Yeah ----! I was out using my dial indicator a couple days ago and dropped it like an idiot. The stem bent a little and it's off a bunch. It's passed warranty and I'm due for a new one anyway. I figured I'd check here and see what you NGA's have. Maybe somebody has one they never use and needs some funds before Christmas. Only requirements are that it can measure to the thousandth of an inch or even better, 10,000th of an inch. It also has to have a stem thats longer than 2". Digital would be nice, but not 100% necessary. I'm looking to spend $120 or less. Obviously for $120 it'll have to be digital and near top of the line. If somebody has something amazing; I'd consider spending more, but near top of the line digitals are going for around $120-$150 with stand. LMK what you've got!

Need another 3/8" torque wrench too. Again; I'd prefer digital. Mine is lost atm and it's ghetto anyway. Looking to spend $100> on one too. I have no problem buying new, but figured I'd try and get an HMT brother some $ before I go out and buy one. Ok thanks.

 

hf torque (pittsburgh tools) wrenches are pretty decently accurate, well within the 4% they quote (and dirt cheap). also, what accuracy do you need on your dial indicator? my dad works in tool and die, and gets the chance to snag up tools that are accurate, yet may read .001 or .025 higher or lower than 0. let me know, might even have something laying around that you could use

 

I just need it accurate to the +/- 0.0005" preferably. I just need it to read 0-whatever. I've got my eye on a Mitutoyo digimatic unit right now, but I need to be sure the stem is long enough. That's the other major requirement is the stem has to be 2" or longer and thin enough to fit in bearing housings, etc. Digital would be way better, but my old one was dial, so it's not a deal breaker if it isn't.

Yeah ---- man, if you can find a good one laying around, or even one that "accidentally" makes its way into your pocket; I'll pay you good for it or trade you parts. Find me a digital torque wrench too. Could even use some new digi calipers as well. Got a budget of around $300 for the calipers, wrench, and indicator+base. Then after Christmas I'll be auctioning off the right to my first born (when it's born) and selling my pristine 2G Talon AWD for way too cheap so I can get a new industrial air compressor, sandblasting cabinet, and the real expensive part; Miller TIGrunner set-up. This is going to be the year of the tool upgrades for me.

 

i tested my 1/2" hf torque wrench and it was dead on to another guys at the shops mactools torque wrench

 

hit up ebay. starrett, brown and sharpe, mahr, mitutoyo are all good brands. john deere and craftsman are hit and miss

 

i tested my hf torque wrench with a co worker's snap on and it was like one pound off over 120ft lbs

 

That HF digital 3/8" one on Ebay is pretty cheap I think. Marketed as Pittsburgh tools; it's like $50 shipped. Only thing is I'm trying really hard to not introduce CDM tools into my current collection. Or is HF usa? I have all Craftsman ---- right now because my grandpa used their stuff his whole life. I know there is better quality, especially with how Craftsman is right now, so for my bigger stuff I want to keep it nearly top of the line at least. I want something that's undergone R&D and has some love built into it ahaha! Not assembled by some little infested aids kid with 3 arms and a sloped forehead. Some scary gene pool malfunctions there in CDM land.

 

look at any craftsman wrench made since the 70's. all rough cast with sloppy 12-point box end.

doesn't say much about their tools

 

ill buy hf before craftsman any day of the week. craftsman just feel like ---- in your hand and the ratchets break all the time

 

I'm not arguing one bit that Craftsman is the best. I know it's not. I'm using their tools for sentimental reasons. I do like that whenever I break a wrench or ratchet I can take it back and get a new one. Yeah I've broken a few of their ratchets too haha. That's why I'm not buying one of their torque wrenches. I ended up buiying that Mitutoyo indicator.