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Where can I buy calipers?

Ganesh

09:25 / 03.12.02

Y'know, the slightly old-fashioned measuring instrument that looks vaguely like a pair of compasses? I need one that'll measure accurately to a tenth of a millimetre, and have very little idea how to go about finding it.

Any ideas?

Shortfatdyke

09:26 / 03.12.02

"I need one that'll measure accurately to a tenth of a millimetre"

You are soooo setting yourself up here....

Ganesh

09:30 / 03.12.02

Hehehehh. Actually, it's for measuring transsexuals' fingers...

bio k9

09:37 / 03.12.02

I have two at work. Well, had. One is the compass style (that only two of us actually know how to use) and the other was a plastic digital job (that was slightly less acurate). The digital one has mysteriously vanished. Depending on what you need it for, you might want to see if you can find a plastic digital one because it should be a lot cheaper.

Ganesh

09:46 / 03.12.02

It's for a research project I'm involved in, on one of the weirder findings from previous 'biological basis of sexuality' studies. Don't have the papers immediately to hand but, in brief summary, gay men have been found to differ from straight men with regard to finger-length ratios - no-one has any idea why. We're interested in determining whether, as with birth order studies, transsexual people show the same finding.

So... it basically involves photocopying the hands of several hundred transpeople and measuring, as accurately as possible, their respective finger-lengths. I guess I'd trust the old mechanical calipers more than the digital thingy, but as yet I've really no idea what's gonna be the best instrument for the job.

Any ideas where I'd buy calipers? Some sort of art/architectural/technical drawing supply place?

Lilith Myth

09:57 / 03.12.02

I just did a google search; no idea if this is what you're really looking for:
http://www.toolsnextday.ltd.uk/vernierclp/vernier-caliper.htm

bio k9

10:04 / 03.12.02

Any ideas where I'd buy calipers?

Well, I got mine from the fat guy that runs the supply area...

I think I'd try calling some architectural supply stores or, better yet, a shop that sells mechanical tools to industrial businesses. Hell, they might have one at Home Depot.

But...you might be wasting your time with a caliper since photocopying peoples hands probably isn't going to give you the most accurate results. Also, make sure that the caliper opens wide enough to measure their fingers. Ours open 6" which should be wide enough, assuming you are going to be measuring from the web between the fingers.

bio k9

10:06 / 03.12.02

Yeah, those are the digital kind.

bio k9

10:08 / 03.12.02

And they are much nicer than the digital one I had.

Ganesh

10:10 / 03.12.02

Photocopying hands is gonna give the most accurate result possible under the circumstances. I've got a fairly strict protocol in terms of how they spread their fingers, and I'm buying a huge bag of lentils (seriously) to help flatten every hand out on the glass.

I'm sure there's some degree of error, but it should be consistent across the board...

Ganesh

10:21 / 03.12.02

Oh yeah, and I'm measuring up the centre of the finger, from midway between the two creases where digit joins hand.

bio k9

10:35 / 03.12.02

Huh. I just assumed between the fingers because I didnt think any of the hands characteristics would show up on a photocopier. Maybe thats just the crap equipment we have here. Anyway, the bag of lentils gives it that grade school science fair feel (and I mean that in the best possible way). Sound like FUN.

grant

13:51 / 03.12.02

Here
and
here
and
here.

Ganesh

14:17 / 03.12.02

Thanks, Grant; at least I know what the damn things look like now. I'm actually hoping to find a London supplier that I can visit and browse - but I may well end up buying them over the Net...

Linus Dunce

20:31 / 03.12.02

From my past life as a cartographic monkey, can I recommend you somehow calibrate your photocopier's accuracy -- you may find that its scaling is unreliable, even across different areas on a single page. Honestly, some of them are so far out it would be pointless buying calipers, and it would be a shame for all your work to be called into question on this.

Good luck though and have fun!

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