Oh, one thing I forgot to include in the above post, in reguards to point 2 above. A good digital caliper, is my right hand in all this. I'm using this thing all the time, so get yourself a good one. To be able to zero it out, anywhere on it for example or for inside measurments or depth with the little wire that sticks out the end. I find that at times, I'm using it as a quick calculator even, adding or subtracting amounts, by this function.

Say you're making a part to .750 inch. Slide the rule to exactly that amount, then zero it there. Now when you measure your part, and it reads for example, the above talked about .068, that tells me at a glance my part is .068 over my target of .750, so I can know how much to turn the dials, to take that amount off.

That's much faster, than just leaving the rule zero'd when closed, and you then measure the part and it's .818, and I'm having to do the math in my head about what I have to take off, to get down to .750 inch.

Any way to minimize strain on the brain cells is a good thing.

Lance