Anyone have this dial indicator?

[John Buzzurro]

I'm thinking of adding it to my wish list. Primary use would be for setting jointer knives.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=32525&cat=1,43513,51657&ap=1

[James Carmichael]

Harbor Freight has a similar dial indicator (sans base) on sale for $7.99 right now. I bought one and made a jig to check runout on my TS. I may go back for another to make a thickness gage.

[David Epperson]

Usually the base is on sale as well at HF whenever the indicator is. The set can be had for around 15$. Of course the magnetic base works well on iron tables, and not so well on aluminum, Oh it will still work on aluminum, but just as a regular base. If your miter guage has a steel runner it will stick to that.

[Brad Townsend]

Another good bargain:

http://www.littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=1593&category=1310310429

Includes indicator, base and a set of points for $20.

[Gary Keedwell]

I'm thinking of adding it to my wish list. Primary use would be for setting jointer knives.

http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=32525&cat=1,43513,51657&ap=1
John, I have an indicator that I replaced the back (4 little screws) with a magnetic one. I use it alot when moving my table saw fence. (photo B)
Gary K.

[John Bush]

I bought the base and indicator separately and both are good for tuning up planers and jointers etc. The kit with the tips is a good deal @ $20.

[Clint Winterhalter]

John,
I picked up basically the same set from Grizzly for $20
Looks like you have a wide choice of good values to pick from.
Good Luck.

Clint

[Reg Mitchell]

Hi John. I have may diales but here is what I use for setting jointer knives. Its pretty slick for other things also. A little pricie but worth the extra
http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/multigagervu.html
Reg

[Rick Lizek]

The tip it comes with us useless for jointer knives. 1/2" diameter button tip is recommended. As for the manetic base it's best to stick it to another piece of steel when using it for jointer knives as it should be weighted down but should slide on the outfeed table easily. I much more recommend using metal supply catalogs over the wood ones for measuring stuff such as www.use-enco.com or www.wttool.com

[John Ricci]

Hi John. I have may diales but here is what I use for setting jointer knives. Its pretty slick for other things also. A little pricie but worth the extra
http://www.newwoodworker.com/reviews/multigagervu.html
Reg

Let me second that Reg, I have the LV mag base setup as well as the Oneway but I never use anything but the Oneway for setting up knives. It almost makes it too easy:D.

J.R.

[Bruce Page]

Any of these cheap travel indicators are fine for occasional use. If you are a budding machinist or plan on using one of these daily, don’t waste you money.

Reg, is the body of the Oneway Multi-Gauge ground or milled?

[glenn bradley]

I also have the set from HF at about $15. Works fine for TS, jointer and the like. A flat button tip would help on the jointer knives but is not absolutely required. As Rick says; using it with the magnet turned off or affixed to a separate plate allow sliding along the knife. For $20 I'd go with Brad's recommendation and enjoy the extra tips.

[Randy Klein]

I think the best idea I've seen for jointer knives is illustrated in this thread (http://www.sawmillcreek.org/showthread.php?t=20579&highlight=jointer). Scroll down to Per's post...

[Bruce Wrenn]

You could also use a couple of those HF lifting magnets to hold knives in place.

[Dave MacArthur]

I bought a similar unit at Harbor Freight a month ago, except that the base that holds the indicator is a pair of vise grip pliers, to which is mounted an articulating segmented flexible arm (like Doc Octopus's arms in Spiderman....lol). When a cable inside the segments is drawn tignt with a cam lever, the thing stiffens up and you can clamp it anywhere and bend it around.

GREAT idea... CRAPPY product. The cable inside the thing had a lead end-nub which was relied on to provide tension, instead of a swaged steel nub. On the 3rd tightening, the nub just stripped right off, and now it's useless--just a pile of joint rings. I'm returning it. Dial indicator is decent, wish I had a way to easily mount it...

[Al Willits]

Bought a set from Enco and it works pretty well, repeats right on the money and is quite accurate as far as I can see, comes with a set of tips and does have the button tip which makes jointer/planer blade adjustment easier.

Was under $30 with shipping if I remember right.

Al

[Quesne Ouaques]

I bought a similar unit at Harbor Freight a month ago, except that the base that holds the indicator is a pair of vise grip pliers.........GREAT idea... CRAPPY product..........I'm returning it. Dial indicator is decent, wish I had a way to easily mount it...


I took a look at the HF thing, too, and I didn't like it. I recently got the Grizzly "President's Special" combo set. It is currently on sale for $20. http://www.grizzly.com/products/g9849

Could not be happier. Rock solid base. Quality indicator. Nice fine tuning knobs. Blow molded hard storage case.

[Reg Mitchell]

Any of these cheap travel indicators are fine for occasional use. If you are a budding machinist or plan on using one of these daily, don’t waste you money.

Reg, is the body of the Oneway Multi-Gauge ground or milled?
Hi Bruce. I think, I'll look later, it is machined. It is darn near if not "flat"
I love it and set planer knives,joiner knices, raise saw blades and router bits in the table. It works for many things
Reg

[Karl Willig]

Can this device be used to check parallelism between rip fence and blade on a table saw? If so, could you briefly explain how?

[Grant Wilkinson]

I have the Lee Valley unit and it works like a charm. I've used it for my table saw set up, my mitre saw setup and my jointer setup. No complaints at all. I realize that it is more pricey than some of the others, but I lean to LV because of their quality, their return policy, and last buy not least, because their HQ is 10 minutes from my house. :)