Magnetic base types - Noga articulating style vs double steel cylindrical

I will never go back to the old style indicator bases. I have two Nogas now, one with a 1" indicator and another with a Interapid test indicator.

I should set up my old style indicator base as a lathe chip shield. Then it would have a purpose.
 
One thing I will say about the Noga's . When they go bad , there is no fixing them . I have one that went limp years ago , it sits in the junk pile .
 
mmcmdl said:
One thing I will say about the Noga's . When they go bad , there is no fixing them . I have one that went limp years ago , it sits in the junk pile .
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Same here. I've only purchased 1 and that was over 20 years ago. It didn't last all that long. I tried everything I could to stiffen up the joints. I even tried soaking overnight it in a jar with 2 Viagra tablets. Nothing worked. I don't know where I put it, and I don't care. It's back to the old-style bases.
 
I had a double bar import that now holds a chip deflector.
I have a Noga with a fine adjust on the base (I feel it is better on the base than on the top since it doesn't affect anything else when you are fine adjusting.) Being able to move the arm every which way and then lock is the cat's meow. Way faster also.
For as often as you use a holder it pays to get the best you can. Buy the Noga.
 
One thing about ALL mag bases , they need something to hold to . On a machine tool that's not an issue . Working on other equipment it is an issue . I made up a pair of flex arm holders that I can mount to a mag holder , an I beam clamp , a simple clip , any chuck etc . Used them on the paper presses daily as all the guards were aluminum . They held up better than the Noga articulating arms , not that Noga's are bad . I just use my old style mag bases when needed .
 
matthewsx said:
The Noga bases seem expensive compared to the lookalikes but there is a difference. When you’re starting out it actually makes sense to buy the real thing since struggling to get a good reading is such a pain. I now have a genuine Noga with adjustment at the base and it’s much, much better.

Definitely a case of buy once cry once IMHO. I actually didn’t pay full price but now that I have it I definitely would.

John
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+1 for the Noga with base adjustment: sooo much better than having the fine adjustment at the end of the arm.
 
Noga with the adjustment at the bottom. It makes getting to a mark so much easier. Much better than the old style. And the noga clamp end is superior to the cheapies. If you do get a cheapy, you will get a Noga.. My super small sizes are Chinese knockoffs, but my large is a Noga..
 
I bought a mini imitation noga with a metric test indicator, a cheap Chinese one. Think I paid less than $30. The indicator lasted for a year before starting to get funky. The arm is still going strong 4 years later.

The noga style arm really makes a world of difference vs the indicator arms my company had already. So much so, I bought a genuine Noga for my main indicator holder.

Since then, I’ve bought a half a dozen Chinese ones averaging 10-20 apiece. They work, but a couple do have a sticky spot. The original is the best, but I’d take the cheap ones over the two bar one anyday.

For reference here is a picture of the 2 bar ones I would avoid. And the noga type I would recommend.

Someday I may get one of the micro base adjusting ones to test out.
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Cripes, encountered this thread this morning after opening the Amazon box containing my just-delivered cheap Chinese knockoff:

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B09B4RPVK3/

Oh well, it's a large-ish clamp head, so I can use it for positioning my shopvac hose if nothing else. I will give it a go with the dial indicator, see if its stiff enough. I messed with it a bit, seems to clamp all the parts pretty solidly.

Given all the subtle hints here, my next such procurement will be Noga... :big grin:
 
ggbutcher said:
Given all the subtle hints here
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The one you bought isn't made to hold an indicator! So perfect reason to buy a Noga. The Nogas come in multiple sizes & with end of arm or on base fine adjust. go with the on the base fine adjust. Your test indicator will have come with dovetails and clamps with different pin sizes for the Noga arm. The Noga arm can accommodate at least two pin sizes.
 
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