Calipers Shopping

[Joe B.]

Way back in the past when my job was much more industrial, I had a pair of digital calipers that were always a great help at work and at home. So, I would really like to pick up a pair of digital calipers for use around the house and maybe some basic machining in the future. (I'm always in the market for a lathe) My birthday is coming up so this could be something I assign the wife to buy for me.

A few years ago I picked up a set of Harbor Freight calipers and they could not produce an accurate measurement and the jaws were cut incorrectly. I know others have given these good reviews but that was not what I saw and honestly my life is too busy to mess with variable quality. (I'm not trying to turn this into a Harbor Freight thread.)

There was a thread a few month back asking about mid-grade calipers. You know, something between HF & Mitutoyo/Starrett. That thread did not come back with any mid grade recommendations and people did not think the mid grade stuff would be any better than HF. http://garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=87832&

So this leads me to getting some higher end calipers. Is there any preference between Mitutoyo or Starrett? Does anyone have any specific model recommendations or features I should look for? Right now I'm looking at lower end Mitutoyo but I don't have a lot of facts or understanding to work with.

I'm well aware this will be overkill for my needs but sometimes it is just nice to have nice things and I will make sure anything I buy has a long useful life.

 

[rlitman]

My biggest problem with the HF type calipers are the "inside" jaws. They're just not cut to Mitutoyo quality, and the racking of the head leads to inconsistent inside readings. For depth, step, and outside readings they're just fine.

Mitutoyo has an advantage over many others I've seen, in that they make a waterproof/coolant-proof model.

 

[Jim Johnstone]

Check out Fowler. I don't know about in the US, but the Canadian website has some specials on right now, 6" coolant proofs were about $40, and I'd take them over the HF stuff anyday. Certainly not to Mitutoyo standards, but not bad. Another option that seems good for the price is Insize.

 

[Tallboy]

SPI products tend to be inbetween Fowler and the Mitutoyo/Starrett/Brown & Sharpe level.

 

[Monte]

www.tesabs.ch

www.sylvac.ch

 

[finley31]

Myself and everyone at our shop has always preferred Mitutoyo. I have also suffered through the harbor freight digital set, what a joke. I have had a couple sets of starrett calipers, but have just not been as satisfied with them as I have been the mitutoyo, especially the newer starrett pairs. The fowler digitals are ok, but not really the high end product you are looking for.

I also prefer dial over digital though, so maybe my arguement invalid.

 

[mrbreezeet1]

What were you looking to spend. IIRC ENCO was pretty reasonable for the Mitutoyo brand.

 

[steel 35]

I also prefer dial over digital though, so maybe my arguement invalid.

Me too!

 

[roalco]

Me too!

Me three!!!!
Get a nice mitutoyo dial for accuracy and it'll be your best friend for decades.

 

[Davefr]

Just bite the bullet and get a set of Mitutoyo Digimatics. Use a coupon code or get them on sale at Enco or MSC.

I used to have Starrett and couldn't stand them. (poor battery life, tiny display, and flakey electronics).

 

[franzdom]

http://www.ebay.com/itm/Tesa-005900...aultDomain_0&hash=item53e8da4bc3#ht_500wt_768

I prefer the Tesa to the Mitsutoyo because they auto shutoff and they are swiss and reasonable. I have had many calipers. Mitsutoyo at work but Tesa at home for me. I prefer digital to dial for most work although if I was just machining again I would have another dial starrett.

 

[Gtamazing]

I use 6" Mitutoyo digital and Fowler 12" & 24"

I think the Fowlers are a good mid-level product.

 

[matthew]

I've heard good things about KBC tools as s supplier - some of their house-brand stuff being okay, might want to look a bit at that.

I've had Fowlers at work, they were okay. The new ones to replace the ones I damaged (dropped them once too many times) are nicer than the old ones, IMO. I've got an Etalon dial caliper at home, it's very very very nice. Same as the Tesa / Brown & Sharpe branded ones, with a thumbwheel added. Swiss made.

 

[RM209]

Check out your local Craigslist; they frequently have calipers and micrometers that appear to be well cared for, and have very low prices. Unlike many of the C-L tool ads where good deals get snapped up quickly, there appears to be much less competition for the higher end machinest tools.

Good Luck

RM209

 

[Joe B.]

Thanks everyone. This is a lot to think about. So why do some of you like the dial more than the digital? I'm more interested in a quality tool than whether is it dial or digital. My only concern is that I don't have the best vision so big numbers are a lot easier to read than a dial.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that hated the Harbor Freight stuff. Other threads on GJ made it sound like they were great.

At this point I'm thinking of Mitutoyo ABSOLUTE Digimatic Caliper. They are out there for a little over $110:
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INLMKD&PMPXNO=31073224&PMAKA=PC610-0045
Any reason I should not 'request' these? I can't see myself needing a liquid proof model. A little longer would be nice but you pay a lot to get another 2 inches.

Thanks again for all of the input.

 

[Farmer Joe]

I've used the HF digital caliper for the past month at work and it has worked well for me. The shop has a Blue Point one, but its always "lost" somewhere in the shop when I really need it, so I bought the HF one to save time from hunting down the shop one, plus I couldn't really afford to get a nice pricey one just yet. I usually just use it to measure rotors for brake/state inspections. I agree that I wouldn't count on it for any think that I need more precise measurements for. I've compared it to the BP one, and its been off by about .02" at the most, not too big of a deal for rotors so far.

But like I said, anything more precise than quick rotor measurements, I would also invest in a higher quality product.

 

[Davefr]

Thanks everyone. This is a lot to think about. So why do some of you like the dial more than the digital? I'm more interested in a quality tool than whether is it dial or digital. My only concern is that I don't have the best vision so big numbers are a lot easier to read than a dial.

I'm glad I'm not the only one that hated the Harbor Freight stuff. Other threads on GJ made it sound like they were great.

At this point I'm thinking of Mitutoyo ABSOLUTE Digimatic Caliper. They are out there for a little over $110:
http://www.use-enco.com/CGI/INSRIT?PARTPG=INLMKD&PMPXNO=31073224&PMAKA=PC610-0045
Any reason I should not 'request' these? I can't see myself needing a liquid proof model. A little longer would be nice but you pay a lot to get another 2 inches.

Thanks again for all of the input.

If you hurry you can get them at MSCdirect for 25% off. Enter code web25ff but you need 5 different items in your cart. That's easy because you can always add cheap filler like drill bits to get to the 5 different items.

The code expires tonight.

 

[0.511MeV]

In my experience, the digitals don't last very long compared to dials.

 

[OccupantRJ]

I use Brown and Sharpe dials at work for my mainstay, same set for 23 years. but I also have a set of Mitutoyo Digimatics in my box. They are great for doing metric / standard conversion by pushing a button to switch between modes. At home, I have the Mitutoyo Digimatics and an old set of Mits that were damaged on the OD tips, and were ground off. I use them to quick check diameters of odd stuff. As a testament to the Mits, mine at home were underwater for about 2 days in the flood. I wiped them off, changed the battery, and they are still ticking 12 years later.

 

[glenmore]

Here's an old fashioned one from a garage sale.

 

[crewchief888]

i have a couple sets of (older) central tool dial calipers that have served me well for over 25 years.

i have another pair marked gates hose that are indentical to the central tool models.

 

[crewchief888]

Here's an old fashioned one from a garage sale.

i'm too old to split them lines anymore

 

[Biomed]

I sure like my 6" Mitutoyo (500-196-20). We had them at my last job. Got mine on the Internet from MSI-Viking. They are on sale now for $108.95. However it would be nice to have auto shut-off.

 

[Joe B.]

Check out your local Craigslist; they frequently have calipers and micrometers that appear to be well cared for, and have very low prices. Unlike many of the C-L tool ads where good deals get snapped up quickly, there appears to be much less competition for the higher end machinest tools.
RM209

Interesting. I'm in Chicago which was once the world's center of making thing out of metal. I don't see much modern stuff on Craiglist are a reasonable price. Often a large lot will show up with someone selling their dad's tools that was a machinist. (It was almost always their dad's stuff as I don't think a skilled machinist ever parts with his tools.) I don't think I ever see digital stuff or anything near new. If I see a good deal, I may still pick up an old lot like that but I'm in no rush for that.

I sure like my 6" Mitutoyo (500-196-20). We had them at my last job. Got mine on the Internet from MSI-Viking. They are on sale now for $108.95. However it would be nice to have auto shut-off.

This is pretty much what I settled on after reading all of the posts and searching elsewhere. I have informed my wife of both the 6" and 8" versions so I guess we will see how much she likes me.

Thanks again!

 

[crewchief888]

she'd probably prefer the 8" model....

 

[Joe B.]

she'd probably prefer the 8" model....

After I made that post I wondered how long this would take. Sadly, she will probably give me about as much as I give her.

 

[Steevo]

I use my HF calipers for measuring things like trailer hitch balls and my Mitutoyo calipers for measuring machine parts.

 

[mrrisotto]

I work in the aerospace field and we generally stick to Starrett or Mitutoyo (dial and digital). You can't really go wrong with either brand, so I'd say hunt around for a deal and get whatever is cheapest... I picked up a brand new Mitutoyo 6" digital caliper years ago off eBay for about $75 and have been more than satisfied.

P.S. If you're not doing precision work, the HF's 6" digital caliper is a steal. Sure, it's not as smooth as Starrett's or Mitutoyo's, but for $10 it's hard to beat!

 

[NoiseRacing]

Personally I have started to stray from the Starrett brand, they just don't feel right in my hands. 2 years ago I replaced my digital Starrett 6" vernier with a 6"IP54 Fowler because I got a good deal on it, I have been extremely pleased with it (auto off is nice) I will definitely be adding more Fowler inspection tools to my collection.

Definitely take a look at the KBC branded stuff if your a serious hobbyist.

 

[helterskelter]

...I've compared it to the BP one, and its been off by about .02" at the most, not too big of a deal for rotors so far.

Twenty thou is a mile for calipers to be off. I hope that was a typo and you meant .002''. .020'' off IS a big deal :-/.

 

[Monte]

Wiha
swiss made

only $43.78

www.wihatools.com

 

[Jim Johnstone]

I sure like my 6" Mitutoyo (500-196-20). We had them at my last job. Got mine on the Internet from MSI-Viking. They are on sale now for $108.95. However it would be nice to have auto shut-off.

That's what I use as my go to caliper at work. I just keep it away from the coolant.

The funny thing is I have two sets of Mitutoyo 8" dial calipers....somewhere

 

[rlitman]

I also prefer dial over digital though, so maybe my arguement invalid.

Me too, but the digital can switch between metric and SAE with the push of a button.

I have a Fowler dial that does both metric and SAE, but owning two others that ended up trashed, I can say that these were make to be looked at more than they were made to be used.

 

[bacpacker]

I've never used the Starrett's, but I used Mitutoyo's at work for the past 12 years. Not one complaint about them except they keep walking off to someones house with them.

 

[Farmer Joe]

Twenty thou is a mile for calipers to be off. I hope that was a typo and you meant .002''. .020'' off IS a big deal :-/.

Yea haha, I forgot the extra 0

 

[kartracer55]

Mitutoyo Digimatics are my #1 choice for digitals. I also have dials from Starrett and Mitutoyo.

 

[coldfusion21]

Mitutoyo 6" digital here. Had them for almost 5 years now and they work great.

I've used the starrett ones and I'm not impressed. I love most of their products but calipers I'll take a mitutoyo over just about anything. The digital is nice because of the previously mentioned metric/standard button.

Guy I work with has a 12" set of cheapos and they work ok. I've been thinking about a 12" fowler/spi or other middle of the road brand for a 12" due to the cost of a mitutoyo or other high end brand.

Other thing to consider is I have a 2-12" standard set in the shop and can spot check any measuring tool, allows one an extra layer of trust in the measurements. I'm not suggesting that makes up for a poor/inaccurate tool but it helps.

 

[Joe B.]

Thanks everyone! It was a happy birthday. Calipers, Star Wars on Blu-ray and beer. (beer not pictured)
View media item 12829

 

[Skin]

Wiha
swiss made

Those top two look exactly like the one sold under the General brand, also swiss made. Probably the same manufacturer but substantially cheaper.

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B00004T7UB/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Very cheap [junky] calipers.

 

[tool_scrounge]

You will like the Mitutoyo calipers. They are well built and have great battery life compared to the cheap imports.