Announcement: Divider/scribe 8 bucks

[dlilazteca]

Check out this item I found on eBay: http://pages.ebay.com/link/?nav=item.view&id=400289754389

Carlos De La O III

 

[Beladran]

Nice I needed one

 

[mrthe]

Personally i think that is not a good idea buy a cheap dividers , when i go to my local Jewellers tools store to buy one i have to check personally 15/20 dividers before find a decent one ( and are the good ones not cheap), because a lot if time the legs don't close well or have others defects on it, take care a lot of times buy cheap is buy twice expecially in this type of thing where you need precision

 

[Sam]

I've never seen a cheap pair of dividers that were any good. A good set of Starretts will run $40-$50 and they're worth every penny as they are heirloom quality tools. The cheap dividers I've tried have legs that wobble, ridiculously strong springs, and were clunky and junky and inaccurate.

We tried the cheapies on all the benches at the GRS training center for awhile, and finally replaced them with Starrett dividers.

 

[dlilazteca]

Thanks

Carlos De La O III

 

[Beladran]

Well I'm gonna be the test subject. I don't mind rolling the dice on $8

 

[GTJC460]

Being able to easily make accurate layout is crucial to quality work in engraving and stone setting. The starrett dividers are the best. You won't regret buying them.

 

[Sam]

Well I'm gonna be the test subject. I don't mind rolling the dice on $8

Keep us posted. Do you have a really good set to compare them to?

 

[dlilazteca]

No I don't this my first set...oh well

Carlos De La O III

 

[Beladran]

My degree is in drafting an design. I got some nice toys to compare to. Will keep yal posted

 

[Beladran]

Well the divider came today.. Initial opinion is pretty good. Spring tension is nice. Opens an tracks smoothly, but the metal feels funny.. Hard to describe but pot metal comes to mind. Maybe after more use I can tell more but for $8 to my door i won't loose sleep if its junk

 

[Sam]

You normally have to dress the points on them as they're usually too blunt for precision layouts. Glad to hear the spring isn't too stiff. That was a deal breaker on a lot of the cheapies I tested.

 

[Beladran]

Thats the best my iPhone can conjure up

 

[Beathard]

How do you dress dividers?

 

[Dave London]

Dress is another term for sharpening .or trueing up the points

 

[Paul Russell]

The dividers you have there look to be the same as mine. The problem with mine is when I'm doing smaller circles on steel, and some brass, they want to twist on me if I put any pressure on them. Also they don't want to stay sharp.
Good luck with them, but I'm wanting some Starrets personally. (here in Aus. they want $150.00 + for 3" Starrets but)
Cheers, Paul.

 

[Beladran]

$150??? Wow I got a 3inch on sale a few years ago for $50

 

[RDP]

Paul, I just Google these, there is a guy on the Sunshine Coast that sell these second hand, they won't take much to clean and dress up, I am getting a set, check his site
http://http://toolexchange.com.au/Callipers.html

Richard.

 

[Sam]

Mine are second hand. Starrett 2", one 3", and one 2" by Consolidated Tool which is my favorite pair a friend gave me.

 

[bblake]

Who, out of interest, is asking $150 for a pair of Starrett dividers? I can't believe they've ever sold a pair. Starrett are not the only game in town either. When I started in jewellery over 20 years ago, we were told to buy German dividers. I have several pairs and Starretts and all are good. Any of the supply houses in Australia sell good German dividers and not for $150 or anything like it. If Starretts are a requirement they are readily available online for around forty bucks delivered.