Tech Tip #56 - Care of Gages
- Clean the part before gaging. Get rid of dirt and chips so the gage is checking product size that is not affected by debris.
- Keep the gage clean and lightly oiled, both in use and storage. Light oil will greatly increase wear life. It also helps to prevent "loading" or "smearing" of product material onto gage threads. There can, of course, be some circumstances or materials where oil is not recommended.
- Align and start threads carefully. Cross-threading can damage end threads of both product and gage.
- Don't force the gage. Use reasonable light pressure only. Use common sense to prevent damage or wear on the gage and to correctly evaluate acceptance or rejection of parts.
- Protect gages from damage, rust, nicks, or jams that could ruin the gage and allow inaccurate results. Furnish some kind of protective box at the workbench. Seal/peel plastic dip on gage threads is recommended when storing the gage.
- Use thread ring gages equally from both faces. Many times ring gages, submitted for reinspection or reconditioning, are found to be worn/tapered only on the stamped side. The ring is designed for use on either face. Alternating gage face use will prolong the wear life.
- Gages must be checked/recalibrated periodically to ensure they are still within proper tolerances and in suitable condition for continued usage.