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Different Types of Gauges 

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Thanks for taking your time to read our article on the different types of gauges that are available on the United Kingdom marketplace. In this detailed article we explain the various gauges available, and what they are used for.

There are a lot more than you would first think, as we found out, when we started doing our research. These are used for a variety of jobs around the home, and are particularly useful for those who are keen on their DIY.

Mainly though these are used by the construction industry, woodworkers and metal workers for accurate measurements.

8 Types of Gauge Tools

Just below you will find a list of the gauge types available. We will then explain each one of these in a lot more detail. We have provided a link in each summary where you can then read even more detail about any specific gauge type.

  1. Depth gauges
  2. Bore gauges
  3. Height gauges
  4. Hole gauges
  5. Thread gauges
  6. Pin gauges
  7. Feeler gauges
  8. Angle Gauges

That is a surprisingly long list, and yet each gauge type does have its own individual purpose as we shall see in the section below.

In this article we will examine all of the gauges that are available, and what they are used for. 

Depth Gauges

depth gauge being used

These are a fairly simple type of gauge that has different uses. One such use is to check the depth of a trench cut by a router. They are also useful for measuring fence backsets.

In the main though they are used along with routers, router tables and saw benches. On these they are used for checking, transferring, setting up, marking, and measuring heights, depths, and backsets.

They also help in setting cutter depth on router tables and low profile for back fence adjustment

Most of them have both metric and imperial measurements. 

Bore Gauge

bore gauge review

A bore gauge is a useful tool that can measure the inside of a bore, or hole. The gauge is inserted into the hole, and then anvils expand outward to calculate the inside diameter size.

A typical bore gauge will have two anvils and the better ones will use 3 anvils. It is made from a shaft with a dial indicator at the top and a measuring sled at the base.

They are used mainly by mechanics or machinists to measure wear in a cylinder head. They also are used by people who inspect or maintain items like injector barrels.

Height Gauges

Height and depth gauges can often be combined together. Many of these include a magnet on the standing feet so as they hold to metallic surfaces.

These are commonly used by woodworkers to help set the height of saw blades. The digital versions are powered by a small battery. These are very precise gauges and clearly designed to measure the heights of objects.

They consist of a sliding carriage with a moving stylus or scribe that is mounted to a vertical axis beam or column that contains a measuring scale.

Hole Gauges

hole gauges

These hole gauges are used with an outside micrometer to measure the inside diameter of bores and holes. We have shown a typical set above which consists of 4-13 mm hole gauges.

They are very similar to bore gauges which we have explained above.

Thread Gauges

thread gauges

Thread gauges are also known as screw gauges or pitch gauges. As those names would suggest they are used to measure the pitch or lead of a screw thread.

They are essentially used as a reference tool that will determine the pitch of the thread on a screw or a tapped hole.

Thread plug gauges are used to check tolerances of threaded parts according to a certain specification.

Pin Gauges

pin gauge set

The main purpose of a pin gauge is to measure and inspect the diameter of small holes.

Most gauge pins used in the industry today are Class Z. These can be either “Plus” or “Minus” pins. Those most commonly used are the Minus pins.

They are tolerant up to -.0002”. Therefore a .9998 gauge pin might be actual size but it is generally referred to as a 1.000” pin (The size shown on the pin).

Feeler Gauges

feeler gauge set

A feeler gauge is a gauge consisting of a number of thin blades for measuring narrow gaps or clearances. Feeler gauges are mostly used in engineering to measure the clearance between two parts.

Many mechanics also use these to check the gap on spark plugs.

They usually come in a set with a number of folding metal strips (also known as blades, or leaves) which are machined to a specified thickness.

Angle Gauges

angle gauges

Angle gauges are used to accurately measure the exact angles on items such as hand rails, all interior or exterior angles, roof pitches, staircase and balustrades, shower and window angles and steel fabrication angles.

They are used in the building construction industry and they come in pocket size models or the higher end professional models.

They come in two different styles known as a level model and a protractor model.

So hopefully, you are now much better informed about the wide range of gauges that are available, and what they are used for. Most home owners would be best advised to buy a palm detail sander as that will do most jobs around the home.

If you plan on doing floors then a belt sander will always be your best option.

Hopefully we have been able to explain what is available, and what they are used for.

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