Next Stupid Question

[Jammer Six]

Okay, here's a question anyone can probably answer. Unless you're a carpenter.

I bought a scribe, a Starrett 70A:

https://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=1824

The tip doesn't seem to tighten up: it goes so far, then it starts spinning. Is the scribe supposed to spin?

I may go back to simple, solid scribe. Or better yet, a carpenter's pencil.

[RB211]

Okay, here's a question anyone can probably answer. Unless you're a carpenter.

I bought a scribe, a Starrett 70A:

https://littlemachineshop.com/products/product_view.php?ProductID=1824

The tip doesn't seem to tighten up: it goes so far, then it starts spinning. Is the scribe supposed to spin?

I may go back to simple, solid scribe. Or better yet, a carpenter's pencil.

That looks like a Chinese knockoff. If it's a collet closer, it shouldn't spin. If it's designed to spin, then it's supposed to spin. I know, zero help.

[JRouche]

Okay, here's a question

First of all? No Stupid questions Man. Stupid is the one that does not ask,..

That scribe? I also have one, it spins also. It is supposed to. JR


P.S. I dont know. When I use the cheap azzed scribe like what you showed I can scribe a bitchen mark around an odd shape. Really odd casting/ JR

[Doc Nickel]

I have a real Starrett one, and no, the tip is not supposed to move or spin.

Doc.

[welderskelter]

The ad says it is held firmly in the chuck. What more do you want to know? Spinning is not held firmly . Chinese junk.

[eKretz]

I've got a couple of those Starrett scribers. When the nose collet is tightened they do not spin, they are tight. Mine are pretty old though.

[JoeLee]

The ad says it is held firmly in the chuck. What more do you want to know? Spinning is not held firmly . Chinese junk.

I guess so !

I have two of them, one is pretty old and the other not quite as old. Probably 20 years difference between the two and points don't spin on either.

You got a chinese knock off.

JL...............

[Jammer Six]

Well, if it's junk, it's American Starrett junk.

https://www.starrett.com/metrology/product-detail/70A

I should clarify, the point doesn't spin in the collet, the collet spins with the point in it.

Since at least one of you has seen this, I conclude that it's supposed to do that. I just don't see why.

[eKretz]

I don't expect that it's supposed to do that... The ad copy says "the scriber is held firmly in the handle" - which I would not consider a loose spinning point to be...

Why not just get the info straight from the horse's mouth and ask Starrett?

[old mart]

The collet can only tighten on the parallel portion of the tip.

[Mr Fixit]

If you look at the image on the Starrett site you can see the barrel has STARRETT on it close to the top. Does the one you own have this? The picture on the Little Machine Shop does not show that. this could be the indication of a knockoff.

I have 2 of the Starrett scribes and both do not move anywhere on the barrel except the nut for the scribe collet.

TX
Mr fixit for the family
Chris

[nickel-city-fab]

I got some Starrett center punches a while back because they are beautifully made. I like to joke that they make me more accurate. I don't think the scribes are supposed to rotate. I never bother to store the tip, leaving it out all the time -- so I put the scribe together with red loctite.

[Paul Alciatore]

Exactly. Call or use their web site to ask.

I find it highly unlikely that a well established company like Little Machine Shop would publish a false description of a product they are selling. And they do say "Starrett".

I have a very, very similar scribe that is labeled "Craftsman". I had to look to be sure it was not the Starrett. It also has the reverse position for storage of the tip: that is just how similar it is. Knowing that Craftsman and Sears almost never made any of the products they sold, I would even guess it may have been made by Starrett. And the tip does not rotate. Nor does the collet, which may be a separate part from the handle that appears to be pressed in - a permanent, force fit.

I suspect that your scribe may be a defective one that got past Starrett's QC. You could look for things like a bit of swarf or a burr that prevents the collet from fully closing. Perhaps the tip is just loose enough to rotate, but close enough to tight so that a loose collet could jam against the closure nut when you pull on it, preventing it from pulling out. Either way, Little Machine Shop should provide a replacement.

...<snip>...

Why not just get the info straight from the horse's mouth and ask Starrett?

[Jammer Six]

The collet can only tighten on the parallel portion of the tip.

This was it! Thank you!

[old mart]

Glad to be of assistance, I get a lot of help myself on the forum.