Need to borrow a Rotacator indicator

[toolferone]

I am looking to borrow a Rotacator indicator to set the knives and rollers on a 20" Grizzly planner I am selling. I live in Raleigh and travel in NC, SC, & VA for work. Does anyone have one available to borrow?

 

[Mike Davis]

Does it have to be that particular indicator?
I have the Oneway Multi gauge you can borrow.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/281835617438?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=281835617438&targetid=4580702898799801&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=83791&poi=&campaignid=606298300&mkgroupid=1233653404866104&rlsatarget=pla-4580702898799801&abcId=10641797&merchantid=51291&msclkid=9c43b92a48c5181331edd34d733f54b4

 

[toolferone]

Does it have to be that particular indicator?
I have the Oneway Multi gauge you can borrow.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/281835617438?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-213727-13078-0&mkcid=2&itemid=281835617438&targetid=4580702898799801&device=c&mktype=&googleloc=83791&poi=&campaignid=606298300&mkgroupid=1233653404866104&rlsatarget=pla-4580702898799801&abcId=10641797&merchantid=51291&msclkid=9c43b92a48c5181331edd34d733f54b4

Mike. Will it work upside down? How much room from the plunger on the top of the gauge before it would hit the bottom of the planer?

 

[Mike Davis]

Mike. Will it work upside down? How much room from the plunger on the top of the gauge before it would hit the bottom of the planer?

Yes it works upside down. I'll go measure.

It's about 5 inches high.

 

[pop-pop]

Tom, this plane setting thingy might work as soon as I replace its coin battery. The plunger is a disc about 1/4” dia. I’m in North Hills maybe 6-7 miles from you.

Edit: Forgot to mention that there is a magnet in each leg which should help with the upside down req’t.

 

[Rwe2156]

I can't lend you my Rotacator, but for 20+ years I've set the blades on my 20" Grizzly using a dial indicator. I set 2 magnetic stops to register the indicator.

What a tedious job!! I shoot for a .002" tolerance.

Probably why I've only replaced the blades 5 or 6 times in 20 years....................

 

[Mike Davis]

Which reminds me, I have a set of 123 blocks that can hold the indicator. Adjust them to needed height.

 

[toolferone]

So I ordered some replacement tips for my dial indicator and I’m going to 3-D print a base this weekend and see if that’ll do what I need. Unfortunately, it’s not just the blades, the in feed rollers are out of whack too so, it’s gonna be quite the job.

 

[Mike Davis]

My fine Starrett Tru-test indicator got damaged years ago and I never replaced it.
I don't need that industrial quality now so I got a cheap one that should be fine for the work I do.
Always good to know if things are as they should be.