Who has the best deal on a precision level?

"Tim" #__#@__.- wrote in message
m...
Who has the best deal on a precision level?

Metabo on bubble levels, don't know on digitals. Lots of good levels out
there, just depends on what you're doing, how much you want to spend, and
which one you have.

I have a Metabo. ;-)

Steve

On Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:16:29 -0500, "Tim" #__#@__.- wrote:

Who has the best deal on a precision level?


I got a nice starret off eBay. Patience is the key here.

Karl

"Karl Townsend" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:16:29 -0500, "Tim" #__#@__.- wrote:

Who has the best deal on a precision level?


I got a nice starret off eBay. Patience is the key here.

Karl


I inherited one 25 years ago and never did or could use it, I sold it on
ebay a couple of years ago. Why did you need one?

"Tim" #__#@__.- wrote:

Who has the best deal on a precision level?

Not to bust your bubble but it is a whole lot more fun leveling a lathe using two levels.
One will work, just takes a lot longer. Just out of curiousity, what state do you live,
just in case you are like really close to where I live?

Wes

On Mar 29, 12:34*pm, Wes wrote:
"Tim" #__#@__.- wrote:
Who has the best deal on a precision level?

Not to bust your bubble but it is a whole lot more fun leveling a lathe using two levels.
One will work, just takes a lot longer. *Just out of curiousity, what state do you live,
just in case you are like really close to where I live?

Wes

I have wondered about this - reluctant to spent heaps on a tool I
would use but infrewuently. Any other method that can be done with
handy household appliances?

Andrew VK3BFA.

On Sat, 28 Mar 2009 22:27:13 -0400, the infamous "Buerste"
scrawled the following:


"Karl Townsend" wrote in message
.. .
On Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:16:29 -0500, "Tim" #__#@__.- wrote:

Who has the best deal on a precision level?


I got a nice starret off eBay. Patience is the key here.

Karl


I inherited one 25 years ago and never did or could use it, I sold it on
ebay a couple of years ago. Why did you need one?

Aw, you should have used a regular level to get it in the ballpark and
the precision level to finish off. Hey, get those floors leveled,
will ya? We have _hills_ in Oregon which are flatter.

--
Life is either a daring adventure or nothing. Security does not exist in
nature, nor do the children of men as a whole experience it. Avoiding
danger is no safer in the long run than exposure.
-- Helen Keller

wrote in message
...
On Mar 29, 12:34 pm, Wes wrote:
"Tim" #__#@__.- wrote:
Who has the best deal on a precision level?

Not to bust your bubble but it is a whole lot more fun leveling a lathe
using two levels.
One will work, just takes a lot longer. Just out of curiousity, what state
do you live,
just in case you are like really close to where I live?

Wes

I have wondered about this - reluctant to spent heaps on a tool I
would use but infrewuently. Any other method that can be done with
handy household appliances?

Andrew VK3BFA.

if you can't afford the $25 that a VIS master level typically goes for,
maybe you shouldn't mess with the lathe. If it's the AU price issue, I'm
sure any of us will be willing to receive it and reship it to you - of
course a flat rate box to AU is not all that cheap either.

"Bill Noble" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
...
On Mar 29, 12:34 pm, Wes wrote:
"Tim" #__#@__.- wrote:
Who has the best deal on a precision level?

Not to bust your bubble but it is a whole lot more fun leveling a lathe
using two levels.
One will work, just takes a lot longer. Just out of curiousity, what
state do you live,
just in case you are like really close to where I live?

Wes

I have wondered about this - reluctant to spent heaps on a tool I
would use but infrewuently. Any other method that can be done with
handy household appliances?

Andrew VK3BFA.

if you can't afford the $25 that a VIS master level typically goes for,
maybe you shouldn't mess with the lathe. If it's the AU price issue, I'm
sure any of us will be willing to receive it and reship it to you - of
course a flat rate box to AU is not all that cheap either.


A precision level costs many hundreds of dollars used.

On Sat, 28 Mar 2009 21:40:15 -0700, "Bill Noble"
wrote:


wrote in message
...
On Mar 29, 12:34 pm, Wes wrote:
"Tim" #__#@__.- wrote:
Who has the best deal on a precision level?

Not to bust your bubble but it is a whole lot more fun leveling a lathe
using two levels.
One will work, just takes a lot longer. Just out of curiousity, what state
do you live,
just in case you are like really close to where I live?

Wes

I have wondered about this - reluctant to spent heaps on a tool I
would use but infrewuently. Any other method that can be done with
handy household appliances?

Andrew VK3BFA.

if you can't afford the $25 that a VIS master level typically goes for,
maybe you shouldn't mess with the lathe. If it's the AU price issue, I'm
sure any of us will be willing to receive it and reship it to you - of
course a flat rate box to AU is not all that cheap either.

hafco sell a precision level in australia.

the difference between a precision bubble level and garden variety
bubble level is the internal radius of the aperture that the bubble
rides in. really accurate levels have a radius in the hundreds of
feet.

Stealth Pilot

wrote in message
...
On Mar 29, 12:34 pm, Wes wrote:
"Tim" #__#@__.- wrote:
Who has the best deal on a precision level?

Not to bust your bubble but it is a whole lot more fun leveling a lathe
using two levels.
One will work, just takes a lot longer. Just out of curiousity, what state
do you live,
just in case you are like really close to where I live?

Wes

I have wondered about this - reluctant to spent heaps on a tool I
would use but infrewuently. Any other method that can be done with
handy household appliances?

Andrew VK3BFA.

Andrew
I bought a little digital one at Bunnings a month or two ago for A$ 35.00.
It resolves to .1 degree, but I don't know how accurate it is, but its
better than any of the options I had at the time

I inherited one 25 years ago and never did or could use it, I sold it on
ebay a couple of years ago. Why did you need one?

My 22"x72" Mazak M4 CNC lathe was having trouble making parts for my wrist
watch.

Karl

On Mar 29, 7:43*am, "Karl Townsend"
wrote:
I inherited one 25 years ago and never did or could use it, I sold it on
ebay a couple of years ago. *Why did you need one?

My 22"x72" Mazak M4 CNC lathe was having trouble making parts for my wrist
watch.

Karl

Don't use both hands to tighten the chuck key.

"Buerste" wrote in message
...

"Bill Noble" wrote in message
...

wrote in message
...
On Mar 29, 12:34 pm, Wes wrote:
"Tim" #__#@__.- wrote:
Who has the best deal on a precision level?

Not to bust your bubble but it is a whole lot more fun leveling a lathe
using two levels.
One will work, just takes a lot longer. Just out of curiousity, what
state do you live,
just in case you are like really close to where I live?

Wes

I have wondered about this - reluctant to spent heaps on a tool I
would use but infrewuently. Any other method that can be done with
handy household appliances?

Andrew VK3BFA.

if you can't afford the $25 that a VIS master level typically goes for,
maybe you shouldn't mess with the lathe. If it's the AU price issue, I'm
sure any of us will be willing to receive it and reship it to you - of
course a flat rate box to AU is not all that cheap either.


A precision level costs many hundreds of dollars used.


Ebay Item 260381949789
8" MASTER PRECISION LEVEL FOR MACHINIST TOOL NEW .0005

a.. Main level vial is graduated to 10 second accuracy, one division
equals .0005" per foot
b.. Additional cross level to check side declinations
c.. Used for extreme leveling accuracy
d.. V-grooved at the bottom
e.. 2 graduated vial to check for lateral and horizontal settings
f.. Base is hand scraped for extreme accuracy
g.. Cast iron body
h.. Included fitted case
$65.90 Buy it Now

I bought one that looks like these years ago from Enco for $50 and it seems
to work well, don't have a starret to compare it to though.

RogerN

"Buerste" wrote in message
...

"Karl Townsend" wrote in message
...
On Sat, 28 Mar 2009 13:16:29 -0500, "Tim" #__#@__.- wrote:

Who has the best deal on a precision level?


I got a nice starret off eBay. Patience is the key here.

Karl


I inherited one 25 years ago and never did or could use it, I sold it on
ebay a couple of years ago. Why did you need one?


Occasionally I have to level a machine, or a standard to check other levels
as well.

"Wes" wrote in message
...
"Tim" #__#@__.- wrote:

Who has the best deal on a precision level?

Not to bust your bubble but it is a whole lot more fun leveling a lathe
using two levels.
One will work, just takes a lot longer. Just out of curiousity, what
state do you live,
just in case you are like really close to where I live?

Wes

Kansas.

Actually I did mine with a transit and two 24" straight edges. But it would
be nice to have a fairly accurate level around for many reasons.

Tim wrote:
Who has the best deal on a precision level?


If you want to level your lathe, you may also look up
Rollie's Dad's Method.
The issue with a lathe isn't so much level, although using
one is a technique to get what is really needed, pure
parallelism between the spindle/chuck axis and the ways,
so that you don't turn tapers.

If level were the only objective, they'd need some reeally fancy gimbals
on board ships to keep their lathes from rocking with the waves
and swells. However, shipboard lathes can turn taper-free shafts
just as well as land-based ones, so long as the carriage travels
perfectly parallel to the spindle axis. Twisting the bed
to make the ways parallel to each other does this.

/mark

On Mar 28, 7:34*pm, Wes wrote:
"Tim" #__#@__.- wrote:
Who has the best deal on a precision level?

Not to bust your bubble but it is a whole lot more fun leveling a lathe using two levels.
One will work, just takes a lot longer. *Just out of curiousity, what state do you live,
just in case you are like really close to where I live?

Wes

------------------------------------------------------------


Lathes are NOT leveled . You simply take twist out of the bed .
MPR on the saddle , move it left and right to see the wear on
the bed .
If its useable , then

MPR the bed at the head , then move saddle
Right and put some paper shims under the lathe bench on
the right end .


My first heavy lathe , i made a table with tension rods under the
bed
to take out any sag . they were not needed . there is no possible
sag
until you place a 250 lb work piece on the lathe .






BTW , e-welders are all the rage .

For the control . It costs 100 times more $$$ and circuitry
to control the voltage on your old MIG/TIG/stick welders .

I have 5 , Harb'Fright $200 e-welders .
Tiny , narrow , long red box ,
featherweight .
They make the lowest cost MIG power source ...


Im doin the schematics ... kc7cc yahoo com

On Sun, 29 Mar 2009 19:29:19 +1100, "Grumpy"
wrote:


wrote in message
...
On Mar 29, 12:34 pm, Wes wrote:
"Tim" #__#@__.- wrote:
Who has the best deal on a precision level?

Not to bust your bubble but it is a whole lot more fun leveling a lathe
using two levels.
One will work, just takes a lot longer. Just out of curiousity, what state
do you live,
just in case you are like really close to where I live?

Wes

I have wondered about this - reluctant to spent heaps on a tool I
would use but infrewuently. Any other method that can be done with
handy household appliances?

Andrew VK3BFA.

Andrew
I bought a little digital one at Bunnings a month or two ago for A$ 35.00.
It resolves to .1 degree, but I don't know how accurate it is, but its
better than any of the options I had at the time

I made my own level by mounting the level vial from a surveyors
transit telescope to a "T" section about 8" long after grindinng the
base flat. I don't know the accuracy, but it does the job for me.

On Mar 28, 11:45*pm, wrote:

I have wondered about this - reluctant to spent heaps on a tool I
would use but infrewuently. Any other method that can be done with
handy household appliances?

Andrew VK3BFA.

Just guessing, maybe if you attached an indicator to the end of a
piece of pipe, chucked it short and centered the dead center by the
tailstock offset, then slid the tailstock back where it belongs and
recentered the dead center by shimming the bed.

Pipe sags less than solid rod. Even though you're measuring the sides
there will be some horizontal error component from vertical deflection
if the indicator tip isn't exactly at center height, which is hard to
judge or measure as you rotate the spindle, and the closer you set it
to the point the worse the error.

If the lathe is near a door or window you could lay a telescope with
crosshairs (we use them on rifles) on the bed and line up both ends
with some distant object.

Jim Wilkins

"Buerste" wrote in message
...




A precision level costs many hundreds of dollars used.


I bought two of them for closer to $75 including postage. Cheaper if I had
got one from a failing machine shop, but that was via e-bay.

"Karl Townsend" wrote in message
anews.com...
I inherited one 25 years ago and never did or could use it, I sold it on
ebay a couple of years ago. Why did you need one?

My 22"x72" Mazak M4 CNC lathe was having trouble making parts for my wrist
watch.

Karl


That's easy, get a set of the special adapters that fit in a collet or
chuck! They look like a collet, but are made of aluminum. Yes such things
really exist. Now if you can get you're lathe turning fast
enough............................................ .......


Steve R.