Trimming Chinese type scales

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

Reply to
paul.morrey
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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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Reply to
John Stevenson

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

Reply to
paul.morrey

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

Reply to
Nick Müller

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

Reply to
BobKellock

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

Reply to
paul.morrey

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!!

Reply to
Robin

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

Reply to
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 ...

Reply to
Peter Fairbrother

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

Reply to
Nick Müller

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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Reply to
John Stevenson

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

Reply to
Nick Müller

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

Reply to
paul.morrey

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