Thickness Caliper

[sunburst]

yes, you can make a frame from plywood, hardwood, etc. and use an inexpensive dial indicator.
For less than the price of a violin caliper you can get Bob Benedetto's book: Making an Archtop Guitar. In it are plans for a thickness caliper as well as other shop-made tools and fixtures plus lots of tips that are helpfull to the mandolin maker as well as the luthier in general.

[Dolamon]

You can buy instructions which come with a gauge and plans etc. from International Luthiers Supply. Or get the Kit from them (http://www.internationalluthiers.com/violinkits.php) for about 11.00 plus shipping. You need to scroll down past all the various Violin / Viola kits to get to this item.

The kit comes with all the bits and pieces to make a fairly accurate guage, which works the old way (not digital, electronic or even dial). This is an odd, interesting company but they do have some things which no one else carries. A caveat ... you need to order through the mail - ONLY. They don't seem to have figured out how to take electronic orders on the internet. I think this may be a one or two person operation ...

[Chris Baird]

MIMF.com has some plans.

[Jim Rowland]

Check out Kathy Matsu####a's site..

[Magnus Geijer]

Some wood spills, some Bondo, a $7.99 dial caliper from Harbor Freight and one nail with the head chopped off. Works great for me.

[Gail Hester]

Here’s the one I made using a standard depth gauge from Sears and some scrap Mahogany. I like having a stable, flat base and an adjustable reference post. I used a rounded bolt for the reference and it glides easily and fits in all the curves for accurate measurements.

[Kent Barnes]

Here's mine. #An $8 dial indicator and $5 deep C-clamp from Harbor Freight, plus a few spare bolts & brackets.

http://www.kentium.net/mandolin/mandopics/caliper.jpg