My Latest (Tool) Score

[propforward]

Saw a few posts of nice things people have been lucky enough to acquire recently - I thought it might be fun to have a brag thread. We don't have many banter threads active any more, I thought this might be good. And if not, no loss.

So the idea is to post up cool tool finds and acquisitions. Nominally used tools make the most sense, but doesn't matter, anything you've acquired that you are happy to get a hold of really. I'll start with a simple one.





A set of pin gauges. Lightly used and most in their deteriorating paper wrapping, easily removed with a spray of WD 40 and a cloth. They are import generic brand, but for $50 shipped for a complete set of .501" to .625" minus pin gauges that's a decent find. And so far they all mic out correctly.

Happy with that - I love pin gauges, they have all sorts of uses.

[Kim]

Great find, Stuart!  I have inexpensive pin gauges up to 0.500" but it would be great to have some larger. Used like this is probably the only way I could justify it though.  Nice find!

Kim

[steamer]

A bore gage and ring master for the 917 project.   Nice to have a single source of truth when I'm lapping the cylinders!

And another small box for the watchmakers bench and the assorted stuff that is overflowing there!

It'll need to be recessed in, or a new shelf made....but stuff needs to get organized!    Eliminate horizontal surfaces!!!!!

Some Bridgeport End Measures   ( very cheap purchase, but can be useful for set up)

and A 1-2" "tenths' mic in good shape,

[propforward]

That is a very nice set of finds. I don't know, I just think it's really great to see good used tools find new homes and a new use with someone that appreciates them.

Jealous of that watchmakers cabinet! I love wooden storage chests.

[steam guy willy]

Hi all wow  a good thread I have loads of good finds to post    and I love extra slot in the micrometer box for the update for the digital spare battery ??!!!

Willy

[Kim]

OK, Willy, those look like great finds!  But you're going to have to explain what they are!  I can't tell what those gizmos are for!  :embarrassed:

One looks like a broken hammer...  One looks like a draw plate, but the holes are split down the center... and one seems to be some kind of punch for odd shapes?

Can you elaborate on your finds

Thanks Willy!
Kim

[propforward]

Is the hammer looking one a mortar and pestl?

[bent]

Steamer,

That's not a typical bore gage, that's a bore mic - good to within .0002" or better, nice!  We have a couple of those here at work, they were not cheap.

[Michael S.]

Hi, everyone,

In 1991 I was in my city at a company that was closing down. It was a factory that made measuring instruments. Due to the political upheaval here in East Germany, almost all factories were closed. I noticed a large container for scrap metal there. And what was in it? Only packages with drill bits of all sizes thread drills and taps. Everything new. And everything to throw away, just because it comes from East Germany and of course it can't be good.
I was able to get a lot out of there in an unobserved look. Unfortunately, there are some drills that have to turn to the left. Probably has something to do with the automatic lathes.
But still a little treasure!

[propforward]

Fantastic Michael - that's great you could recover those tools and make use of them!

[steamer]

Steamer,

That's not a typical bore gage, that's a bore mic - good to within .0002" or better, nice!  We have a couple of those here at work, they were not cheap.

Oh I'm well aware! and at a fraction of the cost of a brand new one!.    It's in excellent shape and spot on compared to the ring gage.

Dave

[Roger B]

That was a good catch Michael       The orange packet of drills looked familiar, Proxxon used to deliver the drill sets in the same packing 

I made a new wooden stand for the standard and short swiss files. The next collection from the workshop clear out was a selection of Garant and Frasia end mills in suitable sizes for my machines and a Beck 8mm reamer, all unused.

[Dan Rowe]

Where is the tool glote emoji?  Nice new toys!!!

Cheers Dan

[steam guy willy]

Hi Kim, The top tool is like an early version of a die stock tool , there are 5 sizes of threaded portions which may have been used to cut threads or just hold bolts/screws to work on ?? there are file marks to indicate the number for the thread .... The hammer has two concave faces and use it on the allotment to bash in square wooden posts with out damaging the faces.. I have not seen any pictures on the web for a tool like this .....The multifaceted tool has  3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,  accurately sized sides and I use it to index items to drill/file the stock for the different number of operations using a strait edge on one of the facets .....

Willy

[Kim]

Thanks for the explanation, Willy. Those are some pretty interesting tools you have there!

Kim

[propforward]

I just missed out on what would have been a GREAT score. There is a shop in my town called "Another Mans Treasure", it's a second hand store, with the focus on tools and such. I just saw they got a Starret blade micrometer in on Friday, and they had it up for sale at $15. Long gone by the time I called of course. Oh well, you win some you lose some.

The great thing about the store is that he prices stuff to move - so you don't get much when you take stuff in to sell to him, but similarly anything you buy is very reasonable - turnover is key for the owner I guess. But you have to be quick!

[steamer]

Got the tool chest today.    I got it on the bay, but I paid a reasonable price for it.   Was very worried about the USPS carnage, but it was packed extremely well, and survived the journey just fine.

Now to get it installed in its forever home.....well my forever anyway!   1 shelf up over the watchmakers bench

Dave

[steamer]

The listing said it smelled "musty".....hmmm said I   maybe it got wet.    but it didn't look it!     So I went for it anyway.
Come to find out, it had mothballs in it at one time, and that is what the seller smelled.     I have always been told that putting mothballs in your tool chest helped to prevent rust.   I also heard that this works with camphor as well.   Anyway.    I appreciate the smell when I open the drawers.

Dave

[propforward]

Very nice! Look forward to seeing that in due course.

I've heard that about mothballs. Good for keeping other critters away as well.

[propforward]

One of the machinists at work gave me this today. I can’t tell you how good I feel about that. It goes way beyond that it’s a super gift. Can’t really explain it, but this gent is a really top machinist - he does some incredible things and I work very closely with him on a lot of projects. He gives me a lot of very good advice. He can be a bit surly with people but I realized as soon as I joined the company how skilled and how ingenious he is, and we hit it off quickly.

Anyway, it’s a pressure micrometer. Never even seen one before.  I guess it’s for delicate parts but I bet this will work really well with telescoping bore gauges.

[cnr6400]

The needle gizmo is called a fiducial indicator. If you are measuring in "tenths country" ie trying to get repeatable +/-.0001" or +/- .0002" measurements, controlling measuring pressure accurately by using the indicator on a portable mike like yours, or a bench mike with a fiducial indicator, is a good start. That and a temperature controlled room at 20 deg C , stock in said room for several hr before measurement,  and very clean hands! Nice find. Be gentle with it, it is a delicate mechanism.

[Baltic]

One of the machinists at work gave me this today. I can’t tell you how good I feel about that. It goes way beyond that it’s a super gift. Can’t really explain it, but this gent is a really top machinist - he does some incredible things and I work very closely with him on a lot of projects. He gives me a lot of very good advice. He can be a bit surly with people but I realized as soon as I joined the company how skilled and how ingenious he is, and we hit it off quickly.

Anyway, it’s a pressure micrometer. Never even seen one before.  I guess it’s for delicate parts but I bet this will work really well with telescoping bore gauges.

I have never seen a "pressure mic" interesting, what a nice gift,

I scored 2 Starrett machinist Squares from a platform called "Gumtree" in Australia, a 3 inch baby, and a 6 inch square,  nearly brand new,, but Made in the UK ?? I did not know they made them there? $80 au delivered