Broke My Starrett

i decided to completely re-level because i was not happy with the way it was. so i removed all the shims and started anew. after a few tries going from the east end and failing i decided to start from the other end which worked. the ball was rolling off toward the center on both sides so i shimmed in the middle which was not easy on this table because of the particle board they used for the surface of the base. but i kept after it and finally got it, I THINK. i was checking the level one last time with my 12" Starrett and i accidentally tapped the glass with a screwdriver and it broke. peed me right off.... so i now i have to buy a new vial and fix the mofo. no big deal and i was glad that it happened at the very end of the job.

what i don't understand his how tables are set-up without shimming the slate in the center. i see it all the time but i always have to shim in the center. what gives?

ok, i ordered another vial from Amazon for $24.00 free shipping....
https://www.amazon.com/Starrett-Level-Replacement-Vial-PT15024/dp/B00DEB4LFC#customerReviews

i'm going to add a thin plastic sheet over the top of the fragile glass vial to keep it protected. it's amazing how such a light tap broke it...

making fun of my spelling?

another question about Starrett levels and vial replacement:

i took this thing apart and got the plaster out by putting a thick, rolled-up piece of sandpaper around a drill bit. it went pretty fast BUT, why can't we just use a round piece of neoprene or similar to hold the vial in-place? that plaster really sux...

yeah, i thought about that . it seems to me that we should be able to put some elec tape around the ends of the vial to keep it from moving then some rolled-up neoprene in the ends. the worst that can happen is that it moves and i have to go to plan "B" of plan "C". and i was taking very good care of it but i grabbed it with a screwdriver in my hand and just barely tapped the glass and that's all it took. i am going to make a clear plastic protector that goes over the vial but still allows for the stock aluminum protector to slide over for storage.

that's an excellent idea. THANKS!

Have fun calibrating it everytime you use it....

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i'm thinking about using drywall patch. it won't allow the glass to move around and will be much easier to get out the next time i break it.

he said if it was ideal the factory would do it and design it into the tool like they do on the master level...

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Rob: interesting but i can't see how a plastic sleeve protector is going to adversely effect the readings. i'm considering putting plastic over the protector sleeve itself and the vial won't 'know' that it's there.... also: corporations make a lot of money on replacement parts for their products.

additionally: when all is said and done with the level, you have to do the ball-roll test for final adjustments anyway. so while the machinists level is great for getting the slate very close, a crappy pool ball is the final arbiter. when i first started doing this myself i thought that after i added my Simonis those slight ball roll-offs would not be evident but the ball rolled-off EXACTLY as it did without cloth. so i'm at the stage now where i don't need my Starrett and it's a good thing because i'm awaiting my vial replacement.

got my starrett back together and in the process figured out a great way to get the plaster in without making a huge mess after i made a huge mess.... i used a 60ml syringe and poked it into the tube and blobbed out some plaster right where you want it. no plaster in the ends to wipe off afterwards. i got fancy and used some pink paper as a backing and some teflon tape to snug the cover. got it calibrated and working great. now i just have to get some plastic tubing to protect that vial.