Where to purchase a center-line scribe?

C

CaptainFill

Joined
Mar 30, 2015
Messages
58
Hello. I've been looking for something to scribe the very center of my steel stock however I cannot seem to find anything. Perhaps I just don't know the actual name of one.

Thanks!
 
I just saw a youtube video with a cool trick for this.
He took a drill bit that was the same diameter as his steel (i.e. 1/8") and laid both on a flat surface. He used the tip of the bit to mark his centerline.
 
You can get small, handheld scribes but some of them can be surprisingly expensive. You can make your own by using drill bits in the same diameter or thickness as your steel stock. Some folks use scrap bits of their knife steel, hardened and sharpened, for a center scribe. I tried all that but now I mostly use a height gauge from Grizzly. I can use it for more than scribing but it works very well for that. Plus, it is inexpensive.


http://www.grizzly.com/products/Dial-Height-Gauge-6-/G9618
 
Thanks for the link to the grizzly dial gauge. I think that looks great. I do like the drill bit idea however because I am using non-precision ground stock I think it could lead to minor discrepancies. Also because I might want to scribe slightly off-center to find where I need to grind to before putting the edge on, having something adjustable will be ideal.
 
Height Gauge for the win. Nick Wheeler took it a step further in showing how to clamp on the ricasso after it is square to allow you to use the height gauge to get your center line perfect. Get your ricasso square and build off of that. I believe this method is in his Custom Camp Chopper WIP.
 
I use a digital caliper. I'd like to get a nice slab of granite and a center scribe eventually but, the caliper works surprisingly well. Paid $15 for it.
 
colu41 said:
I use a digital caliper. I'd like to get a nice slab of granite and a center scribe eventually but, the caliper works surprisingly well. Paid $15 for it.
Click to expand...


I think I have seen this suggestion before but how do you get the actual scribe line? Is there a caliper with a carbide tip?
 
colu41 said:
I use a digital caliper. I'd like to get a nice slab of granite and a center scribe eventually but, the caliper works surprisingly well. Paid $15 for it.
Click to expand...

Subscribe to ENCO discount coupons

25% off and frees shipping make a granite pretty cheap;
 
eyeeatingfish said:
I think I have seen this suggestion before but how do you get the actual scribe line? Is there a caliper with a carbide tip?
Click to expand...

Honestly I dont know!? lol. The caliper I have, which I think most are like this, the main measure clamps come to a very sharp point. They scribe perfect lines as long as you profile the cutting edge to at least 220 grit. It slides and scribes smooth.
Now that I think of it aren't calipers hardened steel? I'm not sure but, I thought I remember reading something like that on the box. Anyways, I've made a little over 40 blades since I started using it and its still working great.
 
Calipers are typically hardened steel. However, they don't stay sharp forever using them that way. A height gauge would be a wiser choice in combination with a flat surface (preferably a granite top). You can sharpen the carbide scribe on the height gauge easily enough after it starts to wear down. Not so much with your calipers.
 
I've used drill bits for years. Clamp them to the bench top and run your blank around it. If you want a slightly off center scribe simply use a smaller or larger diameter bit and flip the blank over to add dual offset scribe lines.

Good luck
 
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