SNS 172: Mic Stand, Indicating Mic, Metric Threading 

The gage block test reminds me of a quote: "A man with one clock knows what time it is - a man with two clocks is never quite sure."

Cool comparative instrument from Poland there. Just a small correction; 1/10th of a ten-thousands is not a millionth, but a hundred-thousandth or 10 millionths. So the B&S is 20 or 30 millionth under and the other one is 60-70 millionth under. Its easy to get the mixed up in the zero decimals, so no biggie. Thanks for another good SNS. Watching you do threads, metric or other, is like watching a well choreographed ballet :-)

Just recently started watching your videos Adam, after following the likes of AvE and John from NYC CNC for quite a while. Gotta say, you make excellent videos! Not high octane but instead thorough and rather relaxing. Added to that you seem like a great guy! Always humble and full of good advice. Keep up the great work. From an IT student who also likes working with his hands

What a nice surprise seeing my old mic again. I'm super glad you enjoy it. Cheers Adam, keep up the great videos.

Another great video, Adam. Demonstrating the Polish mic--and things like it--keeps your channel interesting.

Thanks for the video! I came here for a closeup of indicating mics, and found a great tip on metric threading, and a nice summary of the indicator stand.

I love the threading trick on the lathe for Metric threads .. very nice caliper there , I like the way it will repeat parts ! Thumbs up Adam ..

Thats a great tip on how to catch a metric thread after disengaging. I will try it on my metric lathe next time I need to do some imperial threading. Cheers

Thanks, Adam, I really liked your method for turning metric threads, I hope I can remember it when needed next time.

The "correct" gauge block depends on the traceable level of uncertainty from a true standard [using lasers and fancy whatnot]. There are several grade scales but the newest scale [preferred for new gauge blocks] has tolerances for both flatness and length. Increasing in accuracy: as2, as1, 0, 00, K. K is a special grade for calibration-lab use and has very tight flatness but wider length tolerance from nominal as it is intended to be used with its certificate for in house instrument calibration.[the cert will have the true length] AS2 is for use on the production line, 0 is for inspecting setups, QC, and checking the as2 blocks; as1 and 00 serve similar roles but are for more critical areas like aerospace. A nom 1" as2 can be +-24 millionths and flatness deviation of 10 millionths, 00 is +-3 and flatness 2. They can also be made in several materials each with a different thermal expansion, conductivity, and hardness. Steel blocks with steel parts and steel mics is nice because they all expand at the same rate so good for relative measurements(temp can be neglected as long as they are all the same], and steel is more conductive than ceramic so the internal temp settles faster. Ceramic wears much longer and for absolute measurements [calculated temperature compensation] it can have a very low thermal expansion coefficient.

Wonderful video Adam, Thumbs up .....Bob. Have a good time at the Bash and may the best metal slinger win the 4 - Jaw belt...

Excellent video Adam. Thanks for the tip about metric threading on an inch lead screw, I do a lot of metric stuff on my lathe I will have to give that method a shot next time.

Always entertaining, nice tutorial on the metric threading, thanks Adam

Glad I caught this video, that was a nice coupla mics right there. I like the Starrett with the ten-thousands on a double thimble in red, going to look out for one of those. Indicator and dial mics are cool, but also expensive even pre-owned on eBay. Anyway, good video, good camera work and narration.

I have two metric micrometers like that, both from the very same manufacturers. These Polish instruments are of a very high quality and can rival with most German made measuring tools. I wouldn't want to miss them! They weren't easy to get in the past, but since 'The Wall' came down, they can now be found on Ebay and such for a fair price. Never hesitate if you have to opportunity to buy one! Some of the East German and Russian stuff is now more and more available too, often for very great prices. Most of that gear is of very nice quality. I now measure things with my Russian gauge blocks in 'Communist Metric' ! Paddy

It would be interesting to hold one of the gauge blocks between your fingers for a minute or so and see if the reading increases. I think the standard that was wrapped with a "plastic" to isolate the heat from your hand AND the hex shape keeps it from rolling away. Kinda like the reason a carpenters pencil is not round. Great video Adam...

Very cool threading technique. It's like This Old Tony, only his lathe is smaller and can stop faster, so he just leaves the half nut engaged and stops the lathe.

Hi Adam, I also use this technique over here in Australia to cut TPI because all our lathes are metric leads. Expect I just put the machine in reverse without disengaging the lead screw and I've never had an issue with it not lining up perfectly with the thread.

Very good video. Thanks! I was taught to wear gloves when handling standards to discourage heat transfer and to prevent scratching the standard if you had any grit or dirt on your fingers.

Best tip I have seem on metric threading.

Adam - you're coming up on the big deuce-double-oh here. Got anything planned? Amazing - While not a machinist I've followed you for a really long time and really enjoy your laid back style, your meticulousness, your care to explain things. Makes me feel like I could machine something on a Bridgeport or a Monarch anytime :) The coops with some of the other machinists out there are great as well! Avon79 had me in stitches :) Keep on keeping on. :)

thanks for showing how u thread something. was always curious how that works and now i know.

Both of those mics are pretty awesome! Great video as always!

muy buen trabajo felicitaciones!gracias a usted mi presicion de aprendiz a mejorado mucho,gracias

Very very interesting! I love that repeating indicator!

good as always adam, liked the video during the week

Hi Adam. Great video as always thanks for your time and hard work. I've just found the same Micrometer stand on Ebay in the UK and it's on for £183.76 around $200. Looks like you got a really good price.

Whoa, that's finer than frog hairs but I like the comparisons. Very nice video, thanks.

I finally found a price list for the rod (most industrial supply just have a call for quote) and was surprised that 1.5" chrome rod is only a couple bucks an inch. I can see why it wouldn't make sense to try to repair a damaged one.

Thankyou for the videos. I wish i could work by your side and learn from you.

Adam, if measurements get smaller/larger then tenth's, temperature is getting a critical factor, you should use special cloves at its measurement, because even the Mitutoya was expended the second time. Thanks for your easy to watch and great explaining in detail video's!

Those Polish mic's are so cool. Always good to see the footage from work. Any updates on when you might be able to shoot more footage there? Thanks for another SNS.

Hi Tom, I must use the same "Oxtool" technique when turning a English tread on my late. regards from Holland.

Im no machinist, but that is one sweet Starret mic, never seen one like it or the one from Poland as well, interesting.

That is a neat mic really cool !!

Nice video Adam.

"what r u doing saturday night?", they said. "I'll watch Abom's SNS, then I'll decide"

I just watched Robert De Niro use one of those comparison micrometers on dice at a craps table in the movie "Casino".

That Polish micrometer is pretty nice. If you had to work to the ten thousanth, I'd much rather that than a vernier type.

Great video Adam. Just so I am clear; you have a metric thread box with a SAE lead screw?

Do one thing for me Adam, put the gage blocks ( all of them ) in a owen and heat them up to 20 °C (68 °F). And measure them again.

Nice mic think I can get my hands on it now lol. I want to play with it too

So what sort of tolerances do standards have? Would these be considered "In tolerance" to each other? See ya next weekend! I am looking forward to meeting you at the Bash!

nice vid Adam :) It´s nice to see some metric from time to time as well for someone like me, across the "pool" :)

GREAT VIDEO !!

That was a lot of mics/mikes. 😁

Another problem with welding the damaged hydraulic rod would be that it would be subject to rust at the weld repair areas.

Hi Adam. Could you use that spray-on metalizer/weld technique you've shown in the past on that sort of job? Just curious. I hope you win this year's Bar-Z bash! :)

...12:30....I have a couple of these comparator mikes...0-1, and a 1-2....both are TESA...Swiss made...big $$$ of course...but I do have some Polish cutting tools that are top quality stuff...end mills and slitting saws..

Polish micrometer wow you impressed me. iv seen one of this when i was in school, the teacher told us it was use in aircraft part production. you hold peace of history in your hands this think could be older then I am and probably you too. its from comunizm era am I the only subscriber from Poland ? any way as its now 00:25 in here and I'm watching the maschining video hey good to be crazy

The comparativie looks like it was made in Fabryka Wyrobów Precyzyjnych in Warsaw. It should be marked FBW or VIS.

I didn't know I wanted that Mic stand until now. They've discontinued it and I can't find one anywhere on eBay or anything

Hey Abomb when did you move to Sanfran lol other than your voice I thought I was watching Ox tools with Mr Lipton lol great video man

Being a grinder I don't know shit about lathes, but with the way you turn them threads, almost seems like it's the only way you should do it.

or you could use the LEAD SCREW REVERSE like on the Monarch for this treading trick!

adam great tip.

Adam, I have a question. With that pitch, does the lathe have settings for that pitch or did you have to do a calculation to arrive at an english pitch matching the metric pitch?

Can't you use stoodite rod for filler, or isn't it hard enough? It is made for hard surfacing and is much harder than 7018, etc.

Hello Adam, I saw in another video from a mitutoyo guy. and he say that on those block you need to use the measurement that is put on calibration certificate and not the nominal one.

Thought you were going to make a microphone stand. =D

Next time see if you can detect a difference depending on the temperature of what is being measured. Maybe make notes for when things in the shop normalize in temperture at mid Summer and mid Winter.

Fun fun fun thubs up

17:10 what reading do you go with 😩 run into this problem every so often when holding .00005". Then again, I've heard that measuring equipment should be x times more sensitive than the tolerance of a part you're measuring.

Could you not use those edge hardening welding rods, (the ones that are used to put a hard edge on soft steel buckets) to repair blems on hydraulic shafts? Or is that type rod TOO HARD to then machine?

Its saturday night and im watching a micrometer video... what is wrong with me?

Old, good, Polish production. Still available in Poland. allegro.pl/listing?string=pasametr&order=p&bmatch=base-relevance-floki-5-nga-com-1-2-0614

What was the room temperature when you check this blocks?

My boss will Not repair a dented/scratched cylinder rod. Besides the weld being softer than the parent material (as Adam stated), the weld process can cause the rest of the chrome plating to flake off later. Once in a while the customer will cry about it, but in the end, it's our name on the repair. Customers Never state the truth that they wanted it cheap and fast to their friends, it's Always the shops fault.

How would you verify which one is the most correct ?

17:25 - You didn't demo the adjustment of the limit/tolerance pointers !

Hey Abom. Got any tips for cutting large, corse threads on low hp machines?

The only sure way to know it to use a standard that has recently been calibrated to the NIST (NBS) traceable standard. .

Why not just leave the threading dial engaged? I know there must be a reason or maybe I didn't listen well enough. Thanks for another good video.

When judging a gauge block, keep in mind that they are sold in plus or minus sizing. They can be over or under the nominal stated size usually by .0001 sometimes more. Heat will also affect the size.

Isn't it possible that welding the rod it could warp as well?

why do you have to back out , why not just reverse the lathe and chase the threads that way you would never have to looses your spot.. now i know there some obvious reason that i am probaly missing just cant think of them now

I guess you meant few hundered thousandth, not few millionth (around 15th minute)...

Puzzle's me why you go from tenths to millionths by moving one decimal place. Obviously half a tenth is 5 hundredths, not 'millionths' on ANY scale ! Of an inch, it's one hundred thousandths - a 10 millionth. Or half a tenth (thousandth) is 50 millionths.

Fowler indicating mic.

I realize this is an older video, but I have a question about a Mitutoyo Caliper I'm thinking about getting. How accurate is it? They claim its good to .0005". Is that reliable? When machining is it even possible to be that accurate? Am I overthinking this? Thank you for all the amazing content you post btw. I love your channel. Link on Amazon is here: www.amazon.com/Mitutoyo-500-196-30-Advanced-Measuring-Resolution/dp/B00WMKUUAQ/ref=sr_1_2?s=hi&ie=UTF8&qid=1520376181&sr=1-2

This man is good at large tolerances. But it is obvious that he does not know how to differentiate between 100 thousandths and millionths

*hundred thousandth😢

Come on Adam, you have the micrometer adapters to hold the thread wires, Why arnt we seeing some more action in the area rather than just the hardware store nut job?