Which Clinometer?

[SteveMParticipant @stevem36008]

I quite fancy putting a clinometer on my 'crikey I need one of those' list. Not one of the new fangled digital things (yet) but one of the qualty instruments from yesteryear. I've narrowed it down to two models like the ones pictured, both made by Watts/Hilger Watts/Hall Watts or even Taylor Hobson.

Do any of you have any interesting experience with these devices? Which would be the most accurate of the two? And what are the pros and cons of each?

Edited By SteveM on 06/11/2016 00:40:53

[SteveMParticipant @stevem36008]

[Peter KroghParticipant @peterkrogh76576]

I quite like the type shown in your first picture. They are simple, rugged, straightforward tools. Nothing more than a rotary table set vertical with a sensitive bubble. Quite easy to check and, if needed, calibrate.

That's my vote. Now please send that one to me!

Pete

[Speedy Builder5Participant @speedybuilder5]

Get one which will fit on whatever you are measuring??

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Steve,

The first one you illustrate only goes to 90° so it may prove difficult to read in some locations.

The second is a pendulum clinometer … like those new-fangled digital devices [but properly made ]

You might also consider the TB 121-1 which is a very nice bubble [in]clinometer, reading both directions, and reasonably compact. …. see recent ebay listing, here: **LINK**

MichaelG.

[HacksawParticipant @hacksaw]

I've got a Taylor Hobson one … in a box..somewhere…I thought it looked kinda useful when i bought it . Humph , never has been ! One on ebay is £130 ! mine 100quid less ! £30 plus post if you want it

[Rik ShawParticipant @rikshaw]

I like the lovely looking Watts but practically it would be a bit "overkill" for me. I regularly use my WIXEY digital leveler simply because it ticks the boxes for me. It's small, very accurate, and has a magnetic base (very handy).

Still and all, that Watts is a lovely instrument and one I also would like to own. Something beautiful to look at and caress now and then (I'm getting a bit old for the other stuff.)

Rik

[HacksawParticipant @hacksaw]

Posted by Hacksaw on 06/11/2016 09:48:18:

I've got a Taylor Hobson one … in a box..somewhere…I thought it looked kinda useful when i bought it . Humph , never has been ! One on ebay is £130 ! mine 100quid less ! £30 plus post if you want it

edit ! £130 "buy it now" is a chancer ,going by completed listings even £30 is dear for a Taylor Hobson…. Mine £ 20 +post

[SteveMParticipant @stevem36008]

Peter – I like that one too!

Builder – I haven't got anything in particular to measure and I know that one of the dinky digital devices will do all the measuring and fit everywhere I need. I want something that'll be useful for a number of things occasionally, but in particular I want one of these because it's a beautiful tool. Sad but true.

Michael – thanks for the tip, I hadn't seen one of those. Now it is also on the list!

Hacksaw – PM sent. Also nice username.

Rik – I agree almost word for word with both paragraphs!

Steve

[Ed DuffnerParticipant @edduffner79357]

I've recently been given a smart phone, my first one ever! and found a couple of 'apps' that offer this function. Possibly not ideal for a coolant soaked machine though

Ed.

[HacksawParticipant @hacksaw]

I've got a Mitsubishi Pajero . There's one on top of the dashboard

[John HaineParticipant @johnhaine32865]

One thing to consider is the size of the thing. Try doing this with one of the above.

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

I originally imported my Wixey from the US before they and the copies became commonplace, It was the ideal thing to stick on the side of my tablesaw blade to set the angle.

Callibration was mentioned earlier, the Wixey is zeroed at the tough of a button on any surface so even if your saw table, mill, lathe bed, etc is not spot on it is easy to set to zero and measure the angle relative to that surface. Also stays stuck to a lathe chuck so you can do simple angular setting out.

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Posted by SteveM on 06/11/2016 12:01:16:

Michael – thanks for the tip, I hadn't seen one of those. Now it is also on the list!

.

Steve,

Just to confuse the list slightly:

My example is badged 'Rank Taylor Hobson Ltd.' 142/42

I've attached a copy of the [very brief] instruction leaflet for info.

MichaelG.

.

[Nicholas FarrParticipant @nicholasfarr14254]

Hi, those Clinometers look very nice, but unless your planning to build a bridge over a large river for example or something similar, they are not exactly user friendly in an everyday workshop. However nothing wrong with owning one for the sake of it. I have a Wixey also, which I find is very accurate for various jobs. I also have a couple of these **LINK** which have an advantage that they can be set back to true level at any time, but one down side is they don't have a magnetic base.

Regards Nick.

[SamsarandaParticipant @samsaranda]

Remember using a Clinometer in the early 60s for checking dihedral on aircraft wings when I was an aircraft technician in the RAF, once we passed out of training never saw or used one since. I have one of the small digital angle gauges, great bit of kit.

[SteveMParticipant @stevem36008]

Thanks for posting that Michael. They certainly didn't go overboard with instruction manuals in those days!

Steve

[Ian S CParticipant @iansc]

12 Bore, the one you used during training was probably the only one they (RAF) had, probably dates back to 1914/18.

Ian S C

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