Metal Lathe Tutorial 19 : Calipers & Micrometers

[@ThisOldTony]

great overview!

[@billbaggins]

🤔 Collaboration.... Quinn"s voice directing Tony's hands... that might be fun 😁

[@billbaggins]

A lass named Quinn. thought,with a grin. If he jokes 'bout my t*ts I'll kill 'im

[@Lecherous_Rex]

Ironically I'm now here studying, Quinn and Tony were the two tubers suggested by my instructor. I've already been subbed to both for years but now I'm turning my interest, aptitude, and all the countless hours watching into a better career and paycheck.

[@ronconovoa7566]

i like your videos

[@bpdp379]

Question for metric folks, why use .6 millimeters instead of 6 micrometers?

[@Israkiwi99]

From someone with 50 yrs experience that started on conventional machines to programming multi axis cnc machines this would have to be one the best sites for anyone starting out excellent and precise explanations will definitely recommend. Keep it up.

[@SirAser.F__k.you.Google]

Same..! I was very impressed by the obvious skills she have ..to distribute knowledge/explaining how this works. There’s a ton of people who already know this..but it’s very few of them, who’s able to actually explain this in a good way, for newcomers!

[@JacGoudsmit]

Those in Metric land will know the Vernier Scale as the Nonius Scale. It's really simple and absolutely brillant: Basically when you have two sliding scales, one of them is usually divided in multiples of ten. By adding another scale that divides the same length into nine units, you increase your accuracy 10:1. By the way, I learned to work with a caliper that had a Nonius scale too. None of that fancy clockwork stuff! Anyway I bet they don't teach this kind of thing in high school anymore like they did in my day...

[@ag-workshop]

"Imperial" still the most ridiculous way of measuring things

[@kyrella_xyz]

I bought a caliper 2 months ago since I have been a 3d printing kid for 3-4 months and only a week ago I discovered I can measure depth :-) Thanks to you and This Old Tony lathe is scheduled as a Xmas gift to myself. It will be my first ever machine! And thanks for the series, I am sure I'll put all the information to good use once I get my lathe.

[@Blondihacks]

Yay! That’s great news. I’m sure you will enjoy machining! 😁

[@cduemig1]

Mine's on the way. Did you get your lathe?

[@griplove]

Coffee and blondiehacks! No better way to start your Saturday morning. Thanks for another great video.

[@tomwagemans1872]

Quinn, thanks for the great explanation. As a metric man ( Belgium) this was very interesting. Now I have a bit off an idea what the imperial men and off course women are talking about! Also have to mention that I watched you whole lathe skill series and find I the best and easy to understand on KZbin! Greeting from Belgium.

[@AdeSwash]

Thank you, been using measuring tools for years but didn't know about the depth setting on the front of the caliper :)

[@schm4704]

Same here!

[@markrainford1219]

I knew there was a depth setting on the front, I just didn't know WHERE on the front.

[@adirondackcarfoundry368]

Thank you for explaining how to read a mic so concisely. I finally get it!

[@madrox4132]

Trick for cleaning the anvils of 0-1" mics: close the anvils down on a piece of paper and compress the paper a tenth or two. Then pull out the paper. Recheck zero.

[@andrewbrimmer1797]

We used eyeglass tissues

[@DrMoe.Lester]

Great vid. Also further poof that inches are still dumb: machinsts decimalised inches ;)

[@machobunny1]

Yes, the video is 3 years old and still GREAT. But, ya know, a lot of us old geezers who decided to squander our retirement vacation savings on machine tools, in addition to being self-indulgent, are half blind. So those BIG digital LCD numbers really help. Now, I have a harbor freight, and mid-range asian, and high end set of digitals and you are exactly right, but I also have gauge blocks, so I do check them. Have to be careful. HF is "accurate to a thou or two, and fairly repeatable. The mid price ($50 to 100) and the high end, ($250 and up) read within a tenth of each other. The temp variations in my shop could cause worse than that in any result I'd ever get. So...the ability to see the numbers, and the accuracy of the mid price units is something us geezers actually need.

[@bbjunkie]

Been using calipers for years and never knew about the shoulder method! Keep up the great work Quinn, your videos are a fountain of knowledge. You have convinced me I need a lathe! Now to re-watch your buying guide another 10 times before I pull the trigger on one 😂

[@BuildSomthingCool]

Very useful video😀

[@Blondihacks]

Thanks Dale! 😁

[@bobuk5722]

Hi, the caliper batteries. Cheapo's just have a relative scale, they have to keep the power on in order to retain the zero, switching them off just turns the display off. A bit daft as I think everyone rests the zero every time they turn the display back on atvany rate. The quality calipers have an absolute scale and they know where the zero is so can be fully turned off when not in use. Discharged batteries areca thundering nuisance and I think Quinn is absolutely (!) right to say avoid cheap measuring tools. BobUK.

[@kelvin0mql]

Holy Cats! I bought a micrometer eons ago at Amble’s Surplus, not knowing at all how it’s used. Had no instructions. Decades before KZbin. TIL that the extra lines are for 10,000ths!!

[@kelvin0mql]

Did a little more inspecting & I think I've found 3 reasons my micrometer was so cheap. 1. Genuine Chinesium (if I remember right, the original wood box it came in was stamped "Made in China" - lost that box years ago). 2. It has finish-blemishes on the big C-part which look like it perhaps had a brand/logo on it, which was removed perhaps because it was a factory second. 3. The ten-thousanths lines only go up to 5. So to read .0006 to .0009, you have to use the shorter half-a-hundredth marks on the barrel and do even more math. Fugly, but functional. What a fun day this has been so far.

[@jasonchaney5382]

I've been using the same Lyman dial aproximator for years and had no idea you could measure depth with the head. Thanks for that.

[@Reno4u2]

Same here...

[@matspatpc]

I saw this "trick" somewhere in another machinist youtube video (can't remember which one, I think I've seen it several times now). Unfortunately, my vernier calipers aren't designed to do this, so it is not universal - at least it WASN'T when I got my calipers - they probably are 40 years old, and I think they design wasn't the latest at the time I got them. Still working, so not replacing them yet... ;)

[@jimsvideos7201]

Quinn you are very likely the answer to the question, what if Bob Ross took shop class instead?

[@Blondihacks]

Happy little calipers!

[@marcmckenzie5110]

Jim, she needs to work on the fro...

[@rynohorn3819]

So many tricks I didn't know about before. Knew this would be worth a watch and as always I was NOT disappointed! Thank you Quinn!

[@ManCrafting]

I’ve been watching these for a while, but now that I actually own a lathe they will be studied.

[@nadanutcase]

I really REALLY like your presentation style! It's not only informative & clear, but has just the right touch of humor mixed into its brevity ... THANKS for all of the information !!

[@HWolfpaws]

High recommendation on Mitutoyo calipers. In 2 years, of constant work, 5 days a week, no battery change needed. (Then we wrecked the caliper by accident and still reused the battery)

[@jesseskellington9427]

Agreed we have four of them in our shop and bear solid work horses

[@lowsafetystandards7245]

"Powered by cheetos, hopes and dreams" XD

[@DavidLindes]

Cheetos can run out, though, no? 5:15 says no, but I dunno. I know I've run out of Fritos... so I'm skeptical. :D

[@Willies_shop]

Great video. I love it when I learn new things. I know you were being " tongue in cheek", but ironically; I have 10 measuring tapes in my shop and between the basement shop, garage and the truck, I can never find one within my reach when I need it and they are the first thing I go for when starting a job (ball parking, stock cut off , etc).

[@kentonupton1269]

I'm in love because you said sliderule! 🤪 Dad wouldn't let me think about a calculator until I could use them. Of course he was an ol' school calculus teacher...

[@kensherwin4544]

8:03 What is the difference between theory and practice? In theory there is no difference.

[@nateschellenberg7806]

I'm a teacher in an unrelated discipline. Your instruction is inspiring. If this is the only signal you get today to keep up your good work, here it is.

[@askquestionstrythings]

good into to metrology the foundation of precision machining. All powered by Cheetos, hopes, and dreams.

[@peterbonnici1723]

Good going Blondi, a great change from the others...ops"THIS OLD TONY" is watching best not be to generous .Keep up the good vids subscribe

[@levitated-pit]

dear USA please convert to the metric system!

[@jayytee8062]

NASA has.

[@DeDeNoM]

The metric system is the official system in the US. People are just afraid of the commie-meter

[@craigleemehan]

I always wonder what difference to Europe/UK it makes if the US is metric? I've been in engineering, so I use the metric system at work. But, why does it irk you do much? The US doesn't make anything any more, so you don't have to have two sets of tools, like I do. Is it math; is it having to convert systems when watching KZbin videos? I watch non-US videos and convert the systems quietly, in my mind, no whinning. Is it a control issue; do you need validation?

[@jayytee8062]

@@DeDeNoM what is the commie-meter??

[@askquestionstrythings]

Arguing over which stick you measure with is silly, it doesn't really matter as it's just a different stick. But I wouldn't be caught dead using SAE units for any type of energy analysis. since energy equations require SAE unit magic fudge factors, where SI energy units just work every time without fudging the numbers to be correct.

[@WorksbySolo]

Thanks, Quinn. More excellent information!

[@sacriptex5870]

i used to have a plastic caliper, when i was using i notice that a piece i was machining were getting smaller and smaller.... than i noticed that my caliper has melted! hahahaha.... now i brought an old mitotoyo caliper who works great! Greetings from Brazil!

[@matspatpc]

Plastic calipers do have a place. They are particularly handy with things that are magnetic!

[@OldtimeIronman]

Great job covering the essentials With the pros and cons and proper usage... I have to learn how to say "I have a 6-inch micrometer" in Swedish!

[@JonBanquer]

I like to clean the carbide faces on a 0-1 mic with a piece of paper that I pull out. Repeat until the paper is clean. It's a good idea to always buy mics with carbide faces.

[@dennishall9173]

Omg thank you so much for explaining this for me I never really understood how to read them tipes of measurement. Thank you for that. Best teacher ever 😊

[@HelenaOfDetroit]

Great explanation of mics! Also, if you're doing a ton of round stock readings, you can get micrometers that are designed for it. Basically, the anvils have a slight v groove in them. Of course, specialist stuff is always more expensive

[@75Bird455]

Third comment - You should consider teaching, perhaps a small class. I bet you would do extremely well!

[@craigleemehan]

She is an awesome teacher. Calm voice, clear explanations, just the right amount of humor.

[@robertmatel8136]

As usual a stellar vid ! Do you reload or did you "inherit" that Lyman ? Have you considered being a narrator for 'books to disc' ,etc. ?

[@Blondihacks]

I inherited that from my dad, who is an avid reloader. It’s funny how all the reloaders notice that immediately. 😀

[@jeffanderson1653]

Could you please show us how to use thread wires correctly? I need another hand or two. Thread micrometers seem to be a better choice. What say you?? Thanks, Jeff

[@Blondihacks]

Yes! I will be doing a video on thread wires. Thread mics are nice, but expensive and technically a little less precise (though not meaningfully so, for most use cases). Thread triangles are another nice option. There’s much disagreement on whether they are less precise than wires, but they are easier to use

[@nikolasimeunovic9086]

You are great, never thought that somebody like you happened on KZbin, i wish you all the best!

[@terrinewman7390]

Quinn,well done! I already know how to use the instruments you covered in this video but I looked at it as a review!

[@johnapel2856]

But I often run out of Cheetos. And why are all of my micrometers orange? A good explanation of something that is hard to explain. Thanks. Meow to Sprocket.

[@AdventureswithJane]

Nice. Recent sub here. Retired metrologist from Carl Zeiss IMT. Well done, well explained. Like the humor with the tape, although we often referred to calipers as “paint can openers”. Still it’s all relative, love your videos. 😎 -Mark

[@billbaggins]

That looked very much like a metric coathanger... are you in danger of converting ? 😁 Don't forget fingers.. very precise things and can measure in both metric and imperial, handy when the old eyeballs start to fail ⚙️😺

[@VIVA4EVER2001]

Awesome, addicted to your training videos. Thanks so much for sharing

[@stephanc7192]

Batteries! Agreed!

[@stich1960]

Now your in precision town, population you. Lol I am totally going to use that in conversation with machinists that take themselves too seriously

[@mesomorfo]

"Powered by cheetos, hopes and dreams" This just made my day! LMAO! You Rock!

[@tonydeleo3642]

Thank you, You presented a lot of material in a short time, old guy's (like me) minds saturate quickly so I will have to watch this a few times..

[@bcwrangler]

Quinn...ratchet or friction thimble? which do you prefer?

[@Blondihacks]

Ratchet for me, but definitely to each their own!

[@CNCSwede]

Hi Qinn! As a beginner in the machine shop, I have to say wow! What a great series of videos, I learned something new in each episode. And as a Swedish who uses the metric system and has a little trouble understanding the imperial system, I actually start to understand a little how it works after this video. You explain everything so well and clearly. Now I look forward to seeing your other videos on your channel. Keep making your nice videos // Eric

[@Blondihacks]

Awesome, thanks for watching!

[@davesullivan9848]

Another excellent presentation. Very detailed but very easy to understand. Thank you.

[@3goldfinger]

You need very sharp eye sight to tell 1/000"

[@bobbymcpherson3739]

These videos are extraordinary. You have taken a complex tool and made extremely understandable and relatable to the beginner. I purchased a lathe because I needed a hobby. While I am waiting on delivery; these videos are a great knowledge base. Thank you; I will be supporting your patreon site!

[@Blondihacks]

Awesome! Thank you for the kind words, and for the support!

[@edwardsushynski2996]

Fabulous presentation you should teach this stuff in a technical school.

[@CampMoreBarkLess]

Another very informative video. I just want to thank you personally for sharing your knowledge with us. You and other KZbinrs have helped fuel my obsession with getting a lathe and mill, fulfilled as of last week. Now I need help identifying all the tooling that came with!

[@250ExplorerVideos]

First comment - another great video keep up the good work

[@rennkafer13]

Great basic presentation, Quinn.

[@stevetroy5526]

I’ve just bought a small lathe and I am having lots of fun learning all the things I can do, I’ve just stumbled across your channel and have found it to be the best, you explain things very well and it’s easy to understand even for us novice users and I like your wit 👍

[@markengineeringSA]

Great video for those getting into machining 👍 essential stuff

[@mcorrade]

This is a great tutorial on using measuring devices. Its so weird that I'm American and have used the imperial system my whole life but because of 3d printing, I've become a metric convert. I love the metric system but I know that in machining, the imperial is better (opps that will cost me)....I got so confused with the tenths, thousands and so on but this has helped. I will continue to use the metric for 3d printing but for everything else.....

[@f.osborn1579]

I love this channel

[@tonythomas951]

Dang, thats the fastest like and heart I ever got and now I see a reply as well. Seems like you are always working I guess. I just got home from work and what do I do? Straight to watching your vids about work. Its good when you love your job isnt it?

[@raymuttart5484]

Excellent presentation.

[@britishreaction54]

Excellent, thanks. I don't have a dial caliper but I think I will get one having watched your video.

[@ericinoregon5726]

Lots of very helpful information for the beginner....like me. As I was watching this I thought that part II of this video could be properly cleaning and maintaining these instruments. Thanks

[@JasperVW]

I'm confused by the moving the tail stock so you don't lose your quill marking. Doesn't the quill marking become meaningless after you've moved the whole tail stock?

[@douglascampbell9809]

Perhaps the small unseen object/film throwing off the caliper is a fine layer of Cheeto dust? Also I'm more of a dead cellulose worker so this is one of the only times that thousandths of an inch made sense to me.

[@johanneslaxell6641]

In some way easier with mm. Micrometer 0-25 mm, one revolution 0.5 mm, easy to check with caliper if it is 16,24 or 16,74 mm. Yes, we sometimes go digital to 0,001 mm (0,00004 inch) but when the piece is in the lathe 0,01 is good enough, hard to measure more precisely...

[@pauldevey8628]

Exceptionally well done.

[@giutubospatubo1546]

Talking about measurements... Why is the U.S still using inches? I think it might be the only country left in the world using inches.... Really strange. Great tutorial, by the way.

[@TheDesertRat31]

I remember going to homestead air force base, near Miami, for a field trip in my high school physics class. We were supposed to get to see an F-16 but they weren't available, so we got a presentation by some of the USAF machinists instead. They had a good presentation on precision measuring and metrology. I just wasn't receptive to it back then. It was so incredibly boring. Fast forward about 30 years, and here I am, engrossed in a metrology video... I'm not a machinist, but having a lathe and a mill in my work shop is a decadent dream of mine, so some day.... I guess "better late than never" is an apt sentiment now. Cheers.

[@tonythomas951]

I worked as an electrician in the construction industry for 35yrs and now I am working in machining. In construction + or - a 16th of an inch was accurate. It took some getting used to to handle .001 accuracy as well as understanding the need for such extreme accuracy but I'm loving it. I can now make things I had to buy before. Combining my electrical knowledge with machining ability has enabled me to make some really cool stuff.

[@Blondihacks]

“I can make things I had to buy before” is the joy of machining in a nutshell! Very well put. 😁

[@tonythomas951]

@@Blondihacks as well as being able to make things I cant buy.

[@MoxxMix]

Regarding digital calipers battery drain. I flip battery in mine when not in use. Lasts for years now. Of course, you should inspect if you can do this without potentially destroying caliper electronics.

[@JonBanquer]

Consider good used Swiss tools which are the best made machinist tools, period. The smooth feel of an Etalon mic compared to Mitutoyo, Starrett, etc. speaks volumes!

[@cduemig1]

What's frustrating though is 3D printing I got used to metric. I measure in metric, my CAD files are all metric, and my CNC router is metric. Now that I'm getting into metal I have to go back to the dirty imperial system!

[@Rangemaster26]

One quick and easy way to clean the faces of the anvil and spindle is to lightly clamp down on a sheet of clean paper then pull the paper out. Works great. ( just don't use sandpaper!! )

[@nealscrib1017]

Hi Quinn, another great video! I always learn something new from your videos - this time flange measurement with dial calipers. Since this is a lathe skills video I have a lathe question. Do you ever wish you would have spent a few more $$ for the PM 1030 instead of the 1022? Or would it just waste valuable shop space? Upgrading my mini lathe within the next year.....

[@Blondihacks]

For me it was down to space. I really don’t have space for the larger machine. This one just barely fit! 😁

[@troelshansen6212]

Am I the only one that find it slightly amusing that once the "imperialists" get below an inch, they start working in metric terminology quite naturally? 10th? 100th? 1000th? That is the basic idea of metric right there.

[@martinpanev6651]

I bought a 200 pack of those batteries from a chinese supplier and I can freely use my 5 dollar Harbor Freight calipers!

[@GTRliffe]

Cheap calipers work fine IF you lock them closed the problem is they turn on automatically when bumped and that’s what kills the battery after i started placing mine in an isolated separate place too the table i work on the one batter would last 6-12 months, compared too the 4-8 weeks previously they must be locked closed, either with elsastic or the lock nut on them

[@edgeeffect]

Thanks for pointing out my SHAMEFUL micrometer usage. I'm off to beg forgiveness now.

[@dennishall9173]

Hi Quinn I bought a mick on Ebay but when it got here it different. It's a starrett no,210A don't want to send it back can you explain what it is used for and how you use it the right blonde haks way please

[@dragade101]

Would and love to drop all imperial tooling and means to measure. Like I go out of my way to pick up metric (and if it has to include imperial because it is it sold to NA then let it be) sizing but it isnt fun to hunt (pretty much excludes used tools)

[@idunnomaybe9429]

*Blondihacks put the tape measure down then put coffee above it* Me: Ohhh mm mm I see (*take notes*)

[@leonardoadomingues]

A set of Mitutoyo micrometers... 😍 My dream. Would need to sell my house to by one off these here.

[@johnelliott4521]

I have harbor freight digital for crude measurement have good caliper with dual scale great presentation

[@PatFarrellKTM]

Nice video. I don't see a link to the vernier 0-1" micrometer that you used. You also kept your thumb over the logo in most of the shots. What is it? And is there a secret story behind it?

[@The52brandon]

My cheap $10 HF caliper took me about a year to replace the battery - and even included one replacement battery. I will still be picking up a Mitutoyo one, but while I'm in the "bleeding out all of my money like a stuck pig" phase of tool-acquisition early on in getting into machining, anywhere I'm able to make due with a tool costing pennies on the dollar, if even only for a little bit, I'm all for it

[@PDZ1122]

Calipers - Verniers? Let the argument commence. I vote for Verniers.

[@ProfRonconi]

Very nice explanation. I see you use some unknown (to me) micrometer brand (Spi). Can you enlighten us?

[@Blondihacks]

SPI is a Swiss instrument company. They make some very nice stuff.

[@roylucas1027]

Very clear and informative video. Thank you.

[@ericgracka9676]

Could you show a video as to how to cut a flat along the entire horizontal surface of cylindrical stock using a lathe?

[@kemet-son]

i love tools 💞

[@johncooper4637]

There is one serious issue with calipers like you show: bits of metal get into the gear mechanism and cause the caliper to jam. It is the main reason for me going over to digital. The current cheap HF caliper battery seems to be lasting just fine (it is at least a year old and I don't have to take it out) and it has auto turn-on. After trying the Shars caliper at the metrology test that Kilroy was putting on, I may step up to one of those. Nice to meet you at the Good of the Land Festival.

[@Blondihacks]

Yes, very true. Dial calipers need to be taken apart and cleaned from time to time. That is a disadvantage of them.

[@javomal]

What I got from this video is imperial machinists are secretly metric machinists

[@DarthHintz]

i have a friend that calls calipers mics. drives me crazy

[@gerardlochmans589]

Great explanation! I would like to add that the best way to hold a micrometer is either thump and forefinger on the black pads on the lowest point of the arc ..or on the fixed anvil side, that way you transmit as little of your body temprature to the micrometer. Gretings from the Netherlands.

[@Blondihacks]

Yes! Great point. Avoiding heat transfer is good practice.