Tool Talk
Wrench Forum => Wrench Forum => Topic started by: coolford on December 16, 2019, 03:35:11 PM
-
The items were in a box lot along with an estwing hammer, stanley awls, brass hinges etc. From the top, Snap-on ratchet 71-M, Starrett level 98-8 included box and Stanley level 36G dirty but good, all as found. Auction was cold, but still a lot of guys there but they were more interested in the mechanics tools.
-
Nice stuff and a great price,does the Starrett level have a groove in the base?
-
Yes, the Starrett level has the groove in the base.
-
I'll give you $12 for the two levels and throw in shipping. You can double your investment and get all the other tools in that box lot for free!
-
I wouldn't bother with lottery tickets because you have burned all your luck already. Those are precise machinist levels used for setting up machinery.
-
And as luck would have it, I didn't even have that Snap-on ratchet in my collection.
-
Hello, Coolford. Sounds like you had a great day!! Regards, Lou
-
Those are precise machinist levels used for setting up machinery.
Is the Stanley 36 series level a machinist level? Stanley was rather vague in its catalog about the rating for the levels, and I always assumed they were high-grade carpenter's levels, since Stanley offered a series (34 series) of levels similar to the pictured Starrett level.
-
I think Stanley might have called them that. I don't trust my memory anymore. Starrett might have made one as well. I've never used one. And every time I've seen one at the fleamarket , they have wanted more than I was willing to pay. So I've never got to play with one. I've used machinist levels, but that's different. Mine is Moore&Wright.
-
Stanley made a model 36 and a 36G the G version had the grooved bottom and was referred to as a shaft or shafting level. the 36 models were made from 1898 to 1977. They made a 6,9,12,18 and 24" version. This info is from John Walters great book on Stanley tools ( page 276 if you happen to have a copy ). I still have several of the Starrett shaft levels left over from when I was in working. Starretts version was offered is several different lengths and with varying degrees of accuratecy. I never worked with a Stanley version of a shaft level and Walters does not talk about accuratcey in his book. I know Sttarret made one version that was almost too accurate for some jobs, the increments were in 1 thou graduations and for most machinery installations in sawmills pulp mills and mines this degree of accuratecy was not required. The popular ones we used were 3 or 5 thou per graduation.
-
Those Sttarret ones are highly sought after. Better lock it in a safe. Very expensive both new and used as anything Sttarret. I have a Sttarret 5/8 drive ratchet with a patent date over 100 years old. It uses stamped steel sockets.
EvilDr235
-
Those are precise machinist levels used for setting up machinery.
Is the Stanley 36 series level a machinist level? Stanley was rather vague in its catalog about the rating for the levels, and I always assumed they were high-grade carpenter's levels, since Stanley offered a series (34 series) of levels similar to the pictured Starrett level.
In the 1958 Stanley catalog the "34v" is listed as a machinist level and is nickel plated. And yes it is similar in shape
as the Starrett "98-8 in the Pic from coolford.
The "36" (smooth bottom) and the "36g" (grooved bottom) is listed as a Japanned iron plumbs and levels.
Recommended for carpenters, plumbers, millwrights, electricians, etc. And the "37g" is the same as the"36g"
but it is nickel plated.
One difference I see other than the shape is the "34" series uses "ground glass" and all the other levels use "proved glass" vials.
I have a 24 inch "36g" and one thing I know is, it is not very practical to use for finish carpentry or plumbing and I have
done both in high end construction.
-
Sorry gibsontool I did not intend to repeat what you wrote. I am slow.
A shaft level or use for machinery leveling would be very practical for the "36g".
-
One of these days I'll dig out the shaft levels I have and take some pictures. If anybody is interested in a trade or a purchase let me know and that may get me moving a little faster.
-
So I did see millwright. Millwrights do precision machine set ups. In my day, we used optical levels. They could be read to a thou, but light bends, so they weren't that accurate. Now they use lasers, they don't bend.
-
They could be read to a thou, but light bends, so they weren't that accurate. Now they use lasers, they don't bend.
Light bends, yes*, but normally only around strong gravitational fields. Were you doing work near the Sun?
------
*Or, according to one interpretation of the General Theory of Relativity, space bends near strong gravitational fields, and the light follows the curvature of space in that area.
-
Heat waves easily bend light, just ask someone who shoots Farky class in the afternoon. :grin: