Valve Clearance on Larger Camshaft and Flat Top Pistons

Newbomb Turk said

The accurate way is the springs you run and clay.

Checking springs will show way LESS clearance than you actually have.

Using checking springs is a bad short cut.

I’ve seen guys notch pistons when they didn’t have to.

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So tell me, how do you get an accurate reading from clay? Do you jam a caliper depth gauge into it with a flashlight and eyeball the reading? Do you peel it off and hope you haven't changed it? Then measure it with a caliper hoping you haven't compressed it?