Bad Starrett Acme Thread Gage No. 284

[Sleazey]

Well, I bought an Acme thread gage from Starrett through MSC.

Unfortunately, it's got a manufacturing defect. Milling of the short side of the 29 degree angle checker is incomplete, leaving a burr that makes this part of the gage useless.

Here is the burr in silhouette:


Here is an angle view to show the incomplete milling of the short side of the angle:


Of course, I could gently file off the burr myself, but I didn't pay the Starrett premium price so I could finish making the tool myself. Besides, that is a critical part of the gage, and I would assume that Starrett's production machinery is more accurate than I am...


Edit: I've already fired off an email to Starrett; we'll see what they do.

[jdleach]

Positively strange. After thirty years in trade, and scads of Starrett tools, that is a first for me to see.

Call MSC and see what they want you to do about it. They may require you to send it back, then ship a replacement, keep it and send a replacement anyway (knowing MSC, you have a greater chance of being hit by a comet, either the car or the celestial body), or have you call Starrett to resolve the issue.

Regardless of the course available, I would not NOT fix it myself. You can no doubt repair the defect correctly, but that is not what you paid Starrett for.

As an aside, and giving Starrett the benefit of the doubt, you may wish to call them anyway as a courtesy to let them know something is rotten in QA.

[jdleach]

Duh... Didn't see that you had emailed the company. I think I would phone them tomorrow anyway.

[tattoomike68]

Yea make them take it back, thats the type of crap you get at a budget tool sale.

[oldtiffie]

That's a relief.

So, in the absence of any advice that I've seen to the contrary, I guess that the overwhelming consensus of opinion if that it was made BY Starrett IN the USA and NOT in CHINA .

Whew-ee!!! I'd bet the Chinese ARE relieved about that!!!

[jdleach]

I will say this about Starrett though, their quality has really gone down hill since I started in the trade.

One of the latest example of severe cost cutting taken by the company is the use of two six inch racks to make the rack for their 12" dial verniers. I almost had a s**t hemhorrage when I looked closely at my new 12 incher I bought a couple of years ago and saw the fine separation line dividing the two gear segments.

Christ, my bang-around Chinese 12" dial vernier at least has a single piece rack.

[psomero]

call MSC and they'll take care of you. i've had to return stuff in the past and they weren't bad to deal with...

[lazlo]

So, in the absence of any advice that I've seen to the contrary, I guess that the overwhelming consensus of opinion if that it was made BY Starrett IN the USA and NOT in CHINA .

Whew-ee!!! I'd bet the Chinese ARE relieved about that!!!

Tiff, many of the Starrett hand tools are now made in China. Something simple like a fishtail has a high probability of being outsourced.

Sleazy: a fellow on PM posted about a bum Starrett center finder (also made in China) that should never have passed QC. Starrett immediately shipped him a replacement.

[lynnl]

You know, seeing a flaw like that would make me suspicious of the accuracy of some of the other machined surfaces. i.e. maybe the gage was not properly registered in the workholding jig (or fixture) when it was being cut.

[andy_b]

So, in the absence of any advice that I've seen to the contrary, I guess that the overwhelming consensus of opinion if that it was made BY Starrett IN the USA and NOT in CHINA .

Whew-ee!!! I'd bet the Chinese ARE relieved about that!!!

as Lazlo stated, that probably WAS made in China. and here i thought the Chinese were capable of building to whatever quality standard you asked for. i guess Starrett didn't ask nice enough.

andy b.

[gnm109]

It's disheartening. I always thought that names like Starrett, Lufkin, Brown and Sharp, etc. were the best.

This is not the only company in modern times that is trading on a name with inferior goods.

[lynnl]

Regardless of the brand name, there's always going to be some defects get through. 100% QC should prevent that, but I doubt tools like that are 100% QC'd.
Heart pacemakers maybe (hopefully), but not a tool like that.

[lazlo]

It's disheartening. I always thought that names like Starrett, Lufkin, Brown and Sharp, etc. were the best.

Look at it from Starrett's perspective: Lufkin went out of business decades ago, and Brown & Sharpe was sold off years ago to a Swedish tool conglomerate, who also outsources to China.

So you can either try to tough it out, and hope people are willing to pay a premium for high quality tools, or you can jump on the bandwagon, and outsource yourself.

Just about everyone except Hermann-Schmidt has chosen the latter.

[S_J_H]

Well it's a simple goof. I probably would not have had an issue with the left over "pip", but I do "get it". I just don't sweat the small things anymore though.

It is interesting that the machined surface in question looks to be machined after the part was surface treated.

I'm guessing this was a "batch goofup" and they tried to fix them instead of scrapping the lot.

If so, they should have just scrapped them.

Steve

[Sleazey]

MSC will issue refund

Contacted MSC by phone this morning. They issued me an RMA and return shipping will be at their expense. Once they get the bad item, they will issue a credit to Amazon, who will issue a credit to me (since I purchased thru Amazon).

Then I can reorder the gage again.

No reply yet from Starrett; I attempted to call, but it's their lunch hour.

Further bulletins as warranted.

Edit: Got an email from Starrett. They are asking me to send it to their warranty department (no mention of paying for shipment/postage). It's under their one year warranty, so I need to include proof of purchase.