Unpopular opinion: I think the old way of setting up a vise with a hammer and feel is actually worse than just using an indicator

For years, I'd tap the vise around with a soft hammer until it 'felt' square to the table. It worked, but I'd still get a 0.0015 runout on long parts sometimes. About 8 months ago, I started using a cheap dial indicator on a mag base to tram it in, which adds maybe 90 seconds to my setup. The difference in finish and accuracy on my first part after the change was obvious. Has anyone else made a small change to their routine that seemed like extra work but paid off big?

3 comments

3 Comments

the_simon18d ago

@the_nathan is right, it's just guessing without an indicator.

the_nathan26d ago

That 0.0015 runout you mentioned is the whole problem. Calling it "feel" is generous, it's really just guessing. Using an indicator isn't about adding extra steps, it's about removing the guesswork. That runout translates directly to a worse finish and less accurate parts. The ninety seconds is a tiny trade for a part that's right the first time.

daniel_wood26d ago

What kind of cheap indicator did you end up getting? I've been thinking about trying that but don't want to spend a ton.

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