DIY Thickness caliper

[Daniel P]

I posted this in my build log, but thought it might be good to document it here, and maybe others can share DIY thickness caliper ideas as well.

Plate calipers from the big guys are $125+, and pretty simple apparatus - why not DIY.

Out in the shop there were some aluminum extrusions that I've been saving for years - unable to part with them, knowing some day they would be useful. The day arrived. In about 20 minutes I knocked together a thickness caliper with a $10 HF dial gauge and a few pieces of the extrusion and connectors. Opposite the dial gauge is a leather pool cue tip I found - should help isolate the thickness reading while protecting the top/back from any damage.

HF Dial Indicator - use your coupon!
http://www.harborfreight.com/1-inch-tra ... r-623.html

I've seen these built with MDF frames as well - the aluminum extrusions are overkill, but was quick and easy as they were on hand.

(I didn't cut any aluminum on the table saw - just used it as a square surface for assembly)

[peter havriluk]

Did the same thing, but out of wood. Bought the HF gauge a couple of years ago and put in a drawer to use for something, someday. Nice little tool when you're trying to measure something that a dial/digital caliper can't reach far enough to do.

[ken cierp]

Here's my DIY gauge tip

viewtopic.php?f=7&t=83

What's old is new again.

[Daniel P]

Ken - yours looks much more friendly to use around guitar tops - far fewer sharp edges.

[peter havriluk]

I made mine off Ken's suggestion and photo. Very quick to build.

[Tom West]

Seen this thread and had a spare dial indicator so spent the evening making this gauge.
Tom

[ken cierp]

That's a nice one Tom, thanks for sharing-- do you happen to have a sketch of the trigger return mechanism?