# I have a set of skills... **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [April 20, 2018, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-set-of-skills/812793 "2018-04-20T16:55:06Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2018, 5:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-set-of-skills/812793/21 "2018-04-27T05:26:10Z")
> [@minor7flat5](#): > > A while back I wanted to reclaim the long-lost joy of making things that I felt when I was a young machinist in another lifetime. I just noticed you are from Trenton, NJ. Are you by any chance a fan of the Sanford miniature surface grinder? Dennis ---
**Author:** ![TokyoBayer](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tokyobayer/32/13989_2.png) [@TokyoBayer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/TokyoBayer)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2018, 5:45am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-set-of-skills/812793/22 "2018-04-27T05:45:22Z")
Unlike those slimy pick-up artists, I never knew how to sweet talk anyone, let alone persuade them to come with me. However, I did develop a fairly good ability to judge if the other party was already looking for some excitement that night and that I had passed whatever low standards they have. This skill has a very limited lifetime which expires as (1) one gets older and less attractive (2) one gets married and (3) one stops drinking and not longer hangs out in such establishments. Now I’m getting older, it’s picked up that rather unremarkable abilities to fade into the background, even when interacting the cashiers. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2018, 12:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-set-of-skills/812793/23 "2018-04-27T12:16:19Z")
> [@mixdenny](#): > > I have go to brag about the Starrett Webber chromium carbide gage block set I got at an estate auction literally right around the corner from my house. Yep, the vaunted Starrett Croblox set! And not just any old Croblox set, the special order 92 piece set in 2 micron accuracy! Instead of the usual top of the line 81 piece set. The extra pieces are in 25 millionths of an inch increments (one quarter of a ten thousandth), plus a set to convert directly to fractional inches with a single block, i.e. 0.0625", 0.03125", etc. Here is an 81 piece set, although my case is much nicer: > > [https://www.travers.com/webber-precision-gage-block-set/p/57-046-015/](https://www.travers.com/webber-precision-gage-block-set/p/57-046-015/) > > Its an $8000 set of glistening silver ingots nestled in velvet lined walnut. I paid $35 for it. I live about 20 minutes from Webber Gage and was tempted to show it off. It’s the centerpiece of my machinist tool collection although I don’t really have a need for one. I set up my home machine shop as I was approaching retirement. Let’s have lunch. > > Dennis Gage blocks! Absolutely what I was thinking about when thinking of how to bore people to tears. Machinists know what they are and are fascinated by them. We expect other people to share our fascination, but they are likely only to be shocked at the cost for a bunch of little oily bits of metal. Which reminds me, I need a set some day–though my needs are quite humble and I will likely go for an ultra-cheap Shars set. > [@mixdenny](#): > > I just noticed you are from Trenton, NJ. Are you by any chance a fan of the Sanford miniature surface grinder? > > Dennis Only in my dreams. Not only are those likely rarer than hens’ teeth these days, but in good working order they probably are quite pricy. For a cute benchtop tool, one of those easily cost $10K in the mid 90s when properly kitted out. ---
**Author:** ![mixdenny](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mixdenny/32/2962_2.png) [@mixdenny](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mixdenny)\ **Post date:** [April 27, 2018, 4:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-set-of-skills/812793/24 "2018-04-27T16:00:56Z")
Mixdenny: “I just noticed you are from Trenton, NJ. Are you by any chance a fan of the Sanford miniature surface grinder?” > [@minor7flat5](#): > > .Only in my dreams. Not only are those likely rarer than hens’ teeth these days, but in good working order they probably are quite pricy. For a cute benchtop tool, one of those easily cost $10K in the mid 90s when properly kitted out. Well, this thread is turning out to be interesting! Actually I am the unofficial historian for Sanford Manufacturing. My history and identification guide is online. I am particularly happy with the section on the inventor, Walter Zighan. That took a lot of research: > **[Sanford Miniature Surface Grinder](http://www.lathes.co.uk/sanford/index.html)** > > Sanford Grinder. Harvet Butterfly" grinder Sanford Miniature SG Surface Grinder - pictures and description\Sanford grinders N.J. The Harvery Co. of Long Island, NY I have a couple of them on my bench right now. One is fully restored with my small supply of NOS parts but needs the ways scraped to be more accurate. I just sold the other restored one to a guy in England. [![](https://i.imgur.com/jnd0sXT.jpg) ](https://i.imgur.com/jnd0sXT.jpg) Dennis [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-have-a-set-of-skills/812793.md?page=1)