I’d like to buy a decent micrometer. Does anyone know a brand and source that wouldn’t break the bank? Thanks.
Bob
Assuming it is for leaders, Gates Lodge has a dandy at about $50, scroll down the page: [url=http://www.gateslodge.com/shop.htm:d102b]http://www.gateslodge.com/shop.htm[/url:d102b]
LadyFisher, Publisher of
FAOL
I bought mine at Sears, a 1". It seems to be fairly well made (in China), about $12 as I recall.
Now if I could just figger out how to read the damned thing.
This is mine…I’ve had it 4-5 years
[url=http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00940774000:edba4]http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00940774000[/url:edba4]
[This message has been edited by Buzz (edited 23 February 2006).]
I have an old Tool Makers micrometer I use for measuring Micro Drag when fishing The Dry. It works very well in spite of numerous duckings in the stream. Measuring that moving water can be a little difficult.[Ducking for cover] Jax
Getting Old has it’s advantages. It slows you down just enough to get your timing for tightening into a trout Just Right.
Here’s a couple [url=http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay2?storeId=6970&productId=200306411&R=200306411:7a6ad]http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay2?storeId=6970&productId=200306411&R=200306411[/url:7a6ad] [url=http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00938625000&subcat=Precision+Tools:7a6ad]http://www.sears.com/sr/javasr/product.do?BV_UseBVCookie=Yes&vertical=TOOL&pid=00938625000&subcat=Precision+Tools[/url:7a6ad]
I have a brand new Starrett “T436XRL-1” That I’d let go for $55.00 plus three bucks shipping. It retails for around $90.00 and is the industry standard. It’s in the box, with the letter of certification, and all documentation and included tool. I know you were looking to buy a cheap one, but this is at the price of a cheap one, and should last you a lifetime. Let me know if you’re interested. Here’s a link to a pictures and an example of the pricing online. [url=http://www.mytoolstore.com/starrett/micro011.html:7b4d2]http://www.mytoolstore.com/starrett/micro011.html[/url:7b4d2]
Here are instructions on how to read micrometers:
[url=http://www.mitutoyo.com/catalog/pdf/L-03.pdf:720b4]http://www.mitutoyo.com/catalog/pdf/L-03.pdf[/url:720b4]
I wouldn’t spend more than $20 unless you want a good set then I’d recommend Mitutoya. You might also look at calipers (dial or digital) if you’re trying to measure leaders since they’re easier to hold and measure with one hand.
[This message has been edited by Austinite (edited 23 February 2006).]
I use a set I bought from northern tools .Have used them every day for 4 years without a problem and i second the thought of calipers over micrometers … one handed use and all .
The more time I spend around people the more I like my dog.
Mike
Well, THIS post has finally convinced me. I fly fish, I AM NOT A FLYFISHERMAN. Snow will accumulate in hades before I feel I need a micrometer to do ANYTHING associated with fly fishing. My hair is will turn gray due to my age and NOT the thickness of my leader.
Am I missing something??? 
Mark
I’d rather be in Wyoming!
if you are going to use it for measuring leaders look in Cabela’s for a leader guage.
sized in mm and 1x,2x etc
Why a micrometer?
jed
Bob:
Although a micrometer or dial caliper is the ultimate for determining leader diameter; you MAY only need a gauge like the types offered by Fish Pond, etc.
IF your reason for buying one is to create a database of leader materials and average deviation from manufacturer stated diameters, by all means get a micrometer.
If your need is to build or repair leaders, just get a gauge. All you really need to know when building leaders is which diameter leader material is bigger than the other. A gauge will tell you that, even if it isn’t 100% accurate in determining the actual diameter. As long as you always use the gauge, you will have consistency and easily be able to follow the .002 rule when constructing leaders.
Besides, a gauge is small and light and IMHO should be carried with you to determine what size leader material to add to your recently snapped leader.
Many years ago, Orvis sold a plastic leader gauge called the Gage-It. It was nothing more than a credit card sized hunk of plastic with a tapering slot cut into it and markings along the slot. I have used mine exclusively for years and it is more than accurate enough for fly fishing. I’m sure the other gauges out there are the same.
Just my $.02
By the way, if anyone has a Gage-It they want to sell I’m interested .
I’m with LadyFisher . . . the micrometer from Gates is very easy to use. Rusty says they originated in the paper industry for “quick checking” paper as it rolled down the manufacturing line. By far the handiest, single handed mic I’ve used.
Joe
If you’re just measuring leader / tippet material - 2 things
- Mitutoyo (as noted earlier)
- Go with a digital vernier - not micometer. No interpretation aside of straight results.
darrell,
The knee-jerk response, ‘Mitutoyo’ is dated. Many people still think that brand is the best and least expensive of the REAL precision tools. If this was still the '80’s they would be right. MTI has had many, many price increases since then and now seem to be keying in on the very high-end stuff like roundness testers and profilometers.
Sadly, Starrett has gone to Red China for their small digital tools and they are problem ridden.
Brown & Sharpe/Tesa makes the finest hand tools in the world now and acrually outsell MTI by a far cry worldwide. There are reasons too… quality AND price!
Here’s a 0-1.2" mic that is certed to be .00005" accurate. The light grey area is the friction device that allows for great repeatability part-to-part and operator-to-operator. The spindle goes inside the thimble so you never need two hands to use the friction device. It is VERY high quality and well thought out.
Swiss quality at under $100.00! Whoda thunk it? [url=http://www.measurenow.com/Controls/BrownSharpeMicromaster.aspx:a63c4]http://www.measurenow.com/Controls/BrownSharpeMicromaster.aspx[/url:a63c4]
Thank you all very much. Yes, my question had to do with leader building. However, I am a musician by profession, and occasionally need to measure strings for my viola. When the strings aren’t consistent through their length, they will most often be false in pitch relative to its neighboring strings, wobbly in its own pitch, and impure in tone. I do carry a Fishpond guage on my lanyard and find it invaluable on the stream.
Bob
Who woulda thunk we’d have a pissing contest about micrometers on a fly fishing board…
Oh well…back to the CMM…
I also cast my vote for LadyFisher?s idea. Fact is, I ordered mine yesterday and my fishing partner from NY state is ordering one today. I have gone through the engineer?s mikes and it takes almost three hands to use them. I have been looking for a one handed dial micrometer for three years now and have never found one for under $100. Had a search in on eBay for 2 years. One finally showed up, (used), and even though I bid $65 in the last seconds of the auction, I lost out to a guy who bid $85. The Au Sable Tippet Gauge is a great buy at $49.95. The person that I talked to at Gates of Au Sable said that they are the exclusive importer of this gauge. Said that he didn?t order them himself but he thought that they came from Germany.
bwagner…heard enough? Now…like I said in my e-mail to you…you send that thing to ME! “I” will buy it.
Gem
Try out the “dreaded” Harbor Freight.
This is one of the best deals going, I have one and it is as accurate as my other one which is a Mitutoyo that this one tries to clone: [url=http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47257:23bca]http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47257[/url:23bca]
Don’t know anything about this one, but it should be fine: [url=http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=32605&cat=1,43513,51657&ap=1:23bca]http://www.leevalley.com/wood/page.aspx?c=2&p=32605&cat=1,43513,51657&ap=1[/url:23bca]
Paul