Trimming Chinese type scales

May 12, 2006 12 Replies

Hi



Just wondering if anyone has experience of trimming Chinese type scales to size?



I have bought a 150mm from Chronos at Harrogate (Bargain at £19.00) but I could do with trimming off about 20mm and I have read that its ok to cut them to size. Just wondering if anyone has any tips or warnings as I don`t want to scrap my bargain?



Cheers



Paul


I did mine with a hacksaw, just wrapped some masking tape round it to stop the rule display fraying and went to it. They are tough and some people use a dremel cutting disk.

BTW you got done, Arc was selling these off cheaper than that as show offers.

-- Regards,

John Stevenson Nottingham, England.

Visit the new Model Engineering adverts page at:-

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Hi John

Thanks for reply I will ensure that Hacksaw blade is in good cond and give it a bash.

Didn`t spot the scales on Arc Euro but thats life!

Cheers

Paul

Some, yes. :-) One with an angle grinder (that works, pay atention that it doens't get too hot), one with a belt saw and one with a hacksaw. They are hardened, but not really hard. So a hacksaw with a not-so-new-blade is OK.

See

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for more mods.

Nick

I've also successfully drilled them with a small slow running TCT masonry drill after regrinding it to more-or-less normal twist drill angles: you need to keep the decal held down.

Bob

Bob

Hi Folks

Thanks for replies.

Cut the scale today with no problems. I masked the cutting area (Thanks John) and used a hacksaw.

I then drilled and tapped two holes to remount the mounting brkt.

All seems well.

Thanks again

Paul

Being a bit thick here, but what is a "Chinese type scale"? I've had a quick look on the Chronos site, but didn't see anything that might need trimming... some soul please enlighten me!!

Its an elongated modified digital vernier calliper.

like here :-

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Don't think i would buy one of 'em ...cant see them lasting beyond a couple of years in my workshop environment,somehow

all the best..mark

I never worked out why people buy 6" scales @ £23 or £18 or so, when 6" "digital vernier" calipers are available for £8.99 and just need trimming with a hacksaw ...

A "Chinese scale" is a digital scale or caliper that is cheap and from China. So they are also called "Cheap Cinese scales". They all have an LCD and a button cell. You sometimes get then (the calipes) at ALDI or other "specialized precision instrument dealers" :-) Trimming is mostly cutting them to length.

HTH, Nick

I have a 6" one of the head of the Bridgy for about 5 or 6 years and various hand ones over this age.

True but they have only recently dropped to £8.99, before this they are about £15 and if you want a vertical scale for ease of reading chopping a caliper up, having to drill and tap mounting holes on the slider and getting a cricked neck trying to read it isn't worth the extra 8 quid in my book.

-- Regards,

John Stevenson Nottingham, England.

Visit the new Model Engineering adverts page at:-

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If you want to use them with a DRO, the scales are better. Why? The digital calipers's electronics are not totaly the same. Some go to sleep after 1/2 hour or so and loose their reference, other's are very picky in initializing them.

But just for beeing read by a human, there is no difference.

Nick

Also the vertical scales have a few extra functions over the cheap vernier calipers I think. My vertical does ABS/Inc and also has another couple of buttons, one up arrow and one down arrow, which I have not sussed yet as I didn`t receive a instruction leaflet - have emailed chronos for a copy. But if anyone can enlighten me in the mean time please do so.

Also I have a cheap digital vernier for general use and it does not feel as robust as my scale - time will tell.

Cheers

Paul

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