

I was proudly wearing my Skookum as Frig shirt at Epcot last Monday. I found another AvE fan who commented on how much we liked your channel. Keep up the great work.

[@Dloweification]

They're also very useful (probably necessary) for tapers if you've got a taper attachment on your lathe. You should have used a dial indicator to dial in the straightness of that dial indicator. As for the "which one to buy" argument, I think if there is ANYWHERE you are going to splurge on and spend the big bucks it has to be with precision instruments. All your cuts and turns and the likes can be done on any machine and those machines can be tweaked or your cuts can be corrected, but if your measuring instruments are wrong then everything that goes out of your shop is wrong. It's best to get something that is built right and built to last.

[@MikesToolShed]

almost to half a million big guy. (been subbed since 50k)

[@gargoyle789]

I love your videos, and your vocabulary is hilarious, probably at least 50% of why I like watching them

[@tomislavbenkovic2572]

Hi AvE, thank you for all good videos you did over the years. I enjoy them very much. Shame that I have no time to watch them more. Good luck to you and your family. Stay skoocum :)

[@JerzZDog]

As my son says, when it comes to tools: "Buy once, cry once". I totally agree.

[@blob_87]

Question: Is the adhesive on the stickers suitable for application to my betrothed's hindquarters? If so, I need one...for reasons.

[@ScottBelleriWorkshop]

I got a 'broken' Mitutoyo from a company that was moving to Colorado some years back. I took it apart and couldn't figure out how to fix it, but dropped some oil on the pinion shaft. That didn't seem to help, but when I went back to er a week later, she worked like a charm. Thanks for showing me around the clockworks inside, maybe now in the future I can make sense of the gears in there!

[@cristianomaddog]

My on Beaver we Thrust T-Shirt just arrived! Loved it! Greetings from Brazil!

[@TheOlsonOutfit]

8:10 When you need a microscope to look at your rod...

[@TXHeat1776]

Back in the days of Enco, you could nab a pretty decent SPI dial indicator that weren't near as crunchy as the HF equivalent, but was still in the same price range. Also, quit dickin around with those thirteen knob indicator holders and at least get the small Noga. Unless you like handling knobs. Not that there's anything wrong with that.

[@garrettg.1480]

This video was Very helpful and just what I needed to see right now! Thanks Ave!

[@starsairsoft2429]

Had a good chuckle when those stickers popped up on the screen lol! I can see those getting a good laugh on my bench!

[@zedex1226]

Ya DO want your head half a blonde one out of tram leaning topwards to the left. Something as close to tram as you can get but erring that way. Say half a thou over a 18" swing is nice. That way when you cut right to left (that way that throws chips away from you) you don't drag the heal of the cutter. Better finish.

[@zacborders3599]

Those stickers look awesome 0.o One sure would look great on my motochoocher 🏍️💨

[@arduinoversusevil2025]

Thanks Zac! It's lame to laugh at your own jokes, but I got a chuckle out of 'em. xD

[@zacborders3599]

I have no drawers, but some hard saddle bags to slap it on. I'm sure they will get the drift!

[@mikecoughlin7407]

AvE I would love one of those toolbox stickers I'm in the south arm of Ontario.i have wasted hundreds of hours watching all your vidjayos and that stick-her would make it all work while lmfao plz let me know how I can give you my address....

[@ZeshawnRahmanTheMuslim]

those stickers are awesome. send one my way!

[@ericjcherry]

My beaters are as clean as a surgeon's beaters, autoclaved after the girls I go out with. Love the sticker!

[@rymdlego22]

The amount of knowledge of this man... Makes me wanna cry! :D

[@zackstephenson911]

We had a pair of mitutoyo calipers in our machine shop class, they were acquired in 1976 (according to the electropencil) and it definitely was worth the money I'm guessing. 40 years later they had a accuracy of about .005 which I think is pretty good for being manhandled by multiple students.

[@Master-of-None]

Never forget that nice Starret indicator was made by some Athol. 😁

[@miken.4693]

A Masshole and an Athol

[@kyloren8236]

My measuring device says my sticks too short for the ice.....

[@aswasw9409]

You need to get it off the ice and use a mapp gas torch to heat it, it makes it expand

[@Dloweification]

There's no such thing as a stick too short for the ice. Just look at Johnny Gaudreau.

[@mwwalsh133]

Love the comparison teardowns bud! He be a great man who shares his wealth of shop knowledge with we lowly knuckle draggers.

[@mgobluevictor]

Why oh why does AvE staying "Tappy tap tap" make me chuckle so much??

[@MC3DesignLtd]

"What are you? my wife?" Hahahahahahaaaaaaaaaah

[@lt_dagg]

I'm more inclined to use my sightcrometers. plus or minus a squint is usually fine by me

[@WeighedWilson]

twice as accurate if you hold your thump up as a frame of reference

[@mattskolnik4513]

Tanx man, I needed the laugh in the shop today!

[@py1hon]

That extra watchspring in the miti is a cool idea - eliminate backlash error. Seeing those little tricks is awesome.

[@traviswiebe3711]

try oiling and tightening the gib on your calipers, often they get loose over time causing an error. source: I QC hundreds of tools a year

[@tractortherapy42]

14:02 Precision Bowel Gas Exhaust (aka Fart!)

[@charlesjones1337]

took some time away from playing with the angry wall fairies to watch yet another informative AVE vidjayo. the sticker sure does look good and would like to add one to my tool box.

[@WeaselJuice]

Super accuracy!! My father was a tool and die machinist. He made spin rolls in North Tonawanda, NY for 50 years.

[@georgeharrod7805]

8:22, I thought, "My word, Ave has gone all Carrot top prop gag on the viewers" But NO, there really is a Power Fist brand! :-) :-) :-)"Hey Earl, would you mind giving me the power fist over here?"

[@steveshaw6596]

Ave, My guess is you wouldn't be sitting down, sleeping soundly or ever be dry without us tree carcass manglers. additionally I am inaccurate enough to use cheapo tape measures to do me manglin! will not find mitutoyo in my place of work. why use a caliper sir when an eyeball will do?

[@steveshaw6596]

explain calibration, me no understand.

[@mgkleym]

Can make buildings out of steel and or concrete. No more of these stick houses that go away when the wind blows out here on the plains. Gonna get me a concrete dome no dead tree carcasses allowed. :edit: tree carcasses do make nice furnishings though :edit:

[@Syncubus]

Eyecrometers will work in a pinch, but sometimes you've gotta measure stuff to a tolerance..

[@steveshaw6596]

Syncubus I will stick with between one and three fingers , that may change if I lose any digits.

[@steveshaw6596]

diamondflaw so if I throw the expensive one away.. the wrong one is calibrated?

[@aaronrudd2690]

AvE your videos just make my day better

[@johnkelly937]

🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣😂🤣

[@ajledezma2147]

I just have to say man...I just realized, as a maker, builder, tinkererer, whatever you want to call it, a person who has always been interested in how all mechanical things chooch... this is by FAR my favorite channel on all of the u tubes.....

[@Contango1000]

"What are You, my wife?" lol. Got another one I use frequently: "What do I NOT need that for?"

[@nerdherd1796]

6:58 You know you can't show that on youtube man!

[@supercleanone8038]

Nice mag base. Always good to see old timey tools, kinda remember where we came from.

[@alexiselsass1143]

Always enjoy those kind of videos.

[@magikben]

Japanesium?

[@dieseltech386]

Risto Mladich shadilay my dude!

[@4wdsome444]

The mitutoyo is japanesium but Japanesium can be some of the best quality

[@ogenmatic]

The older I get, the less important owning something that will last "the rest of my life" is.

[@HepauDK]

Man, those tools bring back memories from my fitter apprenticeship back in the 90's ('93-'96). Still have my trusty old Mitutoyo Vernier caliper from back then. Just can't let the ol' girl go. :)

[@andriesrozenberg4063]

Greetings from the Netherlands ( North...were the farmers live🤣 in Friesland). Thank you very much for all the great video's!! I'm learning a lot!! Prettige dag en groeten uit Nederland 🇱🇺

[@jordbjor1]

Measure up higher on the caliper and no 200lb ape pressure

[@jeffgano4669]

Jordan Bjork That's exactly what I was thinking. and I've been machining for fifteen years and have yet to need one of those dial indicators

[@jeffgano4669]

I have a few test indicators. One with 30 thousands travel. But I rarely do lathe work

[@ElectraFlarefire]

Yep! Measure in as close to the base of the jaws as you can. The tip is handy but not for every day use. They might not be the most accurate things in the world, but at least show how to use them right! And +Andrew Delashaw look at Keith Fenner's video 'No Stinking Indicators' They are handy, but not needed. :)

[@jeffgano4669]

Trudat. +Electra Flarefire

[@LucasGarrow]

Ive never came so fast.

[@karineguillette5199]

You lucky.. =/

[@brokenacoustic]

Thats not something I'd be saying out loud...

[@RBurwell]

RELEASE THE SHMOO!! haha The wife doesn't like it when I shout that at just the right/wrong moment.

[@danl.4743]

R Burwell. Hahahahaha!!!!

[@seibt6466]

@@RBurwell all of the sudden i want to be able to like twice..

[@ArcticWolfSilver]

Oh nice! Very informative! Also never woulda thought to use the big dial for measurin' feed!

[@masterpaulemt]

Damn I want that sticker for my box and motorcycle, that's freakin awesome. didn't know about your channel until 2 weeks ago when my dad showed me. can't hardly catch my breath from laughing so hard. Fantastic humor.

[@MrSidiox]

Notification squad, reporting for duty

[@ArminGianni]

firts

[@michaelcawley7400]

Armin Gianni congrats

[@LucasGarrow]

Noice

[@rhyslewis4399]

noice as fuk armin, all we gotta do now is watch the thing

[@ArminGianni]

Rhys Lewis ain't nobody got time for that

[@oldmanSturzl]

For 🦊 sake.

[@WaltonPete]

Thanks for the video - nostalgia full! When I was studying mechanical engineering at college we only ever used mechanical measuring instruments such as dial gauges, micrometers and calipers. Also used vernier height gauges. I don't think the digital ones were available then - at least not cost effective for our college to buy!

[@theomnipresent1]

For accuracy you should always measure on the flats of the caliper jaws as close to the slide as possible. Out at the blades there is deflection which can cause the measurement to read undersized; but you already knew that, you were just seeing if we were paying attention! ;-)

[@chbrules]

I'm rebuilding my Corvette's T56 transmission right now. I'm going to use a dial indicator to measure the shaft play and see how much I need to shim it. Thanks for the convenient video! :D

[@polarbearccanuck3516]

Aaawwww man, excellent...you are producing the best mechsoftporn! Keep them coming! 👍👍👍👍👍😜✌️

[@K_M_M_G]

Thank you. Learned a lot from this, the cheap ones will do for my applications.

[@mikeyhue2437]

Love my #196 awesome little dial saved me from using a warped head last week!👌

[@richg8319]

Glad you're back Sir.

[@Ouch.]

I have only just discovered this channel because we only just have been given permission to have the internets here in the U.K. I love the humour of your antics but at the same time find I'm learning lots while I'm laughing too. Please keep up the shananighins and best wishes for the skookum. Keith Billinge United peoples kingdom of britbekistan.

[@SINISTER69er]

Ohhhh Canada 🇨🇦!! I live u man I wanna go to oh Canada just to meet you bud thanks for all the years learning a lot from you. You were a great influence in my character and skillz lol skucums!

[@Sparks52]

Used a dial indicator to set the thrust lash on a VW air cooled engine crankshaft. As this was eons ago IIRC it was set using shims behind the pulley. I don't think they were on the flywheel end. If you didn't have enough lash, it would bind. Too much would bang the bearings resulting in oil migration to the driveway causing consternation from others in the household. The main bearing on the generator pulley end had a spiral in it to spin the oil back into the engine. It was how the bearing was lubricated, by slopping oil into it from the crank splashing it around from the sump and the spiral keeping it from escaping to the wild beyond and your garage floor or driveway. Magnificent tool for specific applications. IIRC my father borrowed it from work and it was made by Starrett - this was over 40 years ago.

[@louisjohnson8713]

Remarkable coinkidink, I had to peek under the skirt of a Mitu I inherited from my uncle not so much as a week ago. Last calibrated in '86, seems it just has some schmoo gumming up the works, got it cleaned and working like new. You just can't beat a quality tool.

[@trevordubinsky]

Love the sticker! Me thinks I gots to get me a couple of these! Guess I am buying myself a bday present this weekend!

[@trevorharley4475]

TOOL BOX STICKERS! The average auto mechanic schmoo like me eats that shit up! Thank you for the stickers and the vids. You are helping me understand engineering which in turn helps close the gap between engineers and mech-a-nicks. Keep it up. I really enjoy your vids.

[@dougsmith3987]

those stickers are sick would love one

[@ruuman]

My buddy today got donated an old Bridgeport at his new job, that sticker sure would look nice on it!

[@minskmade]

thank you so much for doing these awesome videos.

[@joshblatt2518]

The stickers look effn cool man, would love to see this on my box

[@literoadie3502]

The word you're looking for is longitudinal travel measurer, referred to as LTM in machine shops. Some people like to call them a Trav-a-dial.

[@MrSkyl1ne]

Now i want a dial indicator, even though i don't have a lathe or any other practical use for it at the moment.... One of those stickers would also be most welcome. Interesting video as always, i always wondered how those things worked, but never took the time to find out until now.

[@2010cummins67]

I definitely need one of those stickers gotta spread the knowledge of the Empire of dirt at my shop

[@hyperflowfans]

Just started a welding class at the local tech community college looking for some badass stickers to put on my hood. Most of the ones that I see are lame but yours are as unique as they come!

[@sydneyshinshi]

That was a good review, much better than some of the last few things you have been doing.

[@willemkossen]

Nice stickers. I bought me an alieexpress dial indicator whatfor working with dead tree carcasses on the lathe. Nice to see the innards!

[@dixoncider7256]

Never used a dial indicator, but loved the video!

[@mytapoiss]

Damn right about the tools! best to have something you will enjoy working. I am fan of dead tree carcass work (collecting my tool set piece by piece) - each addition I tr to take something that invites me to work - I rather have less, but have good tools. Thanks for VJOs - they are awsome! I do not have vice yet, but I will some day!

[@mattfisher1476]

A sticker would sure make my toolbox more appealing. Considering it is in the marital bedroom I could do with all the help I can get.

[@robadex8043]

Awesome One Questione though: Ive found an old Calliper in my granddads garage which has some greyish "rust" Any Idea how to remove it without ruining the scale?

[@gizmoguyar]

I needed a dial indicator for a small projects a few weeks back. Ended up buying a craptastic no-name from fleaBay. This video made me feel a lot better about it. It looks like even the cheap ones are about the same on the inside. Although actually the one I got is all aluminum (crown, bezel, backplate, etc.). At least on the outside.

[@kawieguy86]

great stickers AvE!

[@tnekkc]

In 1965 I was in jr high shop class and loved it, but we did not measure things but with a ruler. In 2000 I bankrolled a machine shop. That inventory told me what to buy to set up my own shop. I got indicators and calipers. ~~2005 my cousin got a patent on Mitutoyo coolant proof calipers [like shown in video]. I have never designed a phase detector with good amplitude immunity, but it seems my cousin did. He says he used 3 phase, but I don't see how that alone would work so well.

[@babylarue63]

nothing makes my day like a new Ave vidjay-o

[@tracyguilbeau]

One tip: when you have an indicator that for some reason is reacting slowly or seeming to hang up a little, take a clean dry cloth and carefully and thoroughly wipe the indicator stem off being sure to move it all the way in and clean the other end as well... it takes barely a microscopic amount of residue or oil to make them become sluggish, cleaning with dry clean cloth will help.

[@dmmartindale]

One note: At 5:55, you refer to the jewel as "carborundum". But you correct that at about 12:00. Rubies (synthetic or real) are corundum, which is aluminum oxide. Carborundum is silicon carbide. Both are really hard compounds, but different.

[@Cafferssss]

I gifted my friend a mitutoyo test indicator because I knew he could make good use of it. He's now machining cylinder heads for a dude that builds VW beetle race engines!

[@muttly31]

Would certainly love one of those stickers for work

[@jayshoemaker2784]

Would love some stickers Love your videos Learn more and more little details every time Thanks

[@ThePlowGuys]

I can't get enough. Thanks

[@MrP4LM3R]

Used to spend hours bamboozling my self with these and 4 jaw chucks in the college workshop. got there in the end.