Gunsmithing Help me find an Indicator

[slayer_21420]

Hey all

I'm looking to start indicating directly off of the bore and know the subject has been beat to death here so I'm not asking for advice on the method. I understand that the resolution will no longer read .0001" on the line after installing a longer stylus and will be reading the wiggle to dial in.

I know the most recommended model is the Interapid 312b-15 2.75" stylus, and would love to buy one but it looks like they've gone up to over $350 and would rather not pay that much if I don't have too.

Would a Brown and Sharp .0001" with a 1.4375" Stylus do the job as well? Or would I be better suited with something else?

Any feedback/suggestions are much appreciated!

Thanks in advance

Steve

 

[300sniper]

Have this: Enco - Guaranteed Lowest Prices on Machinery, Tools and Shop Supplies sitting in your shopping cart and wait for a 20-40% off sale to come around. Enco and MSC have had 20%+ sales often lately.

 

[slayer_21420]

Not a bad Idea, I have been a day late on the last couple sales unfortunately.

You think the .0005 resolution provides enough movement VS the .0001?

 

[300sniper]

Not a bad Idea, I have been a day late on the last couple sales unfortunately.

You think the .0005 resolution provides enough movement VS the .0001?

yep.

 

[300sniper]

And Enco just happens to have a 20% off sale today, promo code JUL24.

Get that indicator for $250.

 

[MikeeBooshay]

Not a bad Idea, I have been a day late on the last couple sales unfortunately.

You think the .0005 resolution provides enough movement VS the .0001?

Yes it does, you can still read the dial in between the hash marks to get as close. Plus, with the .0005, you get .015 on the dial, instead of .005, makes it a bit faster to rough in the set up.

 

[ridgeway]

Interapid definitely. Do the enco deal for 20% off $199 purchase for a smoking deal. They usually run a 30% deal, but haven't seen it this year so far. They do 20% and free shipping with no minimum several times...

 

[slayer_21420]

Just saw the email, the machining gods must me smiling upon me today haha

Thanks for the advice everyone.

 

[DAVETOOLEY]

Buy once cry once. Tools are an investment. I've worn my indicator out once, had it rebuilt and have done 3-4 thousand barrels since the rebuild.

 

[slayer_21420]

Buy once cry once. Tools are an investment. I've worn my indicator out once, had it rebuilt and have done 3-4 thousand barrels since the rebuild.

I hear ya there, I'm a firm believer in that saying.

I decided to cry a little harder and throw a Starrett 0-3" digital depth micrometer in on the order as well haha.

 

[skeetlee]

I know of a independent test where the brown and sharp proved to be more accurate compared to the intrepid. These test were preformed from a master machinist. I will try and find the email and post a link. Lee

 

[slayer_21420]

I'd love to see that skeetlee, I have a brown and sharp .0005" bestest and have no issues with the quality, couldn't really ask for a nicer indicator.

I've also heard nothing but excellent reviews on interapid though so I'm excited to get the one I ordered today.

 

[ridgeway]

The BS is much more fragile. I have a BS .00005 with a longer stem that works pretty good. If I had to pick, Interapid all the way....

 

[skeetlee]

here is a link to my email that will show a pic of the test my friend performed. This isn the email I was hoping to provide you all, but I asked my buddy to resend it to me. Hopefully he still has all the info and he can then forward it to me. If he still has it, ill try and post it. Now keep in mind this was one single independent test of the indicators my friend had on hand. Your results may very? lee

sorry guys the link didn't work. the link went straight to my email as a hole. ill keep trying to figure this out. Lee

 

[Gene Poole]

I have 3 Brown and Sharpe BesTest 0.0001 indicators and an array of different length styli from 0.5 to 2.25 inches and paid less for all that than a single Interapid. I got two brand new NOS from ebay for $45 apiece. Having multiple indicators is nice for dialing in both positions at once.

YouTube

For what it's worth, I've abandoned direct indicating in favor of the piloted "Range Rod" method. I've found that a seemingly perfect directly indicated bore was off significantly when follow-up tested with the range rod. After zeroing with the range rod, it still tested perfect when directly indicated. In other words, the direct method was not as accurate.

 

[300sniper]

For what it's worth, I've abandoned direct indicating in favor of the piloted "Range Rod" method. I've found that a seemingly perfect directly indicated bore was off significantly when follow-up tested with the range rod. After zeroing with the range rod, it still tested perfect when directly indicated. In other words, the direct method was not as accurate.

I've got to call BS on this and I don't mean Brown and Sharpe.

 

[Gene Poole]

I've got to call BS on this and I don't mean Brown and Sharpe.

BS in that I'm making it up?

 

[300sniper]

BS in that I'm making it up?

BS that using an a DTI reading on a rod stuck in the bore is more accurate than a DTI reading on the bore.

 

[Gene Poole]

I know we've beaten this to death over on Practical Machinist and the OP mentioned that he didn't want to get into it so I apologize for bringing it up in my post. My only intention was that the B&S indicators are a much better value. My video showed a range rod so I merely followed up with that. Sorry to all for going off topic with a sensitive subject.

 

[Red_SC]

Btw, Enco has 30% off today only, the code is 84THR. The Interapid comes out to $217.29 + shipping- ask me how I know.

 

[jasonk]

Btw, Enco has 30% off today only, the code is 84THR. The Interapid comes out to $217.29 + shipping- ask me how I know.

30%...ah man....I don't even need anything but that's going to cost me money!!

 

[slayer_21420]

Dang I didn't get the email! Guess i'll spend some more money lol

 

[Red_SC]

I didn't either, just happened to search for a code since I need that indicator and found it on a home machining forum. Maybe they're catching on- most of my purchases from Enco are with a 20% + free shipping, and it's usually items off the hot deals flyer to boot!

 

[ridgeway]

Keep an eye on your local craigslist. Get a smartphone app and set up a couple alerts for what you are looking for. A couple months ago I picked up a Interapid 312b-3 DTI with box for $80 cash. Couldn't believe it till I saw it. It works perfect. Before that, I picked up a B&S 50 millionth DTI for $35 cash. Had to drive 40 min for it, but with it. It is like brand new with a few extra attachments. Worth a look.

Also, check into getting a Noga base or two with fine adjustment on the head. Once you use one, you won't go back to the rigid 2 rod setup taken that is what you use.

 

[Red_SC]

I already have a Noga, it's definitely a nice improvement. What app do you use? I watch Craigslist periodically, by my area is more rural than industrial and you don't find much. I had to drive all the way to Ohio for my lathe and Indiana for my mill. I used to use Crazedlist to watch across multiple areas, but that's not an option anymore. An app could be very helpful.

 

[Red_SC]

30%...ah man....I don't even need anything but that's going to cost me money!!

So- what goodies did you find out you needed???

 

[ridgeway]

CL app and CL notify by trixiesoft.

That enco deal is pretty good. They don't offer 30% much. I DID NOT get that one emailed to me.

 

[jasonk]

So- what goodies did you find out you needed???

A new threading tool, some bits for the tool and another cut off tool holder. Sadly I had bought a whole lot more last month with only 20% off....but oh well.

 

[jonaddis84]

I have to agree with the Noga comment. I grabbed the MS..63 175lb model on Encos last 20% off sale, plus it was already like 25% off to begin with. Liked it so much I just bought another one last night on the 30% sale (Noga sale was still going too), I got the shorter arm version this time with the same 175lb base, think it ended up being like $57!

Also decided to snag that Interapid, not sure why, my Mitutoyo long reach has been working great, guess I just have spending issues. Thanks for the heads up on the 30% sale Jason

 

[ridgeway]

Jason, I got the same two Noga bases...they are great. Both are outfitted with Interapids...very nice stuff. I had self control last night and ordered nothing, lol. Had I known earlier in the day, I'm sure I would have found something to order...

 

[jonaddis84]

Some new tool porn, finally getting to a point I'm pretty happy with my lathe tooling, only took 4 years haha.

SECO 3/4" MDJNR holder and Iscar DNMG432 ic907 inserts (55° profiling). This will make the few times actually using a center much easier (bolt knobs)

And couple NOGA bases

 

[slayer_21420]

Looking good Jon!

What are you holding your interapid with in the tool holder?

 

[jonaddis84]

I tried just putting the stem in a boring holder, but that was too low. Now it's in a "bracket" that came with my long reach Mitutoyo.

Having it in a tool holder is the only way to roll, as long as your post is square you don't ever have to mess around setting up the indicator to be the right height and parallel.

If you can't find that bracket you could always just drill a hole in the end of some square stock and put a set screw to hold it.

 

[jonaddis84]

Here's a picture of the bracket, not sure if they sell it separate.