Making your own calipers

for your purpose, the harbor freight totally worthless stamped steel 'precision" metal machinist calipers would be just great - they are stiff so they don't move, and they are steel so they won't wear and are easy to set

they have an 8 piece "measuring tool kit" for $8 - I have one such kit next to my lathe - disposable tools, so to speak

Might as well add another el cheapo: Semaphores. For sizing a long run of spindles, coat hanger wires bent into small loops to slide snugly along a rod fixed behind the rounded blank. Cut the wires to lengths that will drop when the blank they are riding on is parted to specified depths along the axis of the spindle. o__ Clear as transparent mud? )O

Turn to Safety, Arch Fortiter

It is definitly Grace Slick. Volunteers album - RCA Victor 1969. Eskimo BLue Day (6:31). Music Grace Slick, Words Grace Slick & Paul Kantner.