Making of a Dial Indicator Case - COMPLETED!

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

First take a peice of scrap wood thats been laying around your house for a good decade or so because the wood carver in your family stoped wood carving as a hobby and never junked the wood and will fit the dial indicator. Smile

Then place the dial indicator on the wood and measure how big of a peice you need. It came out to about 3.25" by 5.65" and the wood is 1.75" thick. Smile

Then take a dremel with a bunch of attachments and rough out the pocket for the dial indicator with the sand paper tools (the cutter tools dont like to work for me).

Once you get it all roughed out take pictures and post them on the internet. Very Happy

To come:
-> Finish sanding the pocket smoth.
-> Using Rubber compound to make a soft bed for the dial indicator in the pocket.
-> Finding suitable strap for the top and locating latches on the cheap that can be used.
-> Cut out the top of the dial indicator on the top and finish sand and coat with same rubber compond to make it softer for the dial indicator.
-> Finish both the bottom and the top of the case with varinish to make it look good.

Dimitri

Bushmaster

Bit rough...Let's see the finished product.

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Bushmaster,

Yup its rough, will take alittle while for me to get it done right, I think I'll go look for my dads wood carving tools, might be able to get it to look better that way. Getting Sandpaper to smoth it down tonight. Might be able to finish it by this sunday night, depending if I manage to go buy some varnish or not. Smile

Although I've never really woodworked, and I've done little wood working, more of a butcher you could say execpt when just cutting and putting things together like construction woodworking that I'm so-so with. Well compared to my fathers and grandfathers woodworking I'm a butcher anyways. Very Happy

Dimitri

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Well I cracked out the craving tools and finished the surface of the block of wood and craved out 2 spots for dial indicator tips incase I ever need a longer tip etc. Smile

Its still pretty rough, added the scale like finish on the wood because I wanted to make it alittle more unique then a flat surface. Cool

Next stop tracking down some felt lining I can use and a peice of wood suitable for the top cover, I found the hinges and latch I'm going to use already. Smile

Dimitri

1895ss

You should have saved yourself the trouble by buying a dial indicator that came with a case. Mine did many many years ago. Laughing

Keep going, your doing good. I would like to see it when finished. Smile

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

1895,

I didn't buy this dial indicator. Wink

It was gifted to me by a retired machinist I know for Christmas with the Mercer dial indicator (a old one bought "many years ago" Made in England before the production went to Swtizerland) attached to a Magnetic base. Very Happy

Dimitri

1895ss

Oh I see, I guess you have no choice but to make one. Smile

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

I was actually thinking about buying a cheap made in China one for 30$ and using its case but then I figured I could make a case.

As they say "Why buy something when you can make it with your own 2 hands ??". Very Happy

Dimitri

1895ss

Yep and should the first one not turn out the way you want you can always start over. Smile

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

That is true 1985. But I try to make even a bad mess up half decent and in "working order" if I can. Very Happy

Dimitri

george20042007

Look at what the kid can do with a little time & imagination Very Happy

Next thing you know this will carry over into building cases for all his tools.
Keep it coming...

Bushmaster

Dimitri...A Mercer? Hummm. My dial indicator is a very old AMES. It still has the wooden box and all the accessories intact and I still use it. Hang onto it and care for it well, but don't stop using it...

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Neat AMES is still around, made in the USA it seems (execpt for the Dialtest bore gages which are made in Germany). Smile

Bushmaster, I rather use this dial indicator or any other tool for that matter for its indended purpose every day and wear it down in a year (hopefully that doesnt happen Shocked

) then let it sit unused. Smile

Dimitri

DallanC · Site Admin Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah

Making your own case is cool, but I'd do it laminated in layers. Cut a thin 1/4" thick backing, then make the rest in several 1/2" layers. You can cut them out with a bandsaw, glue it all together give it a coat of stain and several coats of polyurathane and it would look really nice.

-DallanC

Dimitri · Super Member Joined: Nov 25, 2005 Posts: 5946

Dallan,

Good idea, forgot about that trick did it once at school ( Grade 8 ) for shop class made it easier to make a small drawer thing they made us do. Smile

Next time I do it if I have a bandsaw around I'll do it that way. Very Happy

Dimitri