Outside calipers as clamps

[NOBLNG]

5 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

Just to keep everything relevant, I made a vernier clamp.🤓

 

For those who like too much information….This particular caliper reads measurements in 1/128ths of an inch apparently.😳 The main scale (ruler) is marked off in 16ths. There are 8 spaces on the “vernier” scale at the top of the movable jaw (8x16= 128) so each graduation equals 1/128 of an inch. The first “0” mark is just shy of the 2-1/2” mark, so 2-7/16” (2-56/128”) is the measurement to be added to. The 7th “vernier” graduation mark lines up the best with a graduation on the main scale (16ths) so 7/128ths is added to the 56/128ths for a total of 2-63/128ths. 
1 divided by 128=approximately .0078x63=.492 So this measures 2.492 by this caliper.

I measured it with 2 other calipers: Cheap Vernier= 2.492” Dial caliper= 2.496”   Digital caliper= 2.493” 

So this cheapo caliper is pretty darn accurate to two decimal places. My brain hurts now, so I think I will stick to my dial and digital units.

 

Edited September 12 by NOBLNG

[mcs1056]

15 hours ago, NOBLNG said:

 

So this cheapo caliper is pretty darn accurate to two decimal places. My brain hurts now, so I think I will stick to my dial and digital units.

 

You must have gotten a Monday morning caliper. Seems like mine was made on a Wednesday, right after lunch. The one I just bought gradually gets worse, being a 16th off by three inches. Definitely clamp material. 

[Bugatti Fan]

I'll stick to working in millimeters.  Much easier than the old inch system I was brought up on.

[Vessey]

Good tip for unusually shaped parts.

The vernier calipers can be used with double sided tape to line up small parts parallel to each other, such as the end plates of this 1/43 F1 car (skip to the 4 minute mark):

https://youtube.com/watch?v=TMmx2iWaJtc

[NOBLNG]

6 hours ago, Vessey said:

Good tip for unusually shaped parts.

The vernier calipers can be used with double sided tape to line up small parts parallel to each other, such as the end plates of this 1/43 F1 car (skip to the 4 minute mark):

https://youtube.com/watch?v=TMmx2iWaJtc

Thanks, I could see that trick coming in handy.😎

[Bugatti Fan]

That video made interesting viewing.

[customline]

Now my head hurts. 😑

[sidcharles]

On 9/11/2025 at 8:35 AM, NOBLNG said:

Thanks for all your completely irrelevant input boys.🙄

i'm just waiting for the other one to show up.

 

good tip; never can have enough third hands when the going gets rough.

[NOBLNG]

On 9/12/2025 at 10:28 AM, mcs1056 said:

You must have gotten a Monday morning caliper. Seems like mine was made on a Wednesday, right after lunch. The one I just bought gradually gets worse, being a 16th off by three inches. Definitely clamp material. 

You will require at least one of these precision constrictor bands to perform the conversion . I believe they are color coded for different clamping pressures…best to invest in the entire set like I did to cover all possible scenarios. A bit of an investment, but well worth it in my opinion.😜

Edit: If anyone is interested…I can do a tutorial on how one of these can be manipulated to double or even triple the original constriction values.🤓

Edited Thursday at 06:17 PM by NOBLNG

[sidcharles]

sure.

always in for the "supersize-me"