The Acoustic Guitar Forum

Go Back   The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Build and Repair

Reply
 
Thread Tools
  #1  
Old 08-27-2020, 09:29 AM
Yale C Yale C is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 109
Default How in the world do you use feeler gauges properly?

Can anyone give tips or point me to a place on tips for using feeler gauges to determine relief? I got a set of gauges yesterday and it is frustrating to say the least.

Sorry for the dumb question, I seem to be having trouble telling if it should be actually lifting the string, barely touching; several gauges seem to do the same thing.

I’m aiming for .005 relief, and what I think is “right” seems terribly high.
Reply With Quote
  #2  
Old 08-27-2020, 09:36 AM
HodgdonExtreme HodgdonExtreme is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Mar 2017
Posts: 1,607
Default

It's a "feel" thing.

It's easier to use them between two surfaces that are rigid...

But if you are slipping the feelers between fret and string - the string can bend away from the fretboard so easily, it's hard to get the correct measurement without proper feel.

If you place a straightedge along the frets, it is much easier to measure, because the straightedge is so much more rigid than a string.

A typical slip of paper is 0.0045" thick - it may be easier for you to use a narrow slip of flimsy paper, and see if you can slide it between your string and #7 fret (fretting at #1 and #14 frets). If the paper drags AT ALL, then you know the relief is less than 0.0045"
Reply With Quote
  #3  
Old 08-27-2020, 09:48 AM
Fatfinger McGee Fatfinger McGee is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2019
Posts: 369
Default

Copy paper can range from .005 to .01, so use cheaper paper for this. An easy test is, the paper should move easily but not fall out. If it's pinched and dragging, it's too tight. If it just falls out when you turn it sideways, too loose.

It takes practice with feeler gauges, but after a bit you'll get a feel (pun intended) for how much drag is about right, and when you're deflecting the string too much. My eye's not really good enough to see the string deflect, I'm using friction as a guide. I learned it on motorcycle valves, but same general principle.
Reply With Quote
  #4  
Old 08-27-2020, 10:12 AM
Yale C Yale C is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2020
Posts: 109
Default

Quote:
Originally Posted by HodgdonExtreme View Post
It's a "feel" thing.



It's easier to use them between two surfaces that are rigid...



But if you are slipping the feelers between fret and string - the string can bend away from the fretboard so easily, it's hard to get the correct measurement without proper feel.



If you place a straightedge along the frets, it is much easier to measure, because the straightedge is so much more rigid than a string.



A typical slip of paper is 0.0045" thick - it may be easier for you to use a narrow slip of flimsy paper, and see if you can slide it between your string and #7 fret (fretting at #1 and #14 frets). If the paper drags AT ALL, then you know the relief is less than 0.0045"


I think using a straight edge may be the ticket, I’m having much trouble finding exactly where I’m at.
Reply With Quote
  #5  
Old 08-27-2020, 11:02 AM
Th'Axe Th'Axe is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Feb 2020
Location: Puyallup area
Posts: 43
Wink Single Leaf

It can be a pain in the arse, but your "feel' can be greatly enhanced by removing the appropriate thickness 'leaves' from the pivot bolt holding the feeler set together. Use them singly, removed from the mass of the whole set. Paper thickness wanders all over the place, and can be very inconsistent, necessitating measuring the paper before you start using that for a gauge. Just be careful not to lose leaves from the set. Cheers, Joel
Reply With Quote
  #6  
Old 08-27-2020, 11:50 AM
redir redir is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2011
Location: Mountains of Virginia
Posts: 7,657
Default

I gave up trying to use them for all the reasons you mention years ago. For guitar work I don't think the +/- error in feeler gauges is any better then doing it by eye or with a steel ruler.
Reply With Quote
  #7  
Old 08-27-2020, 01:03 PM
619TF 619TF is offline
Guest
 
Join Date: Nov 2014
Posts: 2,317
Default

https://www.wikihow.com/Read-a-Feeler-Gauge
Reply With Quote
  #8  
Old 08-27-2020, 04:50 PM
Mirosh Mirosh is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: Duluth, Minnesota
Posts: 629
Default

To measure relief, instead of a feeler gauge I use a piece of 0.010" guitar string - a typical diameter for the first string.
Reply With Quote
  #9  
Old 08-27-2020, 05:41 PM
John Arnold John Arnold is online now
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2009
Posts: 4,082
Default

Most of the time, I use a single 0.006" feeler gauge along with a 12" steel ruler.
Reply With Quote
  #10  
Old 08-27-2020, 06:08 PM
Mr. Jelly's Avatar
Mr. Jelly Mr. Jelly is offline
Charter Member
 
Join Date: May 2016
Location: Sioux City, Iowa
Posts: 7,848
Default

You'll find one, if you use it, where you can feel it touching. Then you will find one, the next size smaller, where you can't feel anything. You get to chose which one to say what the measurement is.
__________________
Waterloo WL-S, K & K mini
Waterloo WL-S Deluxe, K & K mini
Iris OG, 12 fret, slot head, K & K mini

Follow The Yellow Brick Road
Reply With Quote
  #11  
Old 08-27-2020, 06:27 PM
rmp rmp is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Aug 2014
Posts: 6,897
Default

Just learn you to eye sight it,, use the string as your straight edge and "feel" to know when it's right. it's not as complicated as it can be made to seem
Reply With Quote
  #12  
Old 08-27-2020, 06:29 PM
mirwa mirwa is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 3,109
Default

I use a steel ruler, the feeler gauge at the correct thickness will drag
__________________
Cole Clark Fat Lady
Gretsch Electromatic
Martin CEO7
Maton Messiah
Taylor 814CE
Reply With Quote
  #13  
Old 08-31-2020, 09:16 AM
ChrisN ChrisN is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jan 2017
Location: Seattle Area
Posts: 1,508
Default

I use a cheap notched straightedge and use the feeler gauge under the straightedge at the 7th fret or so, to get the relief measurement.
Reply With Quote
  #14  
Old 09-07-2020, 01:01 AM
nikpearson nikpearson is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Dec 2007
Location: Nottinghamshire, U.K.
Posts: 951
Default Straight edge makes it much easier...

I too struggle to reliably sight or feel the relief gap using feeler gauges, with the string capoed at the first fret and fretted at the body join.

A straightedge makes life much simpler, the standard straight edge lengths aren’t ideal to span the 1st or body join fret on most instruments. A 13” (330mm) long straightedge will sit across those frets without the frets above the body join interfering. With the right tools you can get an 18” straightedge and cut it down to this length. Saves me lots of time when doing setups as it’s very obvious when the gauge will just pass under; you can feel it dragging.
Reply With Quote
  #15  
Old 09-10-2020, 07:41 PM
Rodger Knox Rodger Knox is offline
Registered User
 
Join Date: Jul 2013
Location: Baltimore, Md.
Posts: 2,431
Default

There's an easier way. Capo the first fret, fret the string at the 14th fret, and tap the string at the 7th fret. The string should make a little ping. No ping and it's too close, big ping and it's too much. It is also a feel type measurement, but it's not too difficult to "measure" distances you can barely see. Try it on a guitar that has the correct relief to hear how much ping is correct.
__________________
Rodger Knox, PE
1917 Martin 0-28
1956 Gibson J-50
et al
Reply With Quote
Reply

  The Acoustic Guitar Forum > General Acoustic Guitar and Amplification Discussion > Build and Repair

Thread Tools





All times are GMT -6. The time now is 02:38 PM.


Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
Copyright ©2000 - 2022, The Acoustic Guitar Forum
vB Ad Management by =RedTyger=