I used to be driving to Ernie’s place a few days in the past, with Ernie within the passenger seat, once we drove previous an previous constructing with a pale signal studying Lar’s Tool’s. Beneath it, scrawled on the entrance wall of the store in white paint, a second signal learn Closeing down sale – final day’s – 75% of all software’s (clearly Lars’ specialty was not grammar or spelling). Ernie, at all times eager for a discount, requested me to cease for a fast look. Inside, the gloomy workshop was full of scarred previous tables heaped with an assortment of dusty gear. Lars (presumably) was the aged gentleman sitting beside a battered cash-register. Ernie requested me to take a look at a desk labelled Loose Drill bit’s whereas he investigated a pile of vintage bench-vices.

I used to be pleasantly shocked to seek out that beneath the mud lots of the drill bits gave the impression to be sharp and unused and I used to be in a position to kind out two equivalent units of seven Acme Industry metal-working drill bits, every consisting of a 1 mm, 2 mm, 3 mm, 4 mm, 5 mm, 6 mm, and seven mm bit. I carried them over to Lars and paid the “$1 per bit, money solely” that he requested. When I enquired if he had field to place them in Lars instructed me considerably gruffly that the place wasn’t a field store so he did not have any bins. But he then handed me a roll of duct tape and directed me to a desk down the again of the store that was laden with varied off-cuts of steel tubing of various supplies and dimensions. “Maybe you possibly can put the drills into a few these tubes”.

After a little bit of experimentation I selected two suitably-dimensioned steel tubes, positioned an entire set of seven drill bits (sizes 1,2,3…7 mm) into every, and sealed the ends off with duct tape. I went again to Lars and paid for the tubes “10 c every” (the duct tape was free, it appeared) after which returned to the automobile with Ernie – he hadn’t discovered every other bargains within the store. Back at Ernie’s place I handed him the 2 tubes. He shook each, then peeled the duct tape off one finish of every tube in flip and regarded down on the drill bits inside. “That’s attention-grabbing.”, stated Ernie, “One of the tubes has exactly the biggest doable inside diameter to have the ability to maintain the set of seven drills such that none of them are in a position to rattle backward and forward. The different tube has exactly the smallest doable inside diameter to have the ability to maintain the set of drills such that not less than one drill can rattle backward and forward”. But when he tipped the drills out onto his work-bench for a better look issues didn’t seem so promising. “Hmmm,” he stated, “I can see why the bits have been solely a greenback every. I’m fairly certain they’re low cost Acne Imdustry knock-offs of the true factor. They are unlikely to maintain a great edge. But thanks for the thought anyway.” I used to be a bit disenchanted for letting him down on what I had considered such a discount, however Ernie instructed me to not fear and that they might be helpful for one thing. So, we had afternoon tea, chatted a bit, after which I headed dwelling for the night.

I did not suppose any extra concerning the day’s occasions till Ernie phoned me with pleasure in his voice yesterday morning. “That stuff you bought from the software retailer – the drills have been garbage, however the thin-walled stainless-steel tubes you packed them in are excellent – precisely the suitable inside diameters I want for my subsequent experiment”. He went on to clarify how the tubes have been non-standard diameters and he hadn’t been in a position to supply related inventory from his normal laboratory suppliers however thought that maybe there may very well be some extra equivalent tubes at Lars’ place. “They do not need to be precisely equivalent”, he continued, “as long as they’ve the identical inside diameters to the closest micron”. I promised that I might take a look and hung up the cellphone earlier than realising that Ernie hadn’t instructed me what the 2 required inside diameters truly have been.

I’ve tried ringing him again however he is not answering – most likely deep in thought in his lab with the cellphone off the hook. I may hold making an attempt to contact him – Ernie normally leaves his lab inside a couple of days, however I’m involved that that the store might need lastly closed down completely if I delay too lengthy. All I can consider is that Ernie’s remark relating to how the drills have been packed into the tubes may supply a clue relating to their dimensions. Can anyone assist?