Digital caliper brands...

[ColdDuckTime]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47257

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=003&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=130150730791&rd=1

am I missing something here?

[-lecroix-]

Dunno ... are you? :confused:

[Uncle Buck]

http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/Displayitem.taf?itemnumber=47257

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&ih=003&sspagename=STRK%3AMEWA%3AIT&viewitem=&item=130150730791&rd=1

am I missing something here?

Yes you are missing something, kinda like comparing A Harbor Freight knockoff to a Snap-On original, or not to far from it. Just like a picture of a cheap ratchet and an expensive ratchet, both look great in the picture but at the end of the day, you just can't polish a turd! :lol_hitti

(There is a reason machinists spend a lot on quality precision measuring equipment, even more critical to the outcome of the job than a mechanic choosing one brand of hand tools as opposed to another! At least in my opinion!)

[ColdDuckTime]

Yes you are missing something, kinda like comparing A Harbor Freight knockoff to a Snap-On original, or not to far from it. Just like a picture of a cheap ratchet and an expensive ratchet, both look great in the picture but at the end of the day, you just can't polish a turd! :lol_hitti

(There is a reason machinists spend a lot on quality precision measuring equipment, even more critical to the outcome of the job than a mechanic choosing one brand of hand tools as opposed to another! At least in my opinion!)

I see what you are saying, but it would suprise the heck out of me if engineers at Matco design this sort of thing...maybe if it were from Starrett or something. I'll bet that they sent some purchaser to the Mystic East and found something that works well enough, printed up a manual, and did a bit of silk screening. I'm too cynical anymore to assume that products are knock-offs rather than just different sales channels for identical things (or are at least made from nearly identical components...it isn't like Snap On makes stepper motors or microcontrollers).

Something deep in my gut (well, along with that pizza) tells me that these US tool companies, once you are outside some sort of core competency in wrenches/sockets/screwdrivers, expose everyone to a sort of potluck of rebrandings.

[Uncle Buck]

I see what you are saying, but it would suprise the heck out of me if engineers at Matco design this sort of thing...maybe if it were from Starrett or something. I'll bet that they sent some purchaser to the Mystic East and found something that works well enough, printed up a manual, and did a bit of silk screening. I'm too cynical anymore to assume that products are knock-offs rather than just different sales channels for identical things (or are at least made from nearly identical components...it isn't like Snap On makes stepper motors or microcontrollers).

Something deep in my gut (well, along with that pizza) tells me that these US tool companies, once you are outside some sort of core competency in wrenches/sockets/screwdrivers, expose everyone to a sort of potluck of re-brandings.

A lot of truth in what you are saying. It used to be the precision tools most of the truck guys handled was Central brand, at least I think most of them carried that line. You can rest assured that whatever brand they carried was farmed out to another manufacturer, but certainly not Starrett. Anymore even the once mighty Starrett name has had to offer a cheaper import line for those not wanting the best called Exact, or something of the like that indicates the cheaper line. Actually, that digital set sold by HF is really not to bad for most of the stuff mechanics or hobbyists run into! I have used a friends set a time or two and have no complaints given the cost.

[Detroit Diesel Man]

Interesting Article I read on a Machinist forum i belong to on the accuracy and precision or lack of it...from the harbor freight digital calipers..


http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/showthread.php?t=24290&highlight=Digital+Caliper



DDM

[jimmycrackcorn]

I think for the most part S/O measurement tools are Central tools rebrands with S/O on them other than the blue point stuff they put out.

I own this http://www.tooltopia.com/ProductImages/3m-cla/CEN-6450.jpg
which down to every part is the same as the S/O
http://buy1.snapon.com/catalog/objects_lg/34900/34892.JPG

[Uncle Buck]

Interesting Article I read on a Machinist forum i belong to on the accuracy and precision or lack of it...from the harbor freight digital calipers..


http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/sho...igital+Caliper




God don't get me started on those guys! I tried to join in on some discussion over there awhile back, never again. I am sure there are some good guys over there but I don't give it the time of day anymore. I never met more rude pricks all gathered in one place than that board in my life! Arrogant bastards! I would not lurk there, or buy the Home shop Machinist magazine again (used to subscribe) due to those un-moderated A$$holes!:rocketwho :shoot5: :deathmeta :fawk: :uzi: :bigun2: :tantrum2: :soapbox:

[W-Cummins]

God don't get me started on those guys! I tried to join in on some discussion over there awhile back, never again. I am sure there are some good guys over there but I don't give it the time of day anymore. I never met more rude pricks all gathered in one place than that board in my life! Arrogant bastards! I would not lurk there, or buy the Home shop Machinist magazine again (used to subscribe) due to those un-moderated A$$holes!:rocketwho :shoot5: :deathmeta :fawk: :uzi: :bigun2: :tantrum2: :soapbox:

Come on tell us how you really feel about them :):):):)

I like snap-on tools but I wouldn't pay any thing for their measuring tools. They are junk.... Just like I wouldn't pay any extra for their power tools (grinders, sanders, drill motors, etc) For years they used to be just polished up B&D pro line tools. Not junk but not worth SO prices. I'm not sure who makes them now but they are still nothing to write home about.....

William....

[Detroit Diesel Man]

Interesting Article I read on a Machinist forum i belong to on the accuracy and precision or lack of it...from the harbor freight digital calipers..


http://bbs.homeshopmachinist.net/sho...igital+Caliper




God don't get me started on those guys! I tried to join in on some discussion over there awhile back, never again. I am sure there are some good guys over there but I don't give it the time of day anymore. I never met more rude pricks all gathered in one place than that board in my life! Arrogant bastards! I would not lurk there, or buy the Home shop Machinist magazine again (used to subscribe) due to those un-moderated A$$holes!:rocketwho :shoot5: :deathmeta :fawk: :uzi: :bigun2: :tantrum2: :soapbox:



I usually use Machinist Forums for info...but I do agree with you..some of the Mods are a bit power hungry I think..I usually post over at Home Machinist not Home Shop Machinist..Good guys over their..anyway..I have a Digital Caliper from HF as well as a Starrett Dial and a Starrett Digital..I use the dial at home and the HF Digital at home and the Starrett Digital at work..I try and by either Starrett or Mityouto for My precision stuff..2 names you can count on for precision and accurracy..either way whatevr brand...Calipers shouldnt be used to take the place of a Good quality Mic..wich is a whole other story I guess..lol. My HF calipers work good for getting thing damn close..I use my lathe at home mostly for making tools..bushing drivers etc..a few little projects here and their..but for doing engine work measuring tolerances etc I use My Starrett stuff at work.

DDM

[Uncle Buck]

I usually use Machinist Forums for info...but I do agree with you..some of the Mods are a bit power hungry I think..I usually post over at Home Machinist not Home Shop Machinist..Good guys over their..anyway..I have a Digital Caliper from HF as well as a Starrett Dial and a Starrett Digital..I use the dial at home and the HF Digital at home and the Starrett Digital at work..I try and by either Starrett or Mityouto for My precision stuff..2 names you can count on for precision and accurracy..either way whatevr brand...Calipers shouldnt be used to take the place of a Good quality Mic..wich is a whole other story I guess..lol. My HF calipers work good for getting thing damn close..I use my lathe at home mostly for making tools..bushing drivers etc..a few little projects here and their..but for doing engine work measuring tolerances etc I use My Starrett stuff at work.

DDM



Well, I am glad I did not offend you. I opened this thread fully expecting you to flame me for my little ra:beer: nt about that board!

[ColdDuckTime]

I usually use Machinist Forums for info...but I do agree with you..some of the Mods are a bit power hungry I think..I usually post over at Home Machinist not Home Shop Machinist..Good guys over their..anyway..I have a Digital Caliper from HF as well as a Starrett Dial and a Starrett Digital..I use the dial at home and the HF Digital at home and the Starrett Digital at work..I try and by either Starrett or Mityouto for My precision stuff..2 names you can count on for precision and accurracy..either way whatevr brand...Calipers shouldnt be used to take the place of a Good quality Mic..wich is a whole other story I guess..lol. My HF calipers work good for getting thing damn close..I use my lathe at home mostly for making tools..bushing drivers etc..a few little projects here and their..but for doing engine work measuring tolerances etc I use My Starrett stuff at work.

DDM

Just thinking out loud (I know regrettably little about measurement tools), has someone built a laser caliper? It seems to me there's not point in actually touching the material anymore, and you could put some filtering into the numbers displayed so that they weren't so noisy. I can see how you could do both inside and outside measurements...maybe, in order to get accuracy at that level, you have to use a light frequency that's impractical in a small/cheap item.

[ColdDuckTime]

Come on tell us how you really feel about them :):):):)

I like snap-on tools but I wouldn't pay any thing for their measuring tools. They are junk.... Just like I wouldn't pay any extra for their power tools (grinders, sanders, drill motors, etc) For years they used to be just polished up B&D pro line tools. Not junk but not worth SO prices. I'm not sure who makes them now but they are still nothing to write home about.....

William....

That strikes me as good advice, there's so many power tool vendors out there with fine products plus it would suprise the heck out of me if Snap On does their own.

It's kind of a shame, really. If I was King of Snap On R&D, I think I would simply partner up with Milwaukee or somebody (Metabo/Hilti/whatever if I was feeling frisky) and not work so hard on rebranding the stuff...maybe just stick Snap On / Milwaukee on the casework. Then.....I'd work my ass off to build a bunch of mechanic-centric power tools that no one else has. Maybe a "1/4", bitty, corded impact wrench...super tight clearance right angle 'lectric screwdrivers...etc, things that deal with access problems are an obviously open field to get into.

Having worked at plenty of nation-state sized companies, I view rebranding as an illness rather than anything clever. I've seen too many cases where it's a symptom of the marketing arm taking over the company, infusing a bit of higher gross revenue (over a limited time span) while gutting what makes a company unique. It's a slippery slope to go down and while it's hard to justify soup-to-nuts manufacturing (ala the Model-T) the other direction is a pact with the devil.

[jimmycrackcorn]

I can see why they do it. The cost to open a factory, and the machines it takes to make them, the engineering part of it cost. But then again from a consumer side, and the price mark up between two of the same products with different brands on them, get to me.

You can serve shit if its prepared right, and people will eat it!

[Detroit Diesel Man]

Well, I am glad I did not offend you. I opened this thread fully expecting you to flame me for my little ra:beer: nt about that board!


Nahhhh..I was married once so I dont offend very easily..lol:beer:


DDM