Surface Plate & Height Gauge recommendations

[Former MemberParticipant @formermember32069]

[This posting has been removed]

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

The APE height gauge arrived, used but in nice condition quality is excellent. Accurate too, when checked against my gauge blocks its spot on. I really like the micrometer adjustment, super smooth and feels just right. I put an offer in on ebay and got it for £30, can't complain at that.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Very nice too, Ron !!

MichaelG.

[Lee Jones 6Participant @leejones6]

Posted by Ron Laden on 09/06/2020 06:51:07:

The APE height gauge arrived, used but in nice condition quality is excellent. Accurate too, when checked against my gauge blocks its spot on. I really like the micrometer adjustment, super smooth and feels just right. I put an offer in on ebay and got it for £30, can't complain at that.

Good things come to those who work in imperial!

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Actually I work mainly in metric Lee but I,m happy in both. When it comes to tolerances and tighter dimensions for some reason I see and can relate to thou easier than I can parts of a mm. So hence the imperial height gauge, my mic is imperial also.

Ron

[Mike PooleParticipant @mikepoole82104]

I have a Shardlow conventional height gauge. I first used one as an apprentice and liked the fine feed adjustment which is engaged with a lever. I preferred it to the Chestermans which we also used. A digital height gauge has the useful feature that zero can be anywhere you like but with a conventional one the surface plate is always zero. You will need to be handy with mental arithmetic to mark out anything that is not datumed from the surface plate and dimensioned from that datum.
Mike

[thaiguzziParticipant @thaiguzzi]

Posted by Ron Laden on 09/06/2020 06:51:07:

The APE height gauge arrived, used but in nice condition quality is excellent. Accurate too, when checked against my gauge blocks its spot on. I really like the micrometer adjustment, super smooth and feels just right. I put an offer in on ebay and got it for £30, can't complain at that.

That is a very nice bit of kit.

Highly jealous, regardless of the price, but 30 quid is just outright theft!

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Hi Thai, you obviously have to be careful but there are some bargains to be had, the 12 inch version is usually priced at £50 upwards. This one was priced at £40 with "make an offer" to be honest I would have paid the £40 but thought I would start at £30 and work up, to my surprise the offer was accepted straight away.

That made me think "there is something wrong with it" but no its in great condition and its obviously been looked after so quite a nice find.

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