Wall thickness guage

[Drew Hause]

Dennis Potter made a gauge from copper tubing, and had it on his table at the Las Vegas Antique Arms Show last Jan. Neat looking and light.

Bill Henry made this one for me



The curved section is .038" to set the micrometer



I added measuring tape

[edgarspencer]

I have been meaning to make a wall thickness measuring tool for some time, but have had the use of a Hosford when ever I wanted, so just never got to it.
I like the Hosford design because it eliminates the deflection error.
I will probably make mine like Tom's; a vertical pair of rods. I have seen commercially made vertical devices which have a tapered bushing which keeps the muzzle centered. The key is that the dial indicator have enough pressure to hold the barrel against the reference point. I was wandering around Harbor freight one day, and despite my resistance to not buy Chinese, I succumbed to the $15 digital electronic inch/metric dial (sic) indicator. The floating zero is a great feature. That way you have a direct wall thickness reading.

[Drew Hause]

Low tech Dean. 1/4" or 3/8" fabric measuring tape (from any sewing store) under Scotch clear high strength packing tape After degreasing, the Scotch tape sticks very well to the aluminum rod, but not as well to itself so don't overlap the edges.