Cheap Asian tools...

[michael gates]

Doesn't it just need to be calibrated, like most digital tools require?

[keith micinski]

3 to 5 degrees is absurd amnd probably should be visual by eye. You might want to make sure your calibrations are right.

[Mike Cruz]

Um, you set it on the table and push the on button. Then you hit the calibrate button...it reads "0", then put it on the blade...it reads "90". As you crank the blade, the little numbers start going from 90 to whatever angle you are trying to cut. It was off something like 3-5 degrees. I did it 3 times, same result.

[Mike OMelia]

....

0.004/2.54 ~= 0.0015

[Chuong Nguyen]

I got this Made in USA Craftsmen feeler guage set.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...3&blockType=G3
cheap in price too.
Old

[glenn bradley]

Um, you set it on the table and push the on button. Then you hit the calibrate button...it reads "0", then put it on the blade...it reads "90". As you crank the blade, the little numbers start going from 90 to whatever angle you are trying to cut. It was off something like 3-5 degrees. I did it 3 times, same result.

<<< threadjack >>> I had a Wixey that lost it's mind like that. They replaced it for me. <<< end threadjack >>>

[John Nesmith]

All you need to do is:

1) Locate a permanent marker
2) Black out the .0015
3) Write .004 above or below it

Done.

[Dan Hintz]

I got this Made in USA Craftsmen feeler guage set.
http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...3&blockType=G3
cheap in price too.
Old

Got the same one years ago... along with their wire version. Don't think I've ever checked their precision.

[John Coloccia]

Got the same one years ago... along with their wire version. Don't think I've ever checked their precision.

The only reason I caught it is that I took it out to use it and I could feel that it was no way .0015.

[John Coloccia]

....

0.004/2.54 ~= 0.0015

If you look closely you'll see that it's clearly marked as .038mm as well. It's just manufactured wrong. It's thicker at the edges, and closer to .0015" towards the middle. I'm guessing that a whole roll of feeler stock was bad so there's probably tons out there with the same issue.

[Dan Hintz]

The only reason I caught it is that I took it out to use it and I could feel that it was no way .0015.

It's worth checking, for sure... it could explain why a car was running rough if you're using it to size spark plug gaps.

[Darius Ferlas]

All you need to do is:

1) Locate a permanent marker
2) Black out the .0015
3) Write .004 above or below it

Done.

Nah, it will introduce only more confusion by the thickness of the line made by the marker

As for the "digital" part of the measuring tools. In many cases, the "digital" part only refers to the display, while the actual mechanisms are still analogue, so must be accurate because it is digital is often baseless.

[Chris Tsutsui]

Lets hold on a minute before we let my fellow asians off the hook.

These are a few ideas:

1. General uses a chinese machine that thicknesses the feeler gauge stock and that is what is malfunctioning.

2. General buys this feeler gauge from china in pieces, does final assembly in USA, and since 50% of it is made in USA, they can call it "Made in USA".

3. The feelers are so thin they are sticking to each other and this is user error. (just kidding)

Anyways if you have a micrometer then I think it will be better than a caliper for small measurements. I use my mitutoyo 1" micrometer to test my hair to see if my wife is right about my hair getting thin.

[Dan Hintz]

I use my mitutoyo 1" micrometer to test my hair to see if my wife is right about my hair getting thin.

does she use a Wixey to determine if you're off kilter?

[Barry Wixey]

does she use a Wixey to determine if you're off kilter?

My wife does......