So, you have a set of thread plug gages. They are pretty indispensable little boogers, aren’t they? Little precision tools such as those are unsung heroes of the machine shop or manufacturing operation. Like an old trusty pickup, you want them to last forever. That is where WESTport Corporation comes into play-presumably purveyors of some pretty fantastic gaging products. But even the best needs maintenance to last, right?
Cleanliness is next to godliness: Take good care of your gages after use. As dry as you would want to avoid a bad haircut, so should your gages be. They are metals, and rust is its arch-nemesis. Simple yet effective. Sort of like washing your hands in gage heaven.
And if that sounds ridiculous, the gages are worth better than being thrown in some messy drawer-like a graveyard of lost socks. Visualize them resting at least the few in a foam-insert-lined case. They like being in a warm nest, protected from dust, grit, and other gages that would play bumper cars if they could.
Avoid mix-and-mash bonanza: use identifying tags on your gages. Trust me, the labeling is not for the ultra-organized; it keeps the confusion at bay and your tool inventory in order. Ever lose a sock in the wash? Same frustrating feeling is what happens with mismatched gages, believe you me.
Calibration, let’s talk-mandatory! You don’t drive your car without a speedometer, so calibrate those gages on a regular basis. Precision wears out much like a pair of old sneakers.
Handling, my friend, handling! Treat these gages with the love and care of a gardener tending roses. No dropping, whacking, or testing their bouncy abilities. Although, it may secretly have the urge to see if they can fly—they cannot. Handle with utmost care.