- Joined
- Dec 20, 2012
- Messages
- 9,422
So am I the only one kicking myself for buying inferior tools? I made a terrible mistake! Live and learn.
Erik, please be a little more gentle with yourself. There are a lot of new guys in our hobby today that wouldn't be were it not for import tools. If your tools allow you to do what you want to do then who cares if it doesn't read dead on with a NIST-traceable gauge block? As long as it is consistent then that's what matters.
Years ago, I made a pin to slip fit into a block that I bored. I was going for a slip fit but I actually wanted to have an air bearing fit, just to see if I could do it. I got that fit and I was really happy! Turned out that the mic I used to read the OD of the pin and the telescoping gauge used in the bore was off calibration and I had to adjust the collar on the mic but the pin still fit in that bore. This was many years ago and it was an old Helios mic; still have it, still use it.
So sure, buy better tools as you are able to afford them but don't beat yourself up for buying those tools. Use them.