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I finally asked an old guy at a trade show in Chicago why he still uses a manual indicator
He was setting up a vise on a Bridgeport and I saw his old Starrett dial. I asked him about it, and he said 'Kid, this thing doesn't need batteries and it tells me the truth every time.' He showed me how he could feel a half thou of runout just by the needle's shake. Honestly, it made me think about all the digital stuff I just trust without question. Do you guys still keep a manual indicator in your box for certain jobs?
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derek786mo ago
Read a machinist blog that called manual indicators "honest tools" for that exact reason.
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patricia426mo ago
Oh that's a great way to put it. I saw a video once where an old-timer said a dial indicator doesn't have a battery to die or a screen to glitch. It just tells you the truth of what's in front of you, no software in between.
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