light up edge finder, how do you like it?

That's just what I'm looking for, thanks.
 
I think that would be nice for old eyes, but I'm holding off cause I may use it times this week and then not again for three years again.
I'll stick with my old faithfulls.
 
I think it is entirely possible that my repeatability issues may be due in part to cheap Chinese edge finders. I lube them then wipe the outside dry before each use, or they don't work at all. If I'm going to drop $50, I might just be better off to buy name brand mechanical ones. One thing I noticed when perusing the electronic ones on ebay is:Only the usa made one from Texas has a tip that measures in thousandths, not mm. I don't want to switch back and forth! So no cheaper option for me than $50 shipped. I have kids, so dropping a fifty requires much thought, maybe a little saving too. I'm hoping more folks have these and are willing to chime in. If I wind up getting one, I'll be happy to add my two cents.
 
I bought one at HF for around $25, it seems to work ok. Just remember to keep it stored in a plastic container I went through the first battery very quickly. The second battery has been working for several years.

I also have a Starrett manual style and probably use it more often than the lighted one.

Paul
 
LEEQ said:
How do you like your fowler? Does it repeat well?
Click to expand...

Don't know yet, didn't buy it yet. :whistle:

But I put it on my Amazon wish list and I'll get one soon, I have Prime so shipping is no issue. This thread made me think of Amazon, they have tons of tools that qualify for Prime - that's why I got it. You can often get things on Amazon cheaper than ebay.

I'll order one as soon as it shows as back in stock.

edit: I just placed the order, they don't bill till they ship anyway.

Stay tuned, I'll post a review as soon as I get it.
 
I have the Fowler brand that has the .200 ball tip. I had a part that I was working on this weekend & thought I would post the results.
In one picture I eased up on the part until the light came on & then zeroed out the DRO. I then bumped the Y axis until the light went out & checked the DRO & it was still on zero.
If I take my time , I can get something dead on. If I'm in a hurry I can hit it with in .0002. If I get sloppy I can get .0004 pretty easy with it. I've never checked to make sure the tool is concentric, I just assumsed that it is, but it's close enough for anything that I'm going to make.
Like someone else mentioned,it has a spring loaded tip which has saved the tool a couple of times when I went the wrong way, & also, it want work on plastic or wood. I think you would like it if you got one. Let us know if you do & what your thoughts are on it.
Phil

image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg image.jpg
 
I like the idea of the ball tip but I'll make do with the cylindrical one at 1/3 the price. I was planning to get a new mechanical one anyway because with my old one it's awfully hard to tell exactly when it hits the edge. Sometimes I think I can better results with a wiggler despite the pain they are to use.

The reviews for the Fowler ones on Amazon are all favorable.
 
I have the Fowler with .200 cylindrical tip. I mainly used to use it only when I needed to indicate a part where damaging the finish was important. But now I find myself using it most of time & I rarely use my conventional edge finders now. It's so much easier & quicker & repeatability is excellent especially for my needs. I now want to get the ball tip one as well now. I choose the cylindrical tip version first because of the lower price but mainly cause I thought it would suit my needs better. There are many times where the ball tip version wouldn't work like for shallow depths/small edges but there are times where I would have needed the ball tip so I will be getting one soon.

I prefer the light up version over the audible, some do both though. I don't work in a shop environment but it can get loud in my work area so I don't care for listening for an audible tone.
 
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