Small bore gauges

I'm looking to get myself a small bore gauge set .What would you recommend ,the ball type or the flange type .

Sean

Sean ive got a 4 piece ball type set and find the two bigger ones that go from about 5mm to 13mm are pretty easy to get the right feel and the measured size with a mic is within about 0.01mm when compared with using a precision plug gauge ,so I use these a lot ,but the two smaller ones that do 3 to 6 mm are a bit more tricky to get the feel of because they spring a bit and getting a definitive mic reading is more difficult so I would still rely on plug gauges to err gauge the exact size of a sub 5mm hole, but as they are relatively cheap I think they are well worth getting.

regards Geoff

Edited By Kettrinboy on 25/11/2018 09:16:43

Sean - These are what I use. The Moore £ Wright gauges in the brown envelope are what I use most. Given the choice though I would use a go - no go plug gauge every time for final sizing (if I had some!).

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Rik

Edited By Rik Shaw on 25/11/2018 11:04:13

Edited By Rik Shaw on 25/11/2018 11:05:38

Ball gauges under half inch. T gauges over half inch. Get the good quality ball gauges because they have better "feel" due to being better made with a more full ball shape. Some of the cheapies have a sort of half-ball which works OK but not as nice for fine measuring.

Endorse Hopper's comments.....
Some years ago Model Engineer offered a free set of those depicted in the blue plastic wallet above with an annual subscription. They were really rough, no precise feel to them ~ donated to the m.e society's next auction.
Definately recommend making go-no-go gauges to use when bore and gauge at same temperature !