Is there such a thing as a cost effective straight edge for measuring block / head surface? Rather than spending $100 + ?
gpg58,
Aug 25, 6:50am
As i recall i was told long ago, a piece of thick glass, is about as flat a thing as you will find, for checking a head.(never used one though)
gunhand,
Aug 25, 7:02am
1m engineers ruler? steel one.
tamarillo,
Aug 25, 7:03am
I thought all glass nowadays is float glass so isn’t made to a spec that’s says it is perfectly flat for this sort of job. Guess it’s down to how precisely flat it needs to be.
desmodave,
Aug 25, 5:58pm
Float glass is a sheet of glass made by floating molten glass on a bed of molten metal, typically tin, although lead and other various low-melting-point alloys were used in the past. This method gives the sheet uniform thickness and very flat surfaces. Modern windows are made from float glass. It may be flat but its amazing how much it can bend to install in a modern Faber type hot house .Handy to use for sanding a metal surface flat on , I think i would prefer a proper metal straight edge .
pdc1,
Aug 25, 6:08pm
I would say you will find many things around your home that will do the job. Just remember if you turn the chosen object upside down and remeasure, if it is not straight there will be a difference in measurements, so you will know that you need to find something else.
richardmayes,
Aug 25, 6:22pm
I wouldn't assume a piece of glass is straight or flat at all. Can have all sorts of dips and depressions in it.
tony9,
Aug 25, 6:45pm
Yes, works for me. But use it both ways.
intrade,
Aug 25, 6:47pm
renting one would be a option.
sr2,
Aug 25, 6:49pm
Would love to hear some examples?
toyboy3,
Aug 25, 7:10pm
Money is flat that is why one can stack it , others have told me that it’s round to go round
intrade,
Aug 25, 7:40pm
only cheap item that could sortof work is a insert blade of a stanley knives edge.
apollo11,
Aug 25, 7:51pm
I've used sandpaper spray glued a large offcut of stone kitchen bench to good effect.
supernova2,
Aug 25, 10:01pm
cast iron spirit level works for me blade from a thicknesser might do it
sr2,
Aug 26, 5:51am
All good, I suppose it depends on your standards. For 0-10 thou over the length of a cylinder head I'm sticking to my engineers straight edge.
pdc1,
Aug 29, 6:49pm
Yeah you maybe right, but why pick on me? Im not so certain that many people will have thick pieces of glass lying around their homes either. Just a quick check down in my shed, I found two spirit levels, back to back that I can't get a 2 thou feeler gauge between, a metre steel rule, a large builders steel square (not a cheap one), and I have a six cylinder block laying on the bench that has been recently bored and decked, without thinking of anything else, although I suspect if I checked my rack of some heavy aluminium extrusion cuts, I may find something there as well.
john1623,
Aug 30, 3:14am
Back edge of a hand saw.
sr2,
Nov 29, 11:51am
Not picking on you mate.
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