What Are They Called?

Starrett calls them the inside jaw and the outside jaw.

See page 19:
http://www.starrett.com/docs/other-downloadable-resources/798-electronic-slide-caliper-user-manual---form-951.pdf?sfvrsn=3

As you say, that's the best we can do? I would hope for Incudes at the very least.

Hear, hear!

I thought about suggesting Incus and Malleus in lieu of Incudes, but I've heard that nomenclature pair had already been claimed.

Darn! I was hoping for some fancy sounding French word, like "machoires". Still just "jaws", but it sounds much more technical when it isn't common English.

I suppose lower and upper could be called mandibles and antennae, respectively. If it bugs you that much.

HEY! What's the matter with the name Jaws?!

Richard Kiel owns that name - not a stinky little fish.

No, it's owned by Ron 'Jaws' Jaworski.

Oh crap - forgot about him - he played for the WRONG Pennsylvania team.

Inner and outer tangs....

Like this???

Tangk you...

Don't forget the Wu-Tang.

Actually, I'd like to forget it.

Only if I was going for a ride with John Glenn!

Good Luck, Old Salt

The technical term is: Fingernagelreiniger.

Ya - es is gut.

You do that too?

Frankly, I don't see much use for calipers during a race, unless you're looking for a specific size bushing, bolt or gizmo.

I'm also not sure anybody dissed mechanics.

I've been using calipers since the only ones available just had a bunch of black lines on them. You too, I'll bet.

Yes Lyn, me too, but as I couldn't afford 'real' calipers, I had to settle for plain ones and measure he gap with a ruler....how's that for precision!

And 'gap' is as good as any or whatever others might want to call it.

Lyn,

The original post cut the mechanic a little short in his last sustenance, there was no need to be disrespectful to mechanics other than to imply his superiority to them.

Funny how engineers and mechanics only think of calipers as measuring devices. Members of my family have used mine, and especially the expensive or heirloom ones, to peel oranges; as a "C' clamp when they are too lazy to go down the basement to get a real c-clamp (micrometers can also be used for this); open stubborn cake mix and cereal boxes; pry the label thread off of new pants; as a bolt on a garden gate latch; cut tape on cardboard boxes; hold envelopes that you are steaming the stamps off of; hold two pieces of cloth together as you are sewing them together on a sewing machine; bundle wires together for the computer; and even breaking out windows on the old jalopy sitting out in the lower 40 (works best on the side and rear tempered glass window, not the laminated windshield.

Good Luck, Old Salt

You'd better watch out they don't use them on your nuts!

Not me. I never allow other people to use my calipers or mics.

I consider them precision instruments, not tools, just like my DVM's.

While I respect Jerrell Conway's opinion, there are a lot more wanna-be mechanics in the world than real ones.

Since I quit working on my own vehicles, except maybe disk brake pad changes, I have found that it is almost impossible to find a really good mechanic.

I had a GREAT mechanic for the last 10 years and he has moved far away, so the search continues, to no avail so far.

You should remind them that they can also be used to inflict very accurate injuries.

Tangs ?? Could be referred to as the Poontangs.

Well the best I can come up with is

mordazas para medidas internas,

inside measuring contacts,

Knife-edge measuring faces for inside measurement.

But I'm only an electrician so what would I know lol

maxilla

You got the grabbers and the pushers, mate....from the old Aussie

Finally! A real answer.

Way to go ealexer!

Does this mean I can't clean my fingernails with them any more?