Free 186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook:  
Get 2,000+ tool plans, full site access, and more.

User Tag List

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 10 of 12

Thread: Height Gage Magnifier

  1. #1
    Supporting Member jjr2001's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Posts
    915
    Thanks
    1,182
    Thanked 2,044 Times in 553 Posts

    jjr2001's Tools

    Height Gage Magnifier

    I have this old Starrett 12" height gage that I like to use for layouts. Eyes are not what they used to be so I needed an assist.
    Cut a slice of magnifier from an old Bausch and Lomb reading magnifier. I glued it to the vernier slide and there it is. Instant 2X
    magnification. Much faster than holding up my little round magnifier to the scale.

    Cheers, JR

    No vintage tools were harmed in this mod.
    Attached Thumbnails Attached Thumbnails Height Gage Magnifier-img_2269.jpg   Height Gage Magnifier-img_2270.jpg   Height Gage Magnifier-img_2272.jpg   Height Gage Magnifier-img_2275.jpg  

    186 More Best Homemade Tools eBook

  2. The Following 8 Users Say Thank You to jjr2001 For This Useful Post:

    baja (Feb 25, 2021), mwmkravchenko (Jan 23, 2019), Paul Jones (Jan 27, 2019), PJs (Jan 24, 2019), rossbotics (Jan 24, 2019), saintrain (Jan 26, 2019), Seedtick (Jan 23, 2019), Toolmaker51 (Jan 31, 2019)

  3. #2
    Supporting Member rossbotics's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    730
    Thanks
    1,019
    Thanked 1,639 Times in 402 Posts

    rossbotics's Tools
    Hey JR.
    I use to have a 6" Starrett height gage and used it for years until I got like you and couldn't see good enough to line up the graduations any more, even with glasses it was still difficult, had to go digital a few years ago, great idea !

    Doug




    Height Gage Magnifier-1.jpg

    2000 Tool Plans
    Comments are always welcome
    Doug

    Subscribe to my you tube channel

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDD..._as=subscriber



    Tool Plans for Sale by rossbotics






  4. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to rossbotics For This Useful Post:

    jjr2001 (Jan 28, 2019), PJs (Jan 24, 2019)

  5. #3
    Supporting Member jjr2001's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Posts
    915
    Thanks
    1,182
    Thanked 2,044 Times in 553 Posts

    jjr2001's Tools
    Thanks Doug, I have considered a new 6" digital or even a dial but I was concerned that 6" was a bit small.
    Do you find that you have to revert to something other than the 6" digital for long measurements?

    Cheers, JR

  6. The Following User Says Thank You to jjr2001 For This Useful Post:

    PJs (Jan 24, 2019)

  7. #4
    Supporting Member rossbotics's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2013
    Location
    Florida
    Posts
    730
    Thanks
    1,019
    Thanked 1,639 Times in 402 Posts

    rossbotics's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by jjr2001 View Post
    Thanks Doug, I have considered a new 6" digital or even a dial but I was concerned that 6" was a bit small.
    Do you find that you have to revert to something other than the 6" digital for long measurements?

    Cheers, JR
    Thanks JR.
    I forgot to mention I have this 12" dial height gage that I use when the 6" isn't enough, (see photo below) but the 6" one works 90% of the time, never enough tools.

    Doug

    Height Gage Magnifier-2.jpg
    Comments are always welcome
    Doug

    Subscribe to my you tube channel

    https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDD..._as=subscriber



    Tool Plans for Sale by rossbotics






  8. The Following 2 Users Say Thank You to rossbotics For This Useful Post:

    jjr2001 (Jan 28, 2019), Toolmaker51 (Nov 24, 2022)

  9. #5
    Supporting Member jjr2001's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Posts
    915
    Thanks
    1,182
    Thanked 2,044 Times in 553 Posts

    jjr2001's Tools
    Thanks Doug, I think the use of a digital would streamline my layouts a bit. I think I will make
    one for a 6" digital vernier that I have in my "clean room". I will post it when done.

    Thanks again, JR

  10. The Following User Says Thank You to jjr2001 For This Useful Post:

    Toolmaker51 (Nov 24, 2022)

  11. #6
    Content Editor
    Supporting Member
    DIYer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    3,056
    Thanks
    772
    Thanked 1,850 Times in 1,652 Posts


    Thanks rossbotics! We've added your Tall Height Gauge to our Height and Depth Gauges category,
    as well as to your builder page: rossbotics's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:




  12. The Following User Says Thank You to DIYer For This Useful Post:

    jjr2001 (Feb 4, 2019)

  13. #7
    Content Editor
    Supporting Member
    DIYer's Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2013
    Posts
    3,056
    Thanks
    772
    Thanked 1,850 Times in 1,652 Posts


    Thanks jjr2001! We've added your Height Gauge Magnifier to our Measuring and Marking category,
    as well as to your builder page: jjr2001's Homemade Tools. Your receipt:




  14. The Following User Says Thank You to DIYer For This Useful Post:

    jjr2001 (Jan 29, 2019)

  15. #8
    Supporting Member Toolmaker51's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Midwest USA
    Posts
    5,330
    Thanks
    7,041
    Thanked 2,977 Times in 1,892 Posts

    Toolmaker51's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by jjr2001 View Post
    I have this old Starrett 12" height gage that I like to use for layouts. Eyes are not what they used to be so I needed an assist.
    Cut a slice of magnifier from an old Bausch and Lomb reading magnifier. I glued it to the vernier slide and there it is. Instant 2X
    magnification. Much faster than holding up my little round magnifier to the scale.

    Cheers, JR

    No vintage tools were harmed in this mod.
    'No vintage tools were harmed..." Lol x 3.
    The real benefit of linear magnification specially helps a vernier, compared to a circular lens. All about the image, an inch's worth of tiny lines. It would take a larger round lens to make reading a vernier [correctly interpreting which marks coincide] clearly, versus a rectangular magnifier. It's less obvious on a caliper, usually positioned directly towards the machinist.

    .
    Sincerely,
    Toolmaker51
    ...we'll learn more by wandering than searching...

  16. The Following User Says Thank You to Toolmaker51 For This Useful Post:

    jjr2001 (Jan 31, 2019)

  17. #9
    Supporting Member jjr2001's Avatar
    Join Date
    Jun 2016
    Posts
    915
    Thanks
    1,182
    Thanked 2,044 Times in 553 Posts

    jjr2001's Tools
    Thanks TM51, I like using my old tools since they were my Dad's, some of which date back to just after WWII.
    There is just nothing like using Dad's vintage tools in the shop.

    Cheers, JR

  18. The Following User Says Thank You to jjr2001 For This Useful Post:

    Toolmaker51 (Feb 4, 2019)

  19. #10
    Supporting Member Toolmaker51's Avatar
    Join Date
    Feb 2016
    Location
    Midwest USA
    Posts
    5,330
    Thanks
    7,041
    Thanked 2,977 Times in 1,892 Posts

    Toolmaker51's Tools
    Quote Originally Posted by jjr2001 View Post
    Thanks TM51, I like using my old tools since they were my Dad's, some of which date back to just after WWII.
    There is just nothing like using Dad's vintage tools in the shop.

    Cheers, JR
    Agreed, there is something about using Dad's treasures. I have his 20ga Remington 870, a Weatherby XXII, a wonderful fiberglass rod and Phflueger reel, all kinds of tools...and him too! 99 years old mid January and still driving cars and motorhome!
    Sincerely,
    Toolmaker51
    ...we'll learn more by wandering than searching...

  20. The Following User Says Thank You to Toolmaker51 For This Useful Post:

    jjr2001 (Feb 4, 2019)

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Tags for this Thread

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •