NIKON COMPARATOR RESTORE

A few of the more interesting aspects of a quick rebuild of this Nikon optical comparator. I could not cover all the aspects I usually do because I needed to get it done quickly and just didn't have time to video all I did. Hope you find it interesting anyway.
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[@ThisOldTony]

Brilliant work as always Rob. Great restore is an understatement.

[@ROBRENZ]

Thanks a lot Tony, glad your could stop by. ATB, Robin

[@StefanGotteswinter]

Absolutely enjoyed, thank you very much! Love the different grinder setups and grinding/lapping the crosshair into the glass.

[@Engineerd3d]

Absolutely wonderful work. I was waiting to watch this when I could sit down and watch it in one shot. You did not disappoint.

[@bhleblanc]

Thank you for showing your mistakes. It gives people confidence to keep going when it happens to them.

[@forrestaddy9644]

Nice work Robin. A resurrection of a fine instrument. You're right: having an optical comparator in the shop is a real boon - even to those whose only use for it is to validate the grind of form tools and measuring difficult to access part features. Mine is a cheap Micro-Vu 500HP. Its virtue is it's cheap, light, and portable. The one I acquired was in good shape requiring only cleaning and TLC. I replaced the busy 12" screen of angles and radii with one having a simple cross-hair and put LED's in the lamp houses. That beautiful Nikon comparator, now fully restored to former glory, offers one in your line of work easy precision for determining otherwise hard to access and hard to measure part features. Wonderful video. Great detail, fully explained and demonstrated but you had to cherry pick only a few of the many steps to discuss. I can see why: given your once every three months rate of video production, a thorough treatment would probably require more time than either of us has left on Earth. Regardless, grateful for the highlights.

[@ROBRENZ]

Thanks Forrest, good to hear from you and hope all is well! ATB, Robin

[@dizzolve]

Your vids are always so interesting and inspiring .... wish I could learn from you on a daily basis. That cabinet looks really awesome - great find and great project [11:54 Awesome filmography quality here.] [14:03 something overdubbed with audio here] Thanks for posting another excellent video Rob

[@cdbflynow]

Very impressive job. And thanks for including the little "issue" that showed up- makes the rest of us feel a little better when it happens also to the high and mighty. Paul

[@MrJugsstein]

Robin Thanks for your time in letting us look over your sholder and haveing a chat to us. Frigging awesome Will

[@sethbracken]

Very cool. Your description of how your intuition of lapping material interaction was great. It’s tough to articulate those “feelings” about the right choices.

[@Kettletrigger]

Just when I start to think I know how to do stuff, Robin engraves and frosts glass. Amazing! I always learn something new Robin.

[@mxcollin95]

Every video I’ve seen of yours has blown my mind...this one included! As a fairly new hobby machinist, you solve problems in ways I find amazing. 👍

[@63256325N]

Your attention to detail is second to none. Very nicely restored indeed! Thanks for the video.

[@BobSmith-cx4og]

Superb! It's this sort of obsessive dedication that separates ordinary men from great men. As Isaac Newton said "My powers are ordinary. Only my application brings me success."

[@douglaslodge8580]

I don't know the four people that don't like the video , but I'm not one of them. I feel you do work that is of the highest quality. Great Job and thanks for letting us watch.

[@johnbodmer5645]

A beautiful rebuild Robin. I bet it is better than when new. I enjoy watching you work.

[@wlogue]

Thank you Robin, awesome work as usual. You never cease to amaze! Take care, Will

[@bugrobotics]

Thanks for sharing Robin! Awesome hearing the thought process behind the grinder setups.

[@user-tw9io9nz2m]

I'm going to go give my mitutoyo calipers a hug after watching this video

[@leopoirier1137]

I will most likely never need a comparator, but I enjoy following the process you use.

[@ianpendlebury3704]

Great project and result , and as usual, some interesting techniques too. Thanks for making these videos.

[@drubradley8821]

WOW!!! With all this precise work on the glass you were doing, and then to hear the beeping in the back ground, one may mistake thinking you were doing a heart transplant... Had me on the edge on my workbench stool... I learned many things today. Fine job sir, Dru

[@tomthumb3085]

Brilliant piece of work. I really enjoyed watching the problem solving and learned a great many tricks. Thanks for a really interesting video.

[@ProfRonconi]

Fantastic! I just needed to learn how to frost glass, but every step in this video was very useful. And you ended up with a piece of equipment that looks indeed like a million-dollar.

[@trickengg]

I really enjoy learning how to restore tools and equipment. The techniques you share definitely show some good tips for people with lack of experience doing this type of work. Please keep sharing more of this type of work!

[@PracticalRenaissance]

Seeing the work you did on the replacement screen was impressive enough just on instagram when you posted it, it was immensely more fascinating to watch the completed video! Great score on the comparator, and great score on those drawers!!

[@Pappaoh]

Robin, another fantastic project. Thanks for sharing. I know it takes time putting together vids, but yours are very much appreciated.

[@OO-xc7zg]

Beautiful work as always! Well done. 👍👍

[@davidmiller4728]

Beautiful work! I really enjoyed following this project on instagram and the video was even better, I was right on the edge of my seat the whole time! It is really interesting hearing how you think about things and come to the conclusions that you do, you have a fascinating way of taking a seemingly simply operation that most people graze over and breaking it down piece by piece and doing it in the most logical way possible. I think that is a huge reason why these videos are so educational and content rich.

[@jessemendes9491]

Congratulations ! Excellent Robin .

[@jefferdman5921]

Thanks for sharing. Always enjoy your methods and explination.

[@warrenjones744]

As always Robin, your projects and ideas are interesting and inspiring. Nice work.

[@outsidescrewball]

Robin...thank you for your time and effort in sharing your work on this rebuild, excellent discussion/instruction/demonstration....I have a older tabletop comparator and just love it...

[@ROBRENZ]

Thanks Chuck and thanks for stopping by, ATB, Robin

[@jimsmith6284]

Excellent work continues to amaze your thought process

[@oxtoolco]

Excellent video Robin. Apparently you have way too much time on your hands. I am exhausted just watching your video. Cheers, Tom

[@ROBRENZ]

Thanks, I just got in conquer mode and wouldn't stop till it was done. How on earth did I survive this long without one? I have used them a lot so its not like I didn't know what I was missing. ATB, Robin

[@DudleyToolwright]

Wonderful work as always. I love your creative work holding solutions. You are truly skilled.

[@RaptorMachineToolCo]

Rob, amazing work.. your level of detail is beyond outstanding !

[@billdlv]

Nice job Robin, I like your solution to the cabinet top. Thanks for taking the time to document and share your work.

[@SeanBZA]

I did a quick and fast cabinet repaint last week, was better than before, but your one looks better than the best the factory could ever do. But then, I spent $2 on materials for it, basically bought a foam roller and tray, and had some left over beige enamel paint, 120 grit sandpaper and some turps to do it with, and 2 hours later I was done. The other I spent $5 on, I did a second coat of hammerite blue, as I was doing the first coat with 100ml of left over paint and hammerite thinners, and it was looking thin, so got the second coat on after 12 hours. Bought a 250ml can. Nothing to look at, but it was a free cabinet in both cases. Both cases the roller and brush were toss away cheapies.

[@josephwilson6651]

Great video and well narrated the explanations are completely understandable. Thank You

[@KD0CAC]

Really glad you did this in slow-motion so that we could see some detail ;) Thanks again John

[@intagliode]

Friggn awesome as usual Robin! A very interesting video. Thanks for sharing it.

[@glennfelpel9785]

Very clever in so many ways....thank you for sharing your knowledge.

[@wimderix]

Thank you sir and what an amazing job on that glass.

[@turningpoint6643]

As always a truly mind bending learning experience watching your videos Robin. I'd bet some of that Comparator is now even better than new. It certainly now looks and I'm sure works like new. Extremely interesting video. My only regret is I'm allowed just one thumbs up.

[@rtewnde]

congratulations - great work !!!

[@oxox8980]

I'm sure someone has already said this in the comments but the dot next to a cross head screw indicates they are JIS. The engagement angle of a JIS and Philips is different and are often stripped.

[@roleic7246]

Interesting to see work on glass, Rob. You said you wanted to keep this refurbishment simple and not make a project out of it. Therefore you only regrind all the ways, putty down and respray all the housings, fit in drawer blocks, make a new glass screen with cross hairs and hand frosting and due to 2 chewy bolts replace all of them. Now I wonder what a real project of yours looks like.... Dig up the ore to make the steel for the guides? :-) I think I got the answer: In real full projects you have to slow the video down 8 times not just 4.... ;-) (those who dont get the joke have to watch the video over its full length...)

[@kellerrobert80]

Great job. Great show. Fun to watch. Do more.

[@HP_rep_mek]

Master at work, impressive as always!

[@bostedtap8399]

Excellent Robin, always impressed, and of course learning new application of inventive engineering techniques. All the best from the UK.

[@mertonsilliker3686]

Nice score, as usual, excellent install

[@nicolasescobaravila7910]

Been watching machinist channels for some time, hobbyists most of them, hoping to have a shop of my own someday, it is just impressive see the amount of expertise of a professional in action, fantastic job.

[@tomfiechter5073]

Nicolas Escobar Avila i

[@SyBernot]

OMG what a beautiful machine!

[@mattholden5]

Robin, thank you so much for such profound instructional detail. I thought I'd absorbed the entire message after first view. That turned out to be false. I learn something new. every time I watch of your vids, even if I've seen it many times.

[@bcbloc02]

Nice workholding on the grinder. A shame bozo stopped by to put some "witness" marks on for ya.

[@EmmaRitson]

good fun. enjoyed watching and wondering. thanks Robin

[@ROBRENZ]

Thanks Emma and thanks for stopping by. ATB, Robin

[@toolbox-gua]

The teacher for excellence in workmanship.

[@SolidRockMachineShopInc]

Nice job Robin! You do great work, pleasure to watch. Steve

[@ROBRENZ]

Thanks Steve!

[@sto2779]

15:45 - Wow... really good at making these ways brand new again. Surface grinders are really useful. You're really a master in surface grinding, should write a book for others to learn from beginner to advanced on how to use it and make some projects with it to understand the art of surface grinding.

[@RaivoltG]

You spent a lot of time on the cabinet but look at how nice it looks! That's the quality looking cabinet you'd expect to see in a super Hi-Tech shop, with a super Hi-Tech price! Great job, the comparator looks almost new!

[@RookieLock]

all I can say is WOW.. and thanks for sharing buddy!

[@SteveSummers]

Very nice Robin. I really enjoyed the video. So many different skill sets Thumbs up

[@Volcker1929]

Great rebuild sir.

[@rubybird9536]

I've used very fine glass bead in a blast cabinet to frost glass and Perspex with perfect results. the trick to get an even frosting is to aim the beads at a 20-30° angle one is able to create different levels of frosting using the air pressure and angle of attack.

[@kmcwhq]

Very nice work. Way back in the early 1980's I was in a scrap yard in early spring on a Saturday morning, and there was a brand new Nikon comparator (new in the smashed wooden crate) laying in the mud. All smashed of course. IBM threw it out. Made me sick.

[@raystanczak4277]

I’m looking forward to seeing it put to use. Nice work.

[@ROBRENZ]

Thanks 👍

[@RGSABloke]

Robin, cant find any more superlatives to describe what i have just seen, they have all been used up below. Thank-you so much for sharing. Kindest regards. Joe.

[@wolfitirol8347]

Respect this is a nice piece of equipment industrial standard which you set into top condition again... Good work good vid like im used from you...

[@dannycurll9343]

Awesome video as usual

[@sharkrivermachine]

Very interesting video. With all on the new gadgets in the shop I would like to schedule a visit. Thanks for sharing some of your trade secrets.

[@craigs5212]

Robin, super nice job, thanks for the video. Will have to try that line grinding with the razor blade some time. My grand father was an instrument maker and told me at one time they used spider webs to make cross hairs for reticles even splitting them in half or quarters to get finer and finer widths.

[@erikisberg3886]

Very much impressed by Your work! I have the smaller model, a Nikon V-10 that I use a lot. It seems like Your frosted screen and lines came out better than the original, The lines on mine are somewhat coarse. Mine has a XY horizontal table. Added a rotary stage to simplify aligning small parts.

[@alexanderhowa9707]

Robin amazing work!! There is no way someone could afford to pay u what u are really worth. U must have 150 years worth of experience in ur head. Can’t wait to see what unbelievable work u show next. Please keep it coming

[@ProfRonconi]

Exactly. Having someone with Rob's experience explain things for free is just an amazing privilege.

[@JohnBare747]

Nice job Robin, interesting video as always.

[@emiliog.4432]

Amazing work. Thanks for sharing this! Awesome!

[@ROBRENZ]

Glad you enjoyed it!

[@TrueMachine2]

Nice work on the glass. When doing telescope mirrors, the mirror being glass; we use ceramic tile squares mounted to a board, with 1/8" spaces between... this allows the grit to escape between the channels. We use water as well. The ceramic wears nearly equal to the glass. You can feel when the grit is done cutting. This method is used for doing concave mirrors. A 7 inch mirror I did, took approx. 30 hours. Took down to industrial rouge. A "mirror" finish.

[@wvmotorider9723]

Awesome video as always Robin. I’d love to see a video explaining what applications a comparator is typically used for in a shop. I see these and other pieces of shop equipment for sale and often wonder how they are used.

[@JPGuay]

Outstanding !

[@pierresgarage2687]

Oh, yah....!!!! You really work fast, all done in 45 minutes, we're lucky you get to slow down and take the time to explain in slow motion... lol Appreciated all the details you shared, those make the work easier for me got a good few new approach in there... Thanks for taking the time to share, Pierre

[@ROBRENZ]

Thanks Pierre and thanks for stopping by. ATB, Robin

[@stanervin7581]

Pierre's Garage Oh, yeah! @ 35:25. Hilarious!

[@ProfRonconi]

Hi, Pierre. I miss your videos. Make some, you lazy... er, something.

[@pierresgarage2687]

Sorry about not being very productive in the shop last Winter and Spring, things were quite a little bit difficult, my parents were needing extra care, my Dad passed away in May, and my mom suffering from alzheimer, the estate and a few other issues, now things are setling down, hope to be able to get back to more time doing things in the shop... Just bare with me, I'm working on getting back... And, most of all, thanks for the kind and appreciative comment, Pierre

[@ProfRonconi]

I'm really sorry, man. I can offer little help but my heartfelt solidarity. I hope this dark period ends soon.

[@1jtolvey]

GREAT VIDEO !!!

[@josuelservin]

Tom form Ox Tools mentioned this video about engraving the glass in his last video, and I'm glad he did, this was a quite fascinating!

[@wktodd]

really nice job (as usual) Robin:-)

[@Metaldetectiontubeworldwide]

part photographer , part mechanic ...loves that drawer with those special nikkon lenses. always curious to your master craftship greetings from the Netherlands Johny Geerts

[@Gary.7920]

Robin, Great job on the restoration. I was shocked to see that Bozo even visited your shop. As I get older, Bozo comes more and more often. It is quite frustrating at times. Thank you for the great video's that come from you. Gary, 75-Year-Old Home-Shop-Machinist in North West Arkansas.

[@zephyrold2478]

Hi Robin, Nice work and explanation, a good old handlapped thumbs up, I would realy like to be a fly on the wall in your shop, all the best.

[@glmphoto]

Great video as always Robin. I want a tour of your shop. Maybe i could get some pointers on organization. Lord knows i could use it LOL. KINDEST REGARDS

[@spencertoolandgrind]

Fantastic!😃

[@maxcnc777]

Excellent job man! I would be the guy that passed on the unit when the rust was discovered. I think your rebuild turned into a project after all.. there's a "Projector" joke in there somewhere but it eludes me..

[@motorbreath22]

Very interesting on the coating of the calipers, I thought it was some sort of sensor on the head reading of some wheel touching the caliper. I love your videos, Edge Precision has some good stuff too.

[@PhilsProjects]

Always fascinating Robin. Looking for an apprentice ?? LOL all I need is a green card. Great Video . much appreciated.

[@thomasutley]

Phil's Projects Dang Canadians coming down and stealing our apprenticeships!

[@PhilsProjects]

Not stealing, just asking, LOL

[@turningpoint6643]

Us beaver backs need to work every angle when we can. :-)

[@paulcopeland9035]

Frost backs

[@Factory400]

Thank you for playing in slow motion....your normal working speed is just too much to keep up with. :-) Really amazing to watch this play out!

[@dougankrum3328]

Every video, always a treat...and it's worth the time and effort to screw/bolt the casters. As a welder/maintenance man, I cannot tell you annoying it is to try to cut off 'welded-on' casters, especially when they were welded completely around the 4 sides, when just 4 small welds would do fine....! As for the 'frosted' glass, I was almost expecting hydrofluoric acid. Can you speculate on how the original glass was done? I've seen videos here on manufacturing light bulbs, they use the acid treatment.

[@ProfRonconi]

I believe hydrofluoric acid is so dangerous that you need a special licence to buy it.

[@dougankrum3328]

Maybe, but here in California, and Oregon, my brother gets it at Art-glass supply stores with no problem, just show ID that says you're an Adult. It is used quite often for etching Art Glass.

[@xenonram]

I see you've got the tennis ball parking stop hanging there, but I'll bet that garage hasn't seen a car in years; judging by your projects. Haha.

[@RaivoltG]

40:22 Now you're just making pretty patterns! You should frost a pattern, you'd have a very fancy optical comparator! Fancy drapes or curtains for blocking the light would add a real nice touch too!! 😂

[@Metalloys]

Hey Rob, Superb accuracy as usual Wanted to chip in : that I use Laser Printer Black Toner powder instead of carbon black to mix with Epoxy when filling very fine groove markings. It is super fine and very deep black.

[@sl1200mk02]

A.H. Shukry to

[@Metalloys]

@Cory Allison Sorry ??

[@somebodyelse6673]

Careful, there are toners with wax as a carrier, and toners with a polymer carrier. Many use titanium dioxide as the 'black', fewer use carbon. Toners made for color printers/copiers are much more likely to be polymer based. I bring this up because heat may cause some goofy behavior if your epoxy-toner mix is actually part wax.

[@fterrysmith6753]

Googled "comparator" then "Nikon comparator" with the hope of understanding their usage. No Joy for me as I'm still completely puzzled as to their purpose and process. Even so your video almost hypnotized me watching you work on one. Cannot understand why the frosted glass disc you so skillfully reproduced couldn't have been purchased - but that aside your work and uploads are mesmerizing in searching for impeccable results. Thanks for the efforts in producing entertaining and educational uploads - please continue when you can.

[@MaxPower_Designs]

Comparator are use for seeing cutting edge of a tool. The tool is backlit creating a vivid contrasted image of the cutting edge on the level of magnification you desire. This way you can see and compare edge geometry, tool wear, tool shape, ie corner radius and such.

[@MaxPower_Designs]

You can check this video. kzbin.info/www/bejne/b4WymoyhZrGUibM

[@fterrysmith6753]

Many thanks again...

[@pjhalchemy]

Robin, 4 thumbs up for the cabinet alone, wow! 6 thumbs up for the setup, tramming and grinding...Oh My! 4 more thumbs up for the glass work, Nicely done and well thought through! 2 more thumbs up for truing the ring, Impressive. Restoring this beautiful unit is off the charts in my book. Hopefully these make up for the 9 thumbs down now and any more in the future...Really People! Thank you for taking us through it with you. If I may, I have one question on the 1thou/2thou removal...Is that true for all V grove and flat ways or measured and calculated on this set? Thank you again, I really enjoy people taking the time to save an old piece of quality equipment and bringing it back to 1st quality and likely better than new. Hat Tip and salute!

[@gerardlochmans589]

Awesome!!!!!!!!!

[@randomdude1786]

gonna love to see the swiss army knife accessories you come up with to fill them drawers with. now you'll be able to say that'll be easy to measure I gotta comparator... don't leave it out in the rain

[@johndecoteau629]

other level.....wow!

[@tristanpatterson3843]

fascinating.