Dial Indicator Calipers

These are my new dial indicator calipers, not the prettiest thing I’ve ever made but very serviceable. From StewMac they cost US $135. With my unfavorable exchange rate and shipping, they would be WELL over AU $200. I have AU $40 invested in this one.

These might look a little over built but the timber arm flex is a consideration. I’ve included shots of my first rubber band rise and fall calipers, the arm flex had to be minimised by clamping a small rail across the arms. I built 10 carved top & back instruments with the old ones.

The bridle joint police. It was faster to cut the joints on the table saw than to set up the slot mortiser. The indicator is a friction fit.

The red hand is mm, the black hand is .01mm. The bottom jaw has an all thread bolt tapped into the timber jaw with a timber pad CA glued to the face. If I back off the bolt both hands go into a minus reading.

-- Mama calls me Texcaster but my real name is Mr. Earl.