Sorby sizing tool

[Jacob]

Anybody rate the Sorby sizing tool?
Just had a go with one - it seems useless. You can only use it to "size" a spindle with the tool touching at 90º and scraping - which with a parting chisel leaves a rough surface and it also loses it's edge fast.
Back to plan A - get close with a gouge and finish with a spanner with one edge sharpened.

 

[Doug B]

You should have asked first :lol: I just use an old pair to of spring callipers, I'm surprised you haven't got a pair

 

[Jacob]

I have.
I just thought a special tool would do it better. Been conned again by tool dealers!

 

[CHJ]

Finish to size with rubbing bevel parting tool, use a cheap short* vernier calliper with nose points rounded so that they don't dig in and catch to slide over spigot when to size.

Cheap and nasty callipers are best that don't have knife edge jaws, laws say that the knife edge version will be facing wrong way when you need to get access on short spigots, ability to lock size is almost essential as rotation spigot vibration will move loose slides.

* long versions get in the way of easy access.

Screw adjusted spring backed callipers are good but not as convenient to set up if you are matching a corresponding bore.

 

[Jacob]

Thanks for that.
The round nosed vernier calliper looks a goodun. Hadn't thought of that.

So basically it's a no for the Sorby sizing tool! Ebay here it comes!

 

[Robbo3]

One of our club members swears by it & uses it with a bedan for production runs.
I asked him why he didn't use a spanner or spanners ground with a cutting edge & he gave a reasonable answer but I can't remember what it was.

 

[duncanh]

I got one in a job lot of second hand tools. Used it 2 or 3 times and came to the same conclusion as you - tool is at 90 degrees and leaves a rough finish. Haven't used it in years

 

[Jacob]

Have a ordered a bedan, from ebay not this chap; http://www.lavieenbois.com/html/bedane_eng.htm
Looks a better option than a parting tool.
It won't fit the Sorby gadget - it has an odd sized slot - probably to induce you to buy their purpose sized tool to match

 

[Phil Pascoe]

Most of the tenons I need are fairly small, so I keep a set of Lidl open end spanners hanging by the lathe - they are manufactured to DIN standard and are only very slightly over size, which for wood is the side to err on. You can buy 200mm x 6mm, 8mm, 10mm, 12mm HSS square bar from evilbay quite cheaply if you wanted to make your own.

 

[Jacob]

Have a ordered a bedan, from ebay not this chap; http://www.lavieenbois.com/html/bedane_eng.htm
Looks a better option than a parting tool.
It won't fit the Sorby gadget - it has an odd sized slot - probably to induce you to buy their purpose sized tool to match

No it doesn't fit. It's a very average tool of typical width - 3/8".
But I haven't given up on the irritating Sorby daft gadget - a bit of modification pending.
I think it will work if the end of the gadget is above the line of the face of the chisel (and edge, it being a "bedan") otherwise it gets in the way. Then to just use it as a built in measure - not actually attempting to cut and measure at the same time but more like having your calliper attached to the chisel for convenience.

 

[matt_southward]

I wondered about the Sorby tool too - but after comments here, might give it a miss. One thing I do fancy though is the Galbert caliper:
http://www.petergalbertchairmaker.com/g ... iper.html#
which gives a live reading of sizing whatever you are cutting it with. Anyone seen one of these over here in the UK?