Don't buy an indicator mag base without this feature

[@Xynudu]

NOTE: Better quality/more expensive hydraulic mag bases may have a fine adjuster built into the indicator mounting clamp. The cheap "heavy duty" clones usually don't. Look closely at ALL mag base types, particularly the cheap ones, to determine if it has a fine adjuster. No adjuster means no sale. Pass it by. Cheers Rob

[@MrFactotum]

Great Rob Never thought about that facility on a dti, got it on my scribing block, Looks like i will have to spend some of the recent winnings😄😄😄😄👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍 well explained cheers Kev

[@Xynudu]

A good way to spend some of that money Kev. Every time you use it will bring back good memories. 👍👍👍

[@glennfelpel9785]

Very good point Rob. I have spent too much time fiddling with the magnet bases without the fine adjustment. Wouldn't it be really nice if those single operator ones the hydraulic ones could have a fine adjustment. Thanks for this video and hope you are having a good weekend!

[@Xynudu]

Hi Glenn. Some of the top brand name hydraulic ones do offer a fine adjustment point on the indicator mounting head. Those cheap knock offs on Ebay have nothing and aren't even hydraulic. So far the weather has been quite mild for this time of year. I hope it continues to do so. I trust all is well over your way. Cheers Rob

[@nobbysworkshop]

You're absolutely right Rob. I made this mistake when I bought a mag base years ago that didn't have an adjuster. You learn by your mistakes. I do have an adjustable one now. I mostly use a clock gauge on the tool post now and make fine adjustments with the cross slide. The holder I use can be set to read off the side or face of the work. Nice and quick to set up. Cheers Nobby

[@Xynudu]

Hi Nobby. A few things associated with metal work look great, but don't deliver the goods. Those cheap hydraulic bases are one of them. He He. Old style is usually well proven. I particularly like that small mag base. Really good. I made/use a small magnetic digital gauge for the cross slide. It's very handy. Cheers Rob

[@orangetruckman]

I appreciate the fine adjustment base on my nova! I’ve got a big hands with cumbersome fingers, so fine adjusting isn’t always as easy for me compared to the average person.

[@Xynudu]

They can be a bit squeezy to use, but a good feature never the less. Cheers Rob

[@RetroSteamTech]

Excellent tip Rob 👍👍Much like Nobby, the first mag base I bought didn't have the fine adjuster. If it doesn't have it you soon realise how much easier setting up is with one! Fortunately, such is the superb quality of my machining these days I rarely make anything which requires the use of a gauge 🤣🤣🤣

[@Xynudu]

Ha Ha. Good one Alan. You must have a good eye, as I don't see any bad workmanship. This video seems reasonably popular, so maybe it is of some use to people. I'm never sure how much viewers know when doing educational videos. Cheers Rob

[@RetroSteamTech]

@@Xynudu It's surprising how sometimes the videos we do on the simple things get loads of views. I did a video about 2 years ago called "How To Shorten Bolts The Easy Way". Simple tips like put a nut on the bolt before cutting the end off, hold the waste bit of thread in the vice rather than the bit of thread you are going to use. That kind of stuff. Currently sitting at 1.6K views, which for one of my videos is amazing. Simple things! Cheers, Alan.

[@Xynudu]

Yes, we tend to take a lot for granted Alan. The bulk of people these days don't come from a blue collar background or have hands on access to this sort of information. The situation's only going to get worse, so I'm always glad when educational videos do well. Cheers Rob

[@RetroSteamTech]

@@Xynudu Absolutely. The sad fact is that practical skills are no longer taught. When I was at secondary school (aged 12 to 16) my school was only small but it had two woodworking shops and two metalworking shops. One of the metalwork shops even had a forge. Then later when I did my apprenticeship the school had a machine shop with rows of old Colchester lathes, several mills and various other machines. Even though I was doing an electronics apprenticeship I still did 6 months in the workshop. Skills I learnt then I still use today. Cheers, Alan.

[@eyuptony]

Spot on Rob. Saves time on setting up. Cheers Tony

[@Xynudu]

Hi Tony. Yes, the way to go. Cheers Rob

[@RustyInventions-wz6ir]

Very interesting. You taught me something again today. Thanks. Nice work sir

[@Xynudu]

Glad it was helpful. Cheers Rob

[@vaulthecreator]

Same here. I was in the market for a mag base and saw a few stands like this. I had no idea what that was for, now I do. Thanks mate. Oh, and guess which mag base I *DIDN'T* buy 😧

[@billbaggins]

Good old Freddie, blind in one eye and can't see with the other 🤦‍♂ Might have gone into politics 🤣. Cheers Rob 🍻

[@Xynudu]

Quite possibly Bill. Cheers Rob

[@shadetreemechanicracing22]

You really don't even need fine adjustment, unless the holder is completely unadjustable.

[@Xynudu]

Depends where you want the zero point.

[@Tom-ic7hw]

spin that chuck robby lets see what kind pf run out the ole lathe has

[@Xynudu]

It's a near new Vertex chuck (Taiwan). I actually checked it the other day and cleaned the scroll etc. Accuracy varies between 0.02 and 0.04 mm depending on job diameter. Not as good as the OEM scroll chuck (China) which was 0.02 mm across the whole scroll plate. That one lasted 20 years of hard work before I recently replaced it.

[@littleredridinghood5622]

I have one very similar magnetic base .. Except the arms on mine are hydraulic . .

[@Xynudu]

Does it have micro adjustment/zeroing capability ?

[@littleredridinghood5622]

@@Xynudu Almost exactly the same except it doesn't use pinch type clamps , it has a knob on the magnetic base that when turned it compresses hydraulic fluid that locks the arms solid ..

[@Xynudu]

It sounds like a good quality one. The cheap Chinese knock offs aren't even hydraulic and have no micro adjustment.