Hot take: I used to think those cheap magnetic indicator holders were junk until one saved a job.

We had a tight bore on a lathe part and the Noga arm wouldn't fit. Grabbed a $15 holder from the discount bin, and it held a tenth for the whole run. What's your backup tool when the good stuff won't fit?

4 comments

4 Comments

jackson.faith2mo ago

Honestly, that cheap holder probably worked because it was simple. No fancy joints or springs to get sloppy. Sometimes the basic stuff is just more rigid in a tight spot. I keep an old swivel base clamp for those weird setups where my good indicator stand is too bulky. It's ugly but it gets the job done when nothing else will.

miles_burns2mo ago

My good stuff looks great on the bench, but my go-to is this beat up magnetic base with a bent arm. Looks like it survived a war, but it holds zero in spots where the nice one just wobbles and complains. Guess the lesson is to never judge a tool by its paint job... or lack thereof.

the_tyler2mo ago

Yeah, my ugliest clamp is the one I always grab when the fancy stuff won't fit right.

spencer_owens581mo ago

But my good stuff always works, so maybe miles_burns just needs to adjust his nice gear better.