Recommend me a clock dial indicator

[skotl]

As per title, what do I need for a decent clock dial indicator on a lathe?

Is a magnetic base useful?

I'm thinking something like this...

 

[Parm]

I'm no expert but I've seen my dad use one exactly like this when doing stuff for me on the lathe.

I have something similar which I use for a highly technical purpose, will go and take a picture

 

[Bill Edwards]

I wouldn't be without a magnetic base.
I bought the cheapest I could find on eBay, I think they're sub £20 and it's perfectly OK for most if not all jobs.

 

[skotl]

Cool - sounding like the £19.99 ebay jobbies with the magnetic base are in the lead, then

 

[T0rnado69]

i brought a clock dial indicator ages ago.
but havent had anyway to mount it.

was going to make a mount to fit the QCTP on my lathe.

but in the end i got a magnetic base and arms etc from chronos.

same really as your pic.

they do ,do different size ones. higher post.
longer arms etc.

 

[Wallace]

Buy a good clock if you can, in fact I might have a good spare.

 

[skotl]

Buy a good clock if you can, in fact I might have a good spare.

How do you define a good one? All the ebay ones appear to be exactly the same, and I found a supplier who does them for £90 but that seems way too far away from the £20 ebay ones...

 

[Maker]

I would get the cheap mag base, but get a decent brand name (Secondhand) dial.

 

[daleyd]

You can get a new mititoyu one for £40.......

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mitutoyo-...006582?hash=item5affb370f6:g:-6kAAOSwHjNWBWVR

 

[julianf]

A magnetic base is, in my opinion, near to being essential.

Also, some units have a 'needle' that is kind of jointed so as you can take readings from different angles (ie not just in the plane of the device)

They are very useful. I forget the make though, so ill have to look it up - i think it begins with "V" ??

 

[daleyd]

A magnetic base is, in my opinion, near to being essential.

Also, some units have a 'needle' that is kind of jointed so as you can take readings from different angles (ie not just in the plain of the device)

They are very useful. I forget the make though, so ill have to look it up - i think it begins with "V" ??

lever arm dti ?

Like these

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Dial-Test...289053?hash=item43dcec665d:g:omEAAOSwFnFV~Cb~

 

[julianf]

Got it - "Verdict"

Do a search on ebay. You can see that some of them have a 'joint' near the 'pin' and that the pin is balled.

daleyd has just posted above whist ive been writing this - yes, like that one too.

 

[dobbslc]

Verdict and Baty are good.

 

[Flathead_Dave]

Lever types are for inspection use on a surface table not general workshop/lathe use,you'll end up banging the stylus and that will be that.They're also less versatile for mounting as they use a dovetail.
Decide if you want metric or imperial,the amount of travel,the resolution,and go from there.
If you want a basic metric one,then this is a better bet.
At least it's made in Japan,not China.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mitutoyo-...-Inspection-/390837006582?hash=item5affb370f6

 

[daleyd]

Lever types are for inspection use on a surface table not general workshop/lathe use,you'll end up banging the stylus and that will be that.They're also less versatile for mounting as they use a dovetail.
Decide if you want metric or imperial,the amount of travel,the resolution,and go from there.
If you want a basic metric one,then this is a better bet.
At least it's made in Japan,not China.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mitutoyo-...-Inspection-/390837006582?hash=item5affb370f6

Well, that's exactly the same one I linked to initially so a good choice.

I don't think anyone was suggesting the lever arm one for general use, rather that they "may" come in useful for awkward jobs. I'd disagree that they are only used for inspection/surface plates, I've used them a few times to measure internal bores etc where a normal plunger type wouldn't reach.

 

[skotl]

Thanks folks

The Mitutoyo one is £40 without the base (and they're being a bit cheeky, showing pics of it with the base and then mentioning much farther down that the base isn't included!) and a base is £15.

So, given I've never used a lathe in ~35 years, is it worth spending £55 all in or should I just get the generic Chinese kit for £19?

 

[daleyd]

Depends what accuracy you want to achieve. I'd say the chinese stuff would do what 99% of home users would want, it may not have the build quality of a mitutoyu but it should be perfectly adequate for basic machining.

I'd echo what others have said ref the base, ie cheap ones are normally fine. I'd personally go for something middle of the road for an indicator rather than complete bargain basement, but if you got the one you linked to and decided the dial wasn't up to much you could always upgrade later on and keep the stand.

 

[gaz1]

i have the mercer one but still not got a base for it as of yet



http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercer-Cl...522691?hash=item35f7415d03:g:v0sAAOSw9r1WD~cb

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercer-di...921123?hash=item21060524a3:g:rNIAAOSwHjNV~A-D

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Mercer-Im...59ff4e0&pid=100005&rk=3&rkt=6&sd=141834921123

 

[Shox Dr]

The cheap DTI stands are OK, but once you have used named stuff, you'll not go back. They just seem to be easier to position and better at holding that position.

As for a gauge, I'd buy a cheap one for now, it will do every day stuff.

Buy a Mitutoyo for the more precise work.

That way if you clout the dial, it won't hurt the bank too much

 

[Maker]

lever arm dti ?

FWIW, I was taught that the plunger type are called "dial indicators" and the lever type are called "dial test indicators".