Thread mic brands

I got a like new 0-1 Tesa with a full set of imperial anvils for $150 off EBay a few weeks ago :)

My thread wires were driving me crazy. So I patiently waited for a good deal on a quality mic. Plenty of quality mics for that price. But they didn’t have anvils. IIRC, anvils run about $30+ a pair.
 
I pieced together a set of thread mics from the usual suspects; Lufkin, Tumico, Slocomb, Starrett. On eBay, it cost less to put together a quality set that is always ready than it would to buy one with interchangeable anvils that need to be fiddled with.
 
pontiac428 said:
I pieced together a set of thread mics from the usual suspects; Lufkin, Tumico, Slocomb, Starrett. On eBay, it cost less to put together a quality set that is always ready than it would to buy one with interchangeable anvils that need to be fiddled with.
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That's easy to fix, just always cut the same TPI! 20 TPI for everything! :grin:
 
Watchwatch said:
I got a like new 0-1 Tesa with a full set of imperial anvils for $150 off EBay a few weeks ago :)

My thread wires were driving me crazy. So I patiently waited for a good deal on a quality mic. Plenty of quality mics for that price. But they didn’t have anvils. IIRC, anvils run about $30+ a pair.
Click to expand...

You got one of the best thread mics made. Smooth, precise and very accurate. I have the 0-1" and 1-2" and the same anvil set fits both. Really nice price you got - congrats!

Prior to finding my Tesa set, I used a Fowler thread mic and it looked identical to the one sold by Shars and others. Although the fit and finish isn't in the same class as a Tesa, the accuracy seemed to be. Given the high cost of the upper tier mics, I don't think I would opt for a Mit or Tesa at retail. I would go for a Shars.
 
Personally, I would buy one with changeable anvils. They are just as accurate.
 
That is honestly what i am thinking of doing. I was looking at the shars as well.
 
Brento, I'll tell you how I ended up in this position, the owner of several thread mics. I was looking for a Tesa, since I love my Tesa mics and snap mics. I found several at the going price, but all of them had missing anvils of one size or another. Foo on that, I said, and ordered a used, American-made mic in every size I thought I would encounter. At the end, I spent about $25 each for five mics from 32 pitch to 10 pitch. So I saved a little money, but there is still the part that I think is priceless- the cost of opening my drawer with one hand still on the work piece, grabbing the mic I need, and measuring my part. Nothing irritates me more than needing a tool right now that needs some fiddling, set-up, or whatever. I just want to grab what I need, make my measurement, and get on with it. Sure, I have nothing better to do on a Sunday morning than tinker and fiddle, and will have even more time to waste doing menial crap when I retire, but I don't want to have to do that every single time I pick up a tool. That peace of mind is worth it to me.
 
Well my secret on this is that this mic is for a job coming up. Idr what size thread it was but it was a special uncommon pitch for a motorcycle part. Since it is a special tool needed for the job i would charge the customer maybe 20% of the tool and i would pay the rest obviously.
 
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