How To Read A Micrometer

a nice tutorial on how to read a micrometer

Another useful tidbit is to never store the micrometer in the closed position as this can allow corrosion to form on the anvil and affect acurracy. I also like to check that the micrometer is zeroed before each use... Simply full close the mic and it should read 000. If it reads anything else, you probably have a small bit of dust, metal shaving etc on the face that needs to be wiped off. You would be surprised at how far off a little dust can put your readings. But no worries as blacksmithing doesn't create any dust or anything, LOL :p

As far as storing in the closed position there is even more reason not to. Any temp changes will cause the metals to expand/contract and if the spindle expands or the frame contracts more then the other the frame could warp. While one can easily zero out a micrometer, a bent frame is like to cause the anvil and spindle face to no longer be parallel. Not easy to correct, and not easy to identify (if its just a couple thousanths) without an optical flat.

-MJ

good info
thanks

Good idea. I don't use my "mikes" very often, so I'm going to check them when I get back to the shop (barn).

Thanks.

KD Tools

While in fact a caliper, not a mike, this tool has been in my pocket for probobly 15 years. Incredibly handy and accurate. Brake parts cleaner will scrub the joint when it gets dirty. I have a couple of mics in the rollaway but I seldom have need personally for that type of accuracy.

which in fact i agree the vernier scale is the same on a micrometer as your pocket caliber
just rather than rotary it is linear
i love those pocket scales , for the shop ,
great tool for sizing drills holes and such
enclosed is a little info
Reading a Vernier

Since I don't work to super close tolerances a vernier is exactly right for me. If I do get into machine work though I guess I'll have to change my sloppy ways. LOL!
Finnr

I got the shaper in the shop this fall. It really did amaze me that 1/32" inch wasn't even considered "close" with machine tools. I guess I knew about thousandths...I just never really thought about them much. Now I find myself calipering things coming off the anvil.... where does this metal madness stop!?
-Aaron @ the SCF

where does this metal madness stop!?
-Aaron @ the SCF

Hmm, when you add a Scanning Tunnelling Electron microscope and full metrology lab to your smithy?

P.S. there ARE DIY Electron Microscope sites on the web for anyone feeling really ambitious.
Rahmenlayout Schler STM Homepage

When I was serving my apprenticeship We had the apprentice lead man ask a question to an apprentice that was not paying attention early on in the program.
He asked the guy
How many thousandths were in an inch.
The apprentice thought for a minute and replied
I dont know but it must be a million of em.


Mike Tanner

Sucker! ..Everyone knows there are a hundred of em!. ...

:P

The smallest reading indicator I have is a millimess comparator which reads in .00002" Strange, I haven't used it yet. Hey, it was free! I plan on using it for calibrating gauge blocks and other gear I have. -MJ

P.S. there ARE DIY Electron Microscope sites on the web for anyone feeling really ambitious.
Rahmenlayout Schler STM Homepage

Great....you just HAD to tell me.....
:)
-Aaron @ the SCF

to MJ,

most times I use a certified gage block to check my mic. not the other way around. The gage blocks are sent off for certification once a year. Hey hey, an ISO 9000 blacksmith!

tbrforge; oh, definately the route to go... sorry I should have elaborated this... I don't want to pay the cost of having all my gage blocks cert'd regularly, so instead I send off one or two (right now I'm having one solid carbide 1/2" from a scherr tumico set done) then calibrate everything off of that... plan to use the millimess for comparative readings to calibrate the other blocks which then are used for the mics/etc in other ranges. And yeah it's overkill, especially since my home isn't fully climate controlled, etc I just like it, and it goes well with my OCPD

-MJ