Here’s my absolutely beautiful home made caliper’s….. well they might not be the prettiest, but they do a swell job of measuring my tops and backs. They were an awful lot cheaper than buying a pair from your local luthier supply, and these ones come with a handy conversion chart.

Home » By Alastair Miller » Lesson » Calipers

I started this one with a chunk of 5/8″ thick aluminum, a $15.00 dial indicator, and a thumb lever for the dial that the hardware store salesman gave me for next to nothing.

©2009 - Mark Kett

I had to slightly modify the thumb lever, as the opening was too small for my dial. With a small file and a little patience – I had a perfect match.

I cut the aluminum billet on the bandsaw, and finished up with a couple of files and some sandpaper.

Once I had the shape shape cut out, I drilled a hole at the top just big enough for the dial caliper to slip into, and another hole in the bottom to be threaded for a 1/4″/20 bolt. Be sure to line these holes up the best you can.

I had to improve this tap of mine so that I could thread it all the way through the hole. She’s a real beauty now!

Almost done. Next I put a 1/4″ bolt in the chuck of my drill, and rounded the head on the belt sander using the drill like a lathe. I adjusted the bolt to the height I liked best (that being where it located the caliper needle to 12 o’clock), and tacked it in with a drop of carpenters glue.

…and for the final touch, I put on this handy conversion chart, so that even Canadians can use it! §