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Micrometers - Sentimentality

I must be getting old. I usedta never was sentimental about things.

Anyway, yesterday I went through all my micrometers and the ones that measured the most accurately and consistently using gage blocks and the few Starret standards I have were the Starretts. Those all came from my Grampa Klements and they are all very old. Some may be 80-100 years old. I was quite surprised. But not only were they consistent over a range, but they were all adjusted. None were tight or sticky or anything.

In those from my grandfather there were two marked JT Slocomb. They actually checked pretty close on the line and over their range, but they were both quite stiff. I wonder if it would be ok to soaked them in acetone to get any gunk out of them.

Next were my modern El Cheapo Chinese micrometers. I've only actually bought one. The others just came to me here and there. They were all pretty decent. Most were within a couple tenths over their range. I did have to adjust a couple, but they measured consistently at minimum and maximum range. All of them. One set of Speedways that came out of a pile of salvage from an old house were all as good as I could expect for cheap imports.

Last, and the other set I had hoped would be good were a set of four Companion D.J. 0-4 inch. My dad told me they were cheap when he gave them to me, but atleast I didn't have to engrave them. They all were already marked with R. La Londe. (his name and mine) The 0-1" was dead on when I checked it with a gage block, but the standard that came with it was about a half thou off. Two of the others measured consistently but where off. One by .00016 and the other by .004. The biggest one I couldn't get a consistent measurement out of to save my life, and it was very stiff. When I rolled the barrel out I could see it was full of some old sticky gunk. Again... I wonder if I can soak it in some acetone. I'd like to adjust the other two, but I don't see how. They do not adjust the same way as any of my other micrometers, and the case doesn't have any kind of tool or even a slot for one.

Interestingly every single 0-1" I have was good. No matter the brand or where it came from.

Reply to
Bob La Londe
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Hey Bob, Just thought I would contribute a small note on topic of Micrometers.

A few years ago I was at a auction and up for bid was a Brown & Sharpe 1/2" Micrometer in it's original case.

I somehow became the high bidder at $37.00

Really don't know the age but it have to be very rare.

Hard to say why they would make a 1/2" Mic but they did. Rather cool!!

As for soaking in acetone, I would vote yes. But then after drying use a very light oil and very small amount.

Good Luck!!

Les

Reply to
ABLE1

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It should be a start, followed by instrument oil (Starrett makes a good one).

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O.K.

Sure -- again follow by an instrument oil in the threads.

O.K. I've never seen a "Companion D.J.", but aside from the common rotating sleeve to zero many micrometers, I've seen at least two other systems.

1) Short sleeve on the thimble. (You would probably have noticed this yourself.) 2) The thimble attaches to the spindle by a cone, held by the small diameter spinner. If it does not have a ratcheting spinner, there should be a small hex at the base. Loosen the spinner a turn or two, tap on the end of the spinner with brass or a hard plastic, and then loosen the spinner once the thimble moves.

Then with your fingers on the cone, close the spindle until it bottoms and your fingers start to slip. (Using light pressure). Lock the spindle, lube the cone with instrument oil, and slide it back together, turn until the index zeros, and then screw back in the spinner.

2a) If it has a ratcheting spinner, you may see a small cross hole which will let you use some spring wire as a wrench, or you may have to remove the screw which holds the ratchet in place, and then gain access to the hex base or to a cross-hole wrench hole.

Of course, there may be some other system yet. It would help if I could see the micrometer, instead of trying to guess. :-)

Sounds good.

Enjoy, DoN.

Reply to
DoN. Nichols

On Jan 29, 2018, Bob La Londe wrote (in article ):

As others have said, don?t use acetone, as it will take the paint out of the engracved numbers, et al.

Use V&MP Naptha from the paint store for soaking.

I use manually applied acetone to remove the varnish from threads and the like. Naptha won?t otherwise get all the varnish.

I have mostly very old micrometers bought used, and they are all sopt on when cleaned and lubricated.

Joe Gwinn

Reply to
Joseph Gwinn

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