Can Anyone Identify this Centre Marking Tool?

[Lionelgee]

Hello All,


I was watching an American YouTube clip where a metal fabricator used a hinged wine rack looking tool that could be adjusted to set even spaces along a line without needing to measure with a ruler.

The tool comes on at the 1:30 minute mark accessed 9th June 2021 from DIY Electric Hydraulic Hole Puncher Station - Punch Holes Easily in Thick Steel - YouTube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qm9C3huY_Bc)

Kind regards
Lionel

[Homestar]

Clever - never seen one before. Would like to know as well now. [emoji106]

[W&KO]

Neat tool, I’m guessing he has made it himself.

[Lionelgee]

Hello Gav,

Yes, I remembered a number of occasions where such a tool would have come in very handy.

I thought laterally and typed in some different keywords than what I had used earlier - without any success.

My new search identified the tool. It is called Rivet Spacing Tool or Rivet Fan Spacing Tool as used in aviation sheet metal industry. I found a link from Ted Gauthier who built a kit plane in his basement and then went into small boats. Accessed 9th June 2021 from Rivet Spacing Tool - Small Boats Magazine (https://smallboatsmonthly.com/article/rivet-spacing-tool).

Those aeroplane people are pretty smart!

The rivet spacing tool is available on eBay and other similar online places. I just ordered one.

It seems there are a couple of other versions. One in sewing called a Expanding Sewing Gauge, and in carpentry it is a Point to Point gauge.

Kind regards
Lionel

[W&KO]

Neat tool, I’m guessing he has made it himself.

Nope he didn’t make it…..it a rivet spacing tool

Rivet Fan Spacing Tool 20 Hole Design for Rivet Gun or Rivet Squeezer NEW | eBay (https://www.ebay.com.au/itm/281324506437)


Took some googling,

I enjoy your posts, always something interesting going on in your back yard.

[W&KO]

we both found it at the same time [emoji13]

[trout1105]

A parallel ruler will do exactly the same job[thumbsupbig]

171455

[Homestar]

A couple of AU options:-

Drill Accessories & Equipment | Henchman (https://www.henchman.com.au/Drill-Accessories-_and_-Equipment/Rivet-Fan-Spacing-Tool/pl.php)

Aircraft Tool Supply Rivet Fan Spacing Tool: Amazon.com.au: Home Improvement (https://www.amazon.com.au/Aircraft-Tool-Supply-Rivet-Spacing/dp/B005VR2DJ8/ref=pd_bxgy_img_2/357-9962649-3125430?_encoding=UTF8&pd_rd_i=B005VR2DJ8&pd_rd_r=4745ad0c-87f1-4841-ba58-be74a838d899&pd_rd_w=6OYbx&pd_rd_wg=DNKGo&pf_rd_p=941f1e44-bea3-4be4-a9fa-15e250ac3327&pf_rd_r=GDJ11V2DA0EWYZQTSAQQ&psc=1&refRID=GDJ11V2DA0EWYZQTSAQQ)

A smaller version - Aircraft Tool Supply Rivet Fan Spacer (Mini): Amazon.com.au: Home Improvement (https://www.amazon.com.au/Aircraft-Tool-Supply-Rivet-Spacer/dp/B005VR2D7K)

[Homestar]

A parallel ruler will do exactly the same job[thumbsupbig]

171455

20 holes at a time?

[trout1105]

20 holes at a time?

As many holes as you like, Simply mark them off using the measurments on the ruler

[p38arover]

I've always used the method shown to me in tech drawing class at high school, i.e., draw another line angled upward and starting at the same point of the line to be divided. Make it of such a length that one can mark off equidistant points, say, 10mm apart.

From the last mark, draw a line down to the end of the line to be divided. Now draw lines parallel to that from each mark. The will divide the original line in equal spaces.

Something like this:


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wwl1bOlxCXE

Compared with that, the rivet spacing tool is such a good idea.


As many holes as you like, Simply mark them off using the measurments on the ruler

Show me how.

[Homestar]

As many holes as you like, Simply mark them off using the measurments on the ruler

I’ve got a ruler for that - this tool allows much faster positioning and accuracy too - I would actually use this for riveting as that’s one of my favourite fastening methods. I do usually use a ruler to mark out the spacing but I could drill the holes and be done in the same time it takes to just mark them with a ruler.

[trout1105]

I’ve got a ruler for that - this tool allows much faster positioning and accuracy too - I would actually use this for riveting as that’s one of my favourite fastening methods. I do usually use a ruler to mark out the spacing but I could drill the holes and be done in the same time it takes to just mark them with a ruler.

Drill holes into a parallel ruler and you have your device[thumbsupbig]

[Homestar]

Drill holes into a parallel ruler and you have your device[thumbsupbig]

But it’s not adjustable, nor as accurate most likely and by the time you measure and drill a template you could have done the job. Also, if you have to make a different template up for every job it’s far easier to buy this tool.

[ramblingboy42]

I did plenty of skin repairs on aeroplanes but never used a tool like that , would have been good .

how small can it measure?

[Salt grinder]

Ahhhh! Good engineering tools from the "good old days" . . . love'em. When men were men and engineers were engineers.

I've got some beauties inherited from my dad when we used to fix everything ourselves in our cars . . all pre television and computers days.
We then had to use what is known as our brains and what we were taught in mathematics at school. I'm talking from a school time in 1945-1950.

We simply thought about the spacing and how many spaces we wanted. Measure the distance and divide that length by the number of spaces you thought adequate.
Then using the spring callipers, open them to the measured space distance, then walk them along the line. Of course the callipers had many other uses . . scribing circles and quadrants etc.

But it's easier today . . . in metric. Try dividing this length of iron bar into 7 equal pieces allowing for the saw cut width . . . a length of - 3yards 2ft 4½ inches with a blade width of 3/16 inch
No calculators please - they hadn't been invented.

[windsock]

That device looks useful in the workshop for sure.

I use a long piece of large bungy cord elastic in a similar way when fencing on the farms. For batten spacing between posts and placing posts in a stock yard setting or shorter stretches. Place equi-distant marks on a slightly stretched length of elastic. Stretch the bungy elastic between the points you want equal spacing for and "ta daaa". Has saved much time messing about on the hillside with tape measures.