Can you guys list some GOOD digital calipers?

[mroneeyedboh]

Hey guys,
I need a set of digital calipers. Id really want USA only made, but I know Mituyoto make a good set too. None the less I need a 6" caliper that is good, no HF junk, chinese junk. SPI, Starrett etc. Heck, I'd take a used one too.

 

[franzdom]

Re: Can you guys list some GOOD calipers?

How about Tesa swiss made? I love mine because they have auto-shutoff which my Mitsu's don't have, and they were quite reasonable. A LOT cheaper than Starrett and just as good.

 

[wb2vsj]

Re: Can you guys list some GOOD calipers?

What is about the Starrett's that you don't like? (Other than the fact that some of their tools are made in Asia)

Also need more info about what (and how) you are going to use the calipers for. IP67? Data Out?

Here's an old thread that may help

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=74845

 

[mroneeyedboh]

Re: Can you guys list some GOOD calipers?

Im not against starrett. I have a few of their tools and measuring straight edges too.

I just like to have a USA made if possible.

I dont need any fancy functions. Just need to read over all length of things. Thats it.

 

[J HAV]

Re: Can you guys list some GOOD calipers?

FIRST POST EVER!!! New Member

I'd find an older pair of Starrett Calipers. I had pair and gave it to my cousin because my job had sent me some tools which included a brand new pair... They just don't have the same feel and quality as the older pair I gave to my cousin. Wish I would of kept the older pair and gave the new ones to him instead now lol....Go Figure

That being said... Good Luck in your search.

 

[BillK]

Oneeye,
I would see if you can try a couple of them hands on and see how they "feel". I had a real nice Mitutoyo 6" one for probably 20 years. It finally started acting stupid so I replaced it with a Starret and I just hate the "feel" of the thing. I guess its what you get used to. I still have the Mitutoyo and I might just send it back and see if they can fix it. You have to remember, I am constantly using it during the day.

I will say that I have a couple of the cheap ( $50 ) Blue Point ones around the shop for quick measurements and they are ok. I got them off the Snap On truck mainly for convenience. They absolutely are not anywhere near the accuracy of the Mitutoyo or the Starret but they are ok for the quick checks I use them for. The Starret was around $150 and so is the Mitutoyo but they are almost as accurate as my regular micrometers.

If all you care about is being within a thousanth or two, I would just buy one of the cheap ones. That way when you drop it you wont feel as bad

I will add one more thing . . . . depending on what you are checking, I actually prefer a dial caliper at times. Trying to find a high point on a cam etc. They do have advantages over the digital ones and might not be a bad idea if you are only going to buy one.

 

[Packard V8]

Mitutoyo

jack vines

 

[mroneeyedboh]

Yeah I have a Mitutoyo now that I bought from a guy on ebay. Basically got screwed, no case like stated, he shipped it in a mailer. And there are grind marks on the blades.

We use them at work too, along with starrett and SPIs. I like the fluidity of the Mitutoyo's... Im not opposed to them at all, just soo many options. I need a caliper for measurements. I need to go down to .1000 accurately.

 

[mroneeyedboh]

Is it worth the extra cheese for the calibration?

http://www.mcmaster.com/#electronic-calipers/=id7rqs

 

[AndyA]

I have a the Starret 799 digital calipers. I don't like them as well as my brown&sharpe dial calipers. They were both roughly the same price. The starrets don't feel as "quality" and they'll eat batteries whether you're using them or not. Guess I figured out why they put a cutout in the foam in the case to hold the battery

If I didn't own a set and were buying, I'd probably get the dial calipers and skip the digital ones.

 

[mroneeyedboh]

True...

 

[AndyA]

Is it worth the extra cheese for the calibration?

Only if you have a customer that requires the paper trail. If you don't have a carefully controlled temperature, you're out of cal anyway.
For general checking just use a standards for a micrometer, or buy a few gage blocks of convenient sizes.

 

[Watchwatch]

These mitutoyos are the best feeling calipers on the market. I know they aren't USA made, but they are the best. I have never been impressed with Starret calipers.

Don't buy the IP67 versions unless you really need the oil/grim protection. The seals inhibit the sliding action.

http://www.amazon.com/Mitutoyo-500-196-20-ABSOLUTE-Accuracy-Resolution/dp/B007K34HUE/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1342059401&sr=8-1&keywords=mitutoyo+digital+caliper

 

[mroneeyedboh]

This looks like the one I would need

http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001C0ZPNO/?tag=atomicindus08-20

and its the one I bought I think from the guy on ebay. ***** he shipped it soo poorly and without the case and has grind marks on the jaws ( blades.. whatever they are called )

 

[franzdom]

If you can find these I paid less than $100 new about 6 years ago from MSC seriously I have used them all and they are my favorites.

sorry about the giant image

 

[mroneeyedboh]

Im looking now. Whats even more messed up is that the Hf ones are DAMN near perfect at measuring. Granted calipers arent a precision tool.

 

[helterskelter]

I use calipers daily and in my opinion Mitutoyo is the best choice for your needs. I love mine. I have a pair of dial calipers, but grab the digitals most of the time. Generally I just want a number, and the digitals are great for that. I also use the mm/inch conversion all the time. I'll use the dials to find high spots (there's a lot to be said for watching a dial swing), but if I'm looking for high spots chances are I'm using an indicator. I get a lot of flak for my bias to the digitals, but most of the time they fit my need the best. That being said, outside of work, my home pair of calipers is a set of mitutoyo dials. But I'm lusting for a pair of brown and sharpe (tesa) dials if I ever find a pair for the right price.

The HF calipers are fine for measuring within a couple thou on the cheap. But they don't have the 'feel' of a proper set of calipers. The 'feel' is worth the $$, especially considering you can get used mitutoyo for dirt. My .02$

 

[bsaint]

Mitutoyo hands down. Screw this America F--- Ya! bs and realize the Japanese and Swiss make the best measuring tools.

Interapid for dial test.

 

[kald]

I just picked up a cheap True Power 6" off amazon to give me a frame of reference for checking parts for a upcoming Gm LS 6.0 rebuild: http://www.amazon.com/dp/B000YFT0A2/?tag=atomicindus08-20

They are very well made for reasonably priced imports. I don't have any standard to test accuracy but they seem reasonably accurate, repeatable to within .001 and holds 0 well. Anyway the reason for my post is to recommend you get a pair with the mm & fractional function as well as inches. I didn't even consider these functions when I picked them up but I find my self using the fractional & mm around the shop A LOT. They are really handy for drill bits and allen wrenches etc.. in addition to your intended purpose.

 

[Trucky]

for myself:

http://www.amazon.com/Mitutoyo-500-732-10-Resolution-Carbide-Tipped-Measurement/dp/B003U9VZNE/ref=pd_sbs_indust_1

Mitsy's with carbide OD measuring tips. Standard 0-8 with the usual ip67, and they feel great and work very well.

I prefer dials but for the dirty stuff the digitals get the green light every time, and boy these are good..

you can get the ones without the carbide edges and ip67 for a bit cheaper, just the basic Mitutoyo Digimatic 0-6" is about 120, but I prefer getting the coolant proof ones.

Honestly, don't go cheap here. push button zero, origin, on/off (obviously), auto restart upon moving the jaws, and ip67 cert is almost a must. They will last you many years, as they are doing for me.

For basic shop work, you can go cheap. But if I expect to be in this field for many years, I want my tools to last that long as well. Starrett and Mitutoyo, maybe B&S (Same as Tesa), and few other companies get the nod from me. That's about all I buy.

 

[hofferwood]

How about an "Analog Digital"

Chuck

 

[willhollin]

Mitutoyo - The choice of all good nuclear scientists!

 

[4EyedTurd]

I'm actually about to pull the trigger on a set of Kobalt brand digital calipers. A coworker had some I had to borrow and I liked them

 

[cmandp]

I have these Mitutoyo's at home; they should be plenty good for "just measuring things".
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B001C0ZPNO/ref=biss_dp_t_asn

If you can find these I paid less than $100 new about 6 years ago from MSC seriously I have used them all and they are my favorites.

http://ecx.images-amazon.com/images/I/61rTOYa13bL._AA1500_.jpg

sorry about the giant image

We use these at work (although branded Brown and Sharpe) and we use them a lot. I like the auto off and the simplcity of zeroing them; however changing between inch/metric and abs can be a little annoying with only one button. My Mitutoyo's are easier in that respect with 4 buttons, but zeroing is more annoying IMO.

 

[bts]

Mitutoyo's, can`t go wrong.

The dial gauge I have had for 15 years. Lost the lens out of it 7 years ago. They spend most of the time in the fab section being covers in grinding dust.Basicaly they have been abused and they still work great.

Love the digital but I have soft spot for the old dial type. Looking for a 300 mm set at the moment.

 

[5mall5nail5]

would you guys spend extra for 8" vs 6" I have like 3 pairs of 6" HF ones... need something that goes back to 0 when you slide lol

 

[Trucky]

8's? Yes, but only digital. Anything longer than 6" gets the instant digital requirement. They cost a bit more than the 6's though, is there any particular reason why you'd need one?

 

[Davefr]

Get Mitutoyo Digimatics and don't look back. They are excellent.

I'd rather have HF $9.99 digital calipers then Starrett. Starrett makes some great stuff but digital calipers are not one of them.

There also a lot to be said for master vernier calipers once you learn how to use them.

 

[y20dth]

Mitutoyo!

I generally do not like digital calibers. I always seem to notice that it does not return to zero when you close it. That makes me doubt every measurement I do with it.

The only one that always return to zero is the Mitutoyo.
Bought mine for €100 during one of the promo's.

 

[speed bump]

Yeah I have a Mitutoyo now that I bought from a guy on ebay. Basically got screwed, no case like stated, he shipped it in a mailer. And there are grind marks on the blades.

We use them at work too, along with starrett and SPIs. I like the fluidity of the Mitutoyo's... Im not opposed to them at all, just soo many options. I need a caliper for measurements. I need to go down to .1000 accurately.

And with that you just left the range of calipers.

Personally I like cheap calipers, check them out with a set of standards and spend the money on a good set of micrometers as thats what you should be doing your precision measuring with any way.

 

[mroneeyedboh]

Lol I just realized I put the decimal in the wrong spot. Should have been 1.000

 

[Trucky]

Digi's will get you to .0005 but only so well. I usually double check anything that needs to be +/- .001" or smaller with micrometers at the least, but as long as you're just using it for thousandths you should be fine with the ones suggested.

 

[Harvey Melvin Richards]

If you search machinist forums, this question routinely comes up. Without doing the math I would guess that 65 to 80% of the responses are Mitutoyo period. Another 10 to 15% will say Tessa/Brown and Sharpe. About 10% will say Starrett, and an equal amount will say Starrett were the worst **** they've ever owned.

Myself, I've only owned Mitutoyo, and I see no reason to change. I've also watched other machinists fight with their inferior brands.

 

[mroneeyedboh]

Okay yeah. Like I said I bought a caliper from someone on ebay. He shipped it with out the box in a padded envelope and he grinded something off of the jaws ( most likely owners name ) Are those calipers still going to be accurate? could they be tweaked from being shipped in a padded envelope? worth keeping?

 

[supersteve]

Quick question about the Mitutoyo stuff: where is it made? Outsourced to C-word?

 

[mroneeyedboh]

Japan

 

[kald]

Some Mitutoyo stuff is made in Brazil I think.

 

[raross]

Just my 2 cents, when I am running my lathe and mill, the best caliper digital, or mechanical, will never be as accurate, as any brand well taken care of and tested micrometer! Only use calipers to get approximate readings. I know its a pain to read most micrometers but after a while it just becomes second nature, and they are very hard to beat the accuracy on!

I also would say Mitutoyo maybe Fowler but the quality may be dropping on Fowler. I also do have a bunch of HF’s digitals laying around, hard to beat them for the price. I just rough in the parts .10” over size and use a micrometer to finish the dimension!

 

[dandan111]

I wouldn't pay $40 to get them calibrated,buy a 1 inch gauge block and have a machine shop check it against theirs. That's what I would do anyway.

 

[helterskelter]

I wouldn't pay $40 to get them calibrated,buy a 1 inch gauge block and have a machine shop check it against theirs. That's what I would do anyway.

When I've seen people calibrate calipers they use multiple gage blocks of various sizesas well as calibrate the ID and depth measurements.