Old combination gauges – Worth repairing?

Paul,

I purchased a few combination gauges using eBay. The pins are severely worn…almost gone. I have asked around and no one knows the proper method for replacing the pins. Most folks I have checked with suggest I just throw the tools out and get new ones. I am interested in your insight.

Thank you, sir.

Answer:

Don't listen to them. They don't know anything, obviously. Of course gauges are cheaper now than they have ever been, but the quality is often not as good. Usually you can buy a hand-made top quality gauge from a century past made from old growth rosewood for very little and, yes, often the pins are down to the nubs. The hard part can be to get rid of the old pin because there is nothing to hold onto. In that case you can file or abrade them flush, re-drill a new hole and then install new pins. One pin is fixed , so you must unscrew the retaining screw, withdraw the T bar and drill a new hole. I use 1/16" piano wire for my pins. You can buy this online or from a modeller's shop. It is not expensive. Drill a new hole next to the old one. the hole should be fractionally undersized but as close as you can get it to the piano wire diameter without matching it. Cut the pin to the length you want. If you want a conical point, chuck the rod in the electric drill and rotate it onto some abrasive until it is the shape you want. Put the T bar onto something solid and drive it through the T bar to the protruding length you want. This may bulge the sides of the T bar. If it does, just file it straight. Do the same to the sliding T bar and you have a new gauge. It is about 15 minutes work.