[Searcher7]

Can I get recommendations of which and how many screw thread
gauges(gages?) one should own to cover the most common threads one is
likely to run into? (Including metric, but I live in the U.S.).

There seems to be a lot of overlap between gauges and I just want to
get what I need.

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

[Tim Wescott]

On 12/06/2010 07:41 AM, Searcher7 wrote:
Can I get recommendations of which and how many screw thread
gauges(gages?) one should own to cover the most common threads one is
likely to run into? (Including metric, but I live in the U.S.).

There seems to be a lot of overlap between gauges and I just want to
get what I need.

The screw thread gauge that I use most often is a thin strip of polished
stainless. The strip is graduated on each edge, one edge being
graduated in 1/32 inch intervals, while the other edge is graduated in
1mm intervals. For convenience, 1/16ths, 1/8ths, etc., are marked out
on the inch side, and centimeters are marked out on the metric side.

It works dandy for any thread pitch less than 6", although you sometimes
need a magnifying glass (our loupe) for finer threads.

For some reason, though, instead of being called a "universal thread
gauge" it's called a "ruler".

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" was written for you.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

[[email protected]]

On Dec 6, 8:41*am, Searcher7 wrote:
Can I get recommendations of which and how many screw thread
gauges(gages?) one should own to cover the most common threads one is
likely to run into? (Including metric, but I live in the U.S.).

There seems to be a lot of overlap between gauges and I just want to
get what I need.

Thanks.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York.

What sort are you looking for? The kind with folding leaves and teeth
or the ones with threaded holes? I have both sorts as well as the
threading gage for setting up lathe tools. The one I have that I use
the most is Starrett, it's triangular and goes up to like 84 tpi. I
have a metric one I inherited, the screw plate sort I bought from
Brownells back when they were much more reasonable in price. Also has
the ******* threads they use for scope mounts on it, one reason I have
it.

Just looked up the Starrett, it's #472 in the catalog, no idea of
current price. Listed under "Screw Pitch" gauge, if you want to
actually check if your cut thread will fit in a tapped hole, get the
screw plates.

Stan

[Lewis Hartswick]

Tim Wescott wrote:
For some reason, though, instead of being called a "universal thread
gauge" it's called a "ruler".

Not in most shops. It's a "scale". :-)
Rulers are either wood or plastic. :-)
...lew...

[Jim Wilkins]

On Dec 6, 6:38*pm, Lewis Hartswick wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote:
For some reason, though, instead of being called a "universal thread
gauge" it's called a "ruler".

Not in most shops. It's a "scale". :-)
* *Rulers are either wood or plastic. :-)
* * ...lew...

Some labs and shops also weigh material on a scale. "Rule" is
unambiguous.

jsw

[Tim Wescott]

On 12/06/2010 03:38 PM, Lewis Hartswick wrote:
Tim Wescott wrote:
For some reason, though, instead of being called a "universal thread
gauge" it's called a "ruler".

Not in most shops. It's a "scale". :-)
Rulers are either wood or plastic. :-)
...lew...

I'd accuse you of being a smart-ass, but someone might start talking
about pots and kettles.

--

Tim Wescott
Wescott Design Services
http://www.wescottdesign.com

Do you need to implement control loops in software?
"Applied Control Theory for Embedded Systems" was written for you.
See details at http://www.wescottdesign.com/actfes/actfes.html

[DoN. Nichols[_2_]]

On 2010-12-06, Searcher7 wrote:
Can I get recommendations of which and how many screw thread
gauges(gages?) one should own to cover the most common threads one is
likely to run into? (Including metric, but I live in the U.S.).

Two -- one metric, and one inch. There are inch ones available
(mine is from Starrett) which have three groups of gauge leaves, and if
that doesn't cover what you need, it will probably be a coarse enough
thread to measure by a steel ruler -- and too coarse to cut on a home
lathe.

There seems to be a lot of overlap between gauges and I just want to
get what I need.

Just get one which covers the maximum number of *reasonable*
threads.

The Starrett No. 472 which covers from 4 TPI to 84 TPI (51
leaves).

You could add the No. 155, which covers from 28 TPI up to 2.25
TPI -- but -- why would you need to measure one that coarse, since you
can't cut it at home anyway.

The Starrett No. 156M covers 28 Metric pitches, from 0.25 mm to
2.5 mm.

Perhaps you *could* add a No. 159M for threads from 1.00 mm to
11.5 mm, but you are not likely to need that for any threads which you
can cut on a home lathe or with a reasonable sized tap or die. The 2.5
mm which is the coarsest of the previous one is about 10 TPI which is
coarse enough for most purposes. The 11.5 mm thread pitch would
translate to about 2.2 TPI.

Essentially -- *think* about what you will be capable of working
with. (Check what range your lathe can thread for example. I think
that the No. 472 and the No 156m should do more than you really will
need.

Good Luck,
DoN.

--
Remove oil spill source from e-mail
Email: | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564
(too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html
--- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero ---

[David Billington]

DoN. Nichols wrote:
On 2010-12-06, Searcher7 wrote:

Can I get recommendations of which and how many screw thread
gauges(gages?) one should own to cover the most common threads one is
likely to run into? (Including metric, but I live in the U.S.).


Two -- one metric, and one inch. There are inch ones available
(mine is from Starrett) which have three groups of gauge leaves, and if
that doesn't cover what you need, it will probably be a coarse enough
thread to measure by a steel ruler -- and too coarse to cut on a home
lathe.


There seems to be a lot of overlap between gauges and I just want to
get what I need.


Just get one which covers the maximum number of *reasonable*
threads.

The Starrett No. 472 which covers from 4 TPI to 84 TPI (51
leaves).

You could add the No. 155, which covers from 28 TPI up to 2.25
TPI -- but -- why would you need to measure one that coarse, since you
can't cut it at home anyway.


My Harrison M300 does 2TPI as standard and it has been needed on one
occasion when my neighbour needed to cut an internal twin start square
thread for the nut on his dining room table jack as it had finally wore
out after about 200 years. He couldn't do it as his Myford Super 7
doesn't go that coarse so he came around and did it at my house.

The Starrett No. 156M covers 28 Metric pitches, from 0.25 mm to
2.5 mm.

Perhaps you *could* add a No. 159M for threads from 1.00 mm to
11.5 mm, but you are not likely to need that for any threads which you
can cut on a home lathe or with a reasonable sized tap or die. The 2.5
mm which is the coarsest of the previous one is about 10 TPI which is
coarse enough for most purposes. The 11.5 mm thread pitch would
translate to about 2.2 TPI.

Essentially -- *think* about what you will be capable of working
with. (Check what range your lathe can thread for example. I think
that the No. 472 and the No 156m should do more than you really will
need.

Good Luck,
DoN.

[tnik]

On 12/6/2010 12:09 PM, Tim Wescott wrote:
On 12/06/2010 07:41 AM, Searcher7 wrote:
Can I get recommendations of which and how many screw thread
gauges(gages?) one should own to cover the most common threads one is
likely to run into? (Including metric, but I live in the U.S.).

There seems to be a lot of overlap between gauges and I just want to
get what I need.

The screw thread gauge that I use most often is a thin strip of polished
stainless. The strip is graduated on each edge, one edge being graduated
in 1/32 inch intervals, while the other edge is graduated in 1mm
intervals. For convenience, 1/16ths, 1/8ths, etc., are marked out on the
inch side, and centimeters are marked out on the metric side.

It works dandy for any thread pitch less than 6", although you sometimes
need a magnifying glass (our loupe) for finer threads.

For some reason, though, instead of being called a "universal thread
gauge" it's called a "ruler".


Hrmmm.. The way the OP thread reads to me is he is talking about
go/no-go gauges.. And with those, I would buy them as needed.

[DoN. Nichols[_2_]]

On 2010-12-07, David Billington wrote:
DoN. Nichols wrote:
On 2010-12-06, Searcher7 wrote:

Can I get recommendations of which and how many screw thread
gauges(gages?) one should own to cover the most common threads one is
likely to run into? (Including metric, but I live in the U.S.).

[ ... ]

Two -- one metric, and one inch. There are inch ones available
(mine is from Starrett) which have three groups of gauge leaves, and if
that doesn't cover what you need, it will probably be a coarse enough
thread to measure by a steel ruler -- and too coarse to cut on a home
lathe.

[ ... ]

You could add the No. 155, which covers from 28 TPI up to 2.25
TPI -- but -- why would you need to measure one that coarse, since you
can't cut it at home anyway.


My Harrison M300 does 2TPI as standard and it has been needed on one
occasion when my neighbour needed to cut an internal twin start square
thread for the nut on his dining room table jack as it had finally wore
out after about 200 years. He couldn't do it as his Myford Super 7
doesn't go that coarse so he came around and did it at my house.

And how big is the Harrison M300? The original poster has to
live with machines which he can take upstairs to his apartment -- by
himself. My 12x24" Clausing can only manage 4 TPI maximum coarseness,
and there is no way he would be able to get it up to his apartment.

And the thread pitch gauges which he is considering would not
work for your square threads anyway. But the steel ruler which I
mentioned above in my first still quoted paragraph *would* do just fine
for determining the pitch of the 2 TPI thread.

Enjoy,
DoN.

--
Remove oil spill source from e-mail
Email: | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564
(too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html
--- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero ---

[DoN. Nichols[_2_]]

On 2010-12-07, tnik wrote:
On 12/6/2010 12:09 PM, Tim Wescott wrote:
On 12/06/2010 07:41 AM, Searcher7 wrote:
Can I get recommendations of which and how many screw thread
gauges(gages?) one should own to cover the most common threads one is
likely to run into? (Including metric, but I live in the U.S.).

There seems to be a lot of overlap between gauges and I just want to
get what I need.

The screw thread gauge that I use most often is a thin strip of polished
stainless. The strip is graduated on each edge, one edge being graduated
in 1/32 inch intervals, while the other edge is graduated in 1mm
intervals. For convenience, 1/16ths, 1/8ths, etc., are marked out on the
inch side, and centimeters are marked out on the metric side.

It works dandy for any thread pitch less than 6", although you sometimes
need a magnifying glass (our loupe) for finer threads.

How about something like the 27 TPI common for microphone
stands? Pretty difficult to use with a rule graduated as you suggest.
Even with 64ths graduations (which you don't mention) you wind up with
2.3704 64ths -- and it is pretty difficult to distinguish from a 1 mm
thread (27 TPI winds up at 0.9407 mm).

For some reason, though, instead of being called a "universal thread
gauge" it's called a "ruler".


Hrmmm.. The way the OP thread reads to me is he is talking about
go/no-go gauges.. And with those, I would buy them as needed.

Having exchanged a lot of e-mails with him, as well as posting
exchanges here, I would be willing to bet that he is talking about a
thread pitch gauge. A bunch of sawteeth folding out of a handle like
feeler gauges do.

Enjoy,
DoN.

--
Remove oil spill source from e-mail
Email: | Voice (all times): (703) 938-4564
(too) near Washington D.C. | http://www.d-and-d.com/dnichols/DoN.html
--- Black Holes are where God is dividing by zero ---

[Ned Simmons]

On 8 Dec 2010 03:59:21 GMT, "DoN. Nichols"
wrote:

On 2010-12-07, tnik wrote:
On 12/6/2010 12:09 PM, Tim Wescott wrote:
On 12/06/2010 07:41 AM, Searcher7 wrote:
Can I get recommendations of which and how many screw thread
gauges(gages?) one should own to cover the most common threads one is
likely to run into? (Including metric, but I live in the U.S.).

There seems to be a lot of overlap between gauges and I just want to
get what I need.

The screw thread gauge that I use most often is a thin strip of polished
stainless. The strip is graduated on each edge, one edge being graduated
in 1/32 inch intervals, while the other edge is graduated in 1mm
intervals. For convenience, 1/16ths, 1/8ths, etc., are marked out on the
inch side, and centimeters are marked out on the metric side.

It works dandy for any thread pitch less than 6", although you sometimes
need a magnifying glass (our loupe) for finer threads.

How about something like the 27 TPI common for microphone
stands? Pretty difficult to use with a rule graduated as you suggest.
Even with 64ths graduations (which you don't mention) you wind up with
2.3704 64ths -- and it is pretty difficult to distinguish from a 1 mm
thread (27 TPI winds up at 0.9407 mm).

The difference between 5/27 and 3/16 is approximately 2 thou.

--
Ned Simmons

[Jim Wilkins]

On Dec 8, 1:11*am, Ned Simmons wrote:
...*How about something like the 27 TPI common for microphone
stands? *Pretty difficult to use with a rule graduated as you suggest.
Even with 64ths graduations (which you don't mention) you wind up with
2.3704 64ths -- and it is pretty difficult to distinguish from a 1 mm
thread (27 TPI winds up at 0.9407 mm).

The difference between 5/27 and 3/16 is approximately 2 thou.
Ned Simmons-

If the original needs replacing the crests probably aren't sharp
enough to read that closely. I have an old transit with a 27TPI tripod
mount thread that was quite difficult to measure due to its condition.
You can hold the screw and sawtooth gage up to a light and easily see
a slight mismatch between them.

jsw

[Searcher7]

On Dec 7, 10:59*pm, "DoN. Nichols" wrote:
On 2010-12-07, tnik wrote:



On 12/6/2010 12:09 PM, Tim Wescott wrote:
On 12/06/2010 07:41 AM, Searcher7 wrote:
Can I get recommendations of which and how many screw thread
gauges(gages?) one should own to cover the most common threads one is
likely to run into? (Including metric, but I live in the U.S.).

There seems to be a lot of overlap between gauges and I just want to
get what I need.

The screw thread gauge that I use most often is a thin strip of polished
stainless. The strip is graduated on each edge, one edge being graduated
in 1/32 inch intervals, while the other edge is graduated in 1mm
intervals. For convenience, 1/16ths, 1/8ths, etc., are marked out on the
inch side, and centimeters are marked out on the metric side.

It works dandy for any thread pitch less than 6", although you sometimes
need a magnifying glass (our loupe) for finer threads.

* * * * How about something like the 27 TPI common for microphone
stands? *Pretty difficult to use with a rule graduated as you suggest.
Even with 64ths graduations (which you don't mention) you wind up with
2.3704 64ths -- and it is pretty difficult to distinguish from a 1 mm
thread (27 TPI winds up at 0.9407 mm).

For some reason, though, instead of being called a "universal thread
gauge" it's called a "ruler".

Hrmmm.. The way the OP thread reads to me is he is talking about
go/no-go gauges.. And with those, I would buy them as needed.

* * * * Having exchanged a lot of e-mails with him, as well as posting
exchanges here, I would be willing to bet that he is talking about a
thread pitch gauge. *A bunch of sawteeth folding out of a handle like
feeler gauges do.

Yes. That is what I was searching for.

I'll look for the No. 472 and the No 156m.

Thanks a lot.

Darren Harris
Staten Island, New York

[David Billington]

DoN. Nichols wrote:
On 2010-12-07, David Billington wrote:

DoN. Nichols wrote:

On 2010-12-06, Searcher7 wrote:


Can I get recommendations of which and how many screw thread
gauges(gages?) one should own to cover the most common threads one is
likely to run into? (Including metric, but I live in the U.S.).


[ ... ]


Two -- one metric, and one inch. There are inch ones available
(mine is from Starrett) which have three groups of gauge leaves, and if
that doesn't cover what you need, it will probably be a coarse enough
thread to measure by a steel ruler -- and too coarse to cut on a home
lathe.


[ ... ]


You could add the No. 155, which covers from 28 TPI up to 2.25
TPI -- but -- why would you need to measure one that coarse, since you
can't cut it at home anyway.


My Harrison M300 does 2TPI as standard and it has been needed on one
occasion when my neighbour needed to cut an internal twin start square
thread for the nut on his dining room table jack as it had finally wore
out after about 200 years. He couldn't do it as his Myford Super 7
doesn't go that coarse so he came around and did it at my house.


And how big is the Harrison M300? The original poster has to
live with machines which he can take upstairs to his apartment -- by
himself. My 12x24" Clausing can only manage 4 TPI maximum coarseness,
and there is no way he would be able to get it up to his apartment.

The Harrison M300 is a 13" lathe and comes in IIRC 24" and 40" centre
distances, mine is 40". You must be recalling information the OP
mentioned in his past postings about his lathe size as in this thread
gauge post he doesn't say anything about his lathe in his original
posting, I only recall a reading some of his posts about some drill
press he was trying to repair.

And the thread pitch gauges which he is considering would not
work for your square threads anyway. But the steel ruler which I
mentioned above in my first still quoted paragraph *would* do just fine
for determining the pitch of the 2 TPI thread.

Enjoy,
DoN.