Next Stupid Question

[boslab]

I have a stadler clutch pencil with a 2.4 mm tungsten in it, works and retracts one end 30 degree and the other half grind to do tight to a rule, ( a flat half dia)
I had a starret bought in USA but no spin, gripped tight, I put a tungsten in it too
mark

[ChazzC]

The only stupid question is the one that doesn't get asked.

[Mcgyver]

Hey, it is a lot better for them to ask questions instead of just mucking it up and then you need to correct it.

Agree. Despite the comic (I like that type of humour) at work its 100% "there are no stupid questions". A question is so much easier to address than rework on some 10,000 lb fabrication. The point of the phrase is to drill into people "ask the question". What you are trying to overcome is the ego's (sense of self) need to to protect itself, as questions carry some risk. Amazing that the psychology to protect itself from seem a tad foolish from a question can override the possibility of looking really foolish screwing up a job.

[Paul Alciatore]

Hey, it is a lot better for them to ask questions instead of just mucking it up and then you need to correct it.

In my working years I have had people ask me questions that were very basic and simple. I, in my infinite wisdom (ha, ha) may have considered them less than intelligent. But I did answer them. And often I discovered that there were things involved that did not immediately come to my mind. But they were troubled by them.

I always made it a point not to belittle anyone when they asked questions. So, YES, there are no stupid questions.

People who think there are no stupid questions haven't met my apprentice. Nice kid, but goddamn...

On a side note, I recently had occasion to have to talk to one of my apes again. That was fun. He's been on a TI (Tenant Improvement) crew for the last three years. He's been with Local 31 for the last four or five years, and he's the guy on the crew who takes over if the foreman is not available for any reason.

He made my day when he said he has an apprentice who asks the stupidest questions.

[Jammer Six]

People who think there are no stupid questions haven't met my apprentice. Nice kid, but goddamn...

On a side note, I recently had occasion to have to talk to one of my apes again. That was fun. He's been on a TI (Tenant Improvement) crew for the last three years. He's been with Local 31 for the last four or five years, and he's the guy on the crew who takes over if the foreman is not available for any reason.

He made my day when he said he has an apprentice who asks the stupidest questions.

[Peter S]

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

But the thread title? That's not great.... would be locked on 'other' forums .

[old mart]

Dead right, unfortunately there are plenty of stupid people who don't ask because they think they know the answers.

[Mcgyver]

First of all? No Stupid questions Man.

.......

[Peter S]

I had a look at my identical Starrett scriber, probably 20-odd years old, made in Great Britain (Jedburgh, Scotland). It is just as Jammer Six describes - the collet will turn inside the handle. I don't think it should. The collet can be pushed back into the handle about 3-4mm. The 'chuck' can be almost fully tightened, but then the collet will turn inside the handle before it locks.

If I pull the collet outwards from the handle, hard, that gives it a firmer fit inside the handle. The chuck can then be tightened up fully and the scriber is locked and no longer turns inside the handle. Hard to believe they intended that. They must have been turning out the same poor design for decades.

I haven't used it much, if ever. Too nice. Most of my scribing has been on hot rolled steel which ruins sharp points quickly.

Years ago we bought a box of 4"/100mm "Ramset" brand concrete nails, the type which get shot into place. They have an orange plastic cover on the sharp end, a fairly large head and are hard. No problem to have a few of them, different grinds, different toolboxes, great scribers.

I have another Starrett scriber which I bought in the late 1970's, a double-ended type with one pointed end bent 90 degrees. I never did figure out how to sharpen the bent end nicely, it turns into a bit of a useless stub after a few years. I guess you are supposed to buy a new one.

Old mart,

I'm not sure what you mean. The scriber will only fit into the handle as far as the parallel portion. Although the scriber can be reversed and fitted fully into the handle, when it is taken out, reversed and used as a scriber, it will not go into the handle past the parallel portion. A nice design touch I guess.

[old mart]

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

[Jammer Six]

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

This was it! Thank you!

[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?

[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.

[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

[old mart]

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