Top Shop Tips

[Rrandy]

Not my idea but thought I'd pass it along. When turning spindles or tennons and other quick sizing is needed but more of a "go..no go" gauge one can use an open end wrench. Most folks have a set of metric and sae sized wrenches so...you need a 5/8", or 12 mm, tennon. Get the size wrench you are shooting for and once it slips over the workpiece you are real close to size. Most wrenches range from .020" to .040" over the indicated size so once it slips on the piece you can then start using a caliper or micrometer to get spot on. Some work that's less critical and the wrench puts you at finished size.

You don't have to be as careful with them as a vernier and if dropped they generally survive quite nicely and sawdust won't mess up their calibration.

[hankm]

Saw an idea that takes an open end wrench and if the lower jaw is ground back to a sharp lip will cut the tenon to the wrench size when hooked onto the stock:

I tried this some years ago on an old wrench I picked up and it worked pretty good if you rough turn it oversize first to a fraction of desired size then finish with this.

[Larry.Jenkins]

But, NEVER use it as a gauge when the piece is turning!

Larry

[smallpatch1]

Hey Randy would not a set of calipers be a little more useful than a set of wrenches. I noticed Harbor Freight has a caliper right now as we speak for a whopping 1.95.?????  Maybe not for CNC work but at least one tool will measure lots of sizes.

[krumy205747]

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Larry.Jenkins wrote:

But, NEVER use it as a gauge when the piece is turning!

Larry

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Not sure why? I have done that more than a few times and from many videos I've watched I'm not alone.

Steve K

[Larry.Jenkins]

If the diameter you are checking with a wrench is still a tad oversize, there's a good chance that the wrench might grab and be pulled right out of your hand, possible causing injury or damage.

Just not worth it.

Adjustable calipers are much better because of the very small point contact with wood.  Even then, I like to stop the spindle.

Too old to get "damaged" any more.. 

Larry

[Rrandy]

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smallpatch1 wrote:

Hey Randy would not a set of calipers be a little more useful than a set of wrenches. I noticed Harbor Freight has a caliper right now as we speak for a whopping 1.95.?????  Maybe not for CNC work but at least one tool will measure lots of sizes.

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I have both and use both. Some folks don't see .625 as 5/8ths that easy and using an open end wrench just opens up another accurate means that is quick and easy...if you have the wrenches. A wrench is easier to grab for me than the caliper. Not suggesting one over the other, just an alternative. It really shines when a metric size is called for...my brain don't have to convert, just grab the wrench.

[habitatsupplie1]

I agree that the sharp ends of a caliper will definitely cause it to catch and bounce back on you. However, I picked up a cheap caliper from Big Lots or somewhere, and the ends are rounded. That works great for me: No problems with catches, etc.