Dividers

[Peter Tremblay]

Hello all,

Recently I have seen some IG posts by my buddy Raney Daed over at Daed Toolworks and then an older blog post from Lost Art Press/Crucible Tools about their dividers.

https://www.daedtoolworks.com/shop/impro...-dividers/

https://blog.lostartpress.com/2017/08/18...and-totem/

My question, am I missing something?

I have a few pairs of old dividers and one new set of Lee Valley dividers which all of the threaded adjustment gismo

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/too...y-dividers

I like fine tools but it had never crossed my mind to save my pennies for a set of top-of-the-line dividers.  It had also never crossed my mind to get a set of dividers without the threaded fine-adjustment feature.

What am I missing out on?

[stav]

It will fit in your shirt pocket without getting stuck on the threaded adjuster...

Other than that, I don't know.

[Philip1231]

I don't think you are missing anything. There are a number of boutique toolmakers that make exceptional examples of various ww tools. In this case, I use Starrett as the benchmark tool. I don't think the Crucible can do anything that the Starrett can't. Given its price, you will probably be the only guy on your block that has one, so there are bragging rights. I am sure it is a top notch, well made piece of tooling, and some will see the value in it, just as some see the value in a $500 DT saw or a $5000 jointer/planer. If you are looking for a purely functional tool, there are great deals to be had on used Starrett dividers on ebay every day. Having said all that, I like to see these boutique toolmakers succeed, so by all means, if you are feeling flush, buy one!

Hello all,

Recently I have seen some IG posts by my buddy Raney Daed over at Daed Toolworks and then an older blog post from Lost Art Press/Crucible Tools about their dividers.

https://www.daedtoolworks.com/shop/impro...-dividers/

https://blog.lostartpress.com/2017/08/18...and-totem/

My question, am I missing something?

I have a few pairs of old dividers and one new set of Lee Valley dividers which all of the threaded adjustment gismo

https://www.leevalley.com/en-us/shop/too...y-dividers

I like fine tools but it had never crossed my mind to save my pennies for a set of top-of-the-line dividers.  It had also never crossed my mind to get a set of dividers without the threaded fine-adjustment feature.

What am I missing out on?

[Bill_Houghton]

There are lots of folks, in my judgment, who confuse classic design with The Only Right Design.  Firm joint calipers are not the greatest, because you just never know when you've accidentally changed the setting.  Coincidentally, I'm reading through my old (reprints of) "Popular Mechanics Shopnotes," and they present a design that clamps over the joint and allows you to lock the setting.

If you really want to go first cabin on dividers, get a pair of the Starrett 85 series calipers/dividers.  The setting locks rock solid, and you can interchange different legs (inside/outside calipers or divider legs) or a pencil. The 92 series is similar, but just one leg is "loose" (replaceable), so they're just dividers or a pencil compass, depending on what you put in the space on that leg. Starrett has dropped the No. 92 series, but still makes the No. 85 series.

But regular screw-adjust dividers or wing dividers will serve you just fine. In my opinion, for wooddorking, wing dividers are slightly better, because they're faster to set; but only slightly.

[Joe Bailey]

It will fit in your shirt pocket without getting stuck on the threaded adjuster...

Other than that, I don't know.

In your shirt pocket?
Probably a bad idea, regardless of how you orient them.

[Handplanesandmore]

Boutique tools appeal to a following. Once you've created a social media following, you can sell anything including, but not limited to, garments that make you look like a machinist rather than a woodworker.

 
Simon

[Peter Tremblay]

I like to see these boutique toolmakers succeed, so by all means, if you are feeling flush, buy one!

I agree with everything that you said and that was kind of where I was coming from.

I also love to see boutique toolmakers flourish.  I consider Raney a friend so I wish him all the success in the world.  But given my limited resources I don't think I'll be picking up one of his dividers.  But I sure hope others do 

[tablesawtom]

$185 for a low carbon steel divider. It is not worth my time commenting. 

Tom

[bandit571]

Left in the dark?  

   
Maybe a little better light, will help?

   
My modest collection....I tend to keep a lookout during the Rust Hunts....

YMMV...

[Hank Knight]

There is a problem-solving principle called Occam's Razor. It says that given multiple possible solutions to a problem, the simplest solution is probably correct. Dividers are simple tools. Best to keep them simple.