Help Choose Digital Caliper

[oldschoolcraft]

IÂ’ve been wanting a digital caliper for a while. I’m not a pro, and my uses for tools are varied and endless. I never know what IÂ’ll be doing, depends on my interests that month or what a friend/family member asks me to help with.

I only have owned a single caliper 6” manual one with a cracked glass dial that a machinist friend gave me for free. He told me eventually I’d want to buy a digital mitotoyo and a couple years ago I looked but couldn’t make up my mind on which size and also read concerns that some were made in China!

So here I am, with money in my pocket and looking to blow it on some new tools. I am a generalist, not a specialist and try to get tools that work for multiple jobs even if they arenÂ’t as fast to use as more specialized ones.

For calipers, maybe that means I buy a larger caliper, like 12” even though 99% of the time I’ll measure under 6” but that 1% I need something larger, I’ll have it. And yeah, it means I’ll be fumbling with a larger caliper every single time, it’s not a problem because I use a caliper every few months at most. So if I waste an extra 10 seconds fumbling with a bigger one a few times a year, it’s worth it to save my *** the 1 time every few years I need to measure something bigger.

But I don’t know what I don’t know and maybe 6” is perfect. So please tell me! I never even measuring anything more than 2 or 3” using my caliper

My uses over the years for a caliper, offhand:

1) Measure a screw/bolt to find a matching size. I don’t have thread pitch gauges and thought about buying some a while back but never did. I’ve only had to do this twice in my life so if a caliper can work, I’d rather just use that.

2) measure thickness of piece of metal to figure out what gauge it is for some project.

3) measure some gun parts to check for spec

4) measure gold or silver coins to check for frauds

And the main reason I want a new digital caliper, is because I am constantly working on stuff I have no idea what size fastener head is on there. And I try 5 or 6 different sockets/wrenches to get the right size, because I don’t even know if it’s standard or metric and I am not a pro and lack the eyeball experience to guess well. Also my tools are stored in a closet now, out of reach and it wastes a couple minutes finding the right side with multiple trips.

If I had a digital caliper, I could measure the fastener and then print out a thousanth inch to fraction inch and metric table to put in my toolbox. And I’d grab the right socket the first time. I haven’t done it with my analog caliper because it’s analog and its just slow enough to read that it hasn’t been worth it.

So I’ll looking for a new digital caliper, price insensitive except maybe I’d spend no more than $500 or so, and I’m open to buying two callipers or maybe a micrometer plus a caliper. I’d love to learn about metrology, and maybe I’ll take an online class and practice with whatever tools I buy.

I’m a buy once cry once guy and enjoy having nice tools and can afford them but am limited on storage space so the fewest number of high quality measuring tools would be the goal. And since I lack the metrology experience, I would hate to buy something now and then learn about it and regret my purchase, wishing I bought something else instead. My machinist friend showed me a bunch of different ways to use the caliper to measure and I thought it was the coolest thing ever so I’d like to learn more and have nicer tools.

 

[Shiftless]

Once in a while I need a lot of precision so I unpack my Mitutoyo 6 inch from its padded plastic case. But most of the time I don’t need such precision and just grab my low $ General vernier caliper I leave loose in the top little drawer of my tool chest.

With that I can take a measurement and throw it back into the drawer in less time than it takes to open the Mitotoyo case. Push the on button. Slide it all the way closed to make sure it’s tight. Then hit the zero button. Verify it’s on metric or inches. Take the reading. Then hit the off button. Then put it safely back into its padded fitted case. Then put it back where it belongs.

See what I mean?

You don’t have to spend anywhere near $500 unless you need 2 or 3 different sized calipers. I used to have a couple of micrometers but I gave them away after I got the Mitutoyo.

 

[oldschoolcraft]

With that I can take a measurement and throw it back into the drawer in less time than it takes to open the Mitotoyo case. Push the on button. Slide it all the way closed to make sure it’s tight. Then hit the zero button. Verify it’s on metric or inches. Take the reading. Then hit the off button. Then put it safely back into its padded case. Then put it back where it belongs.

Great point I hadn’t considered! If I buy a really nice caliper, then I need to keep it in a case that adds time and friction to using it. And if 90% of my use cases are finding the right socket, then the tolerances of a cheap Chinese caliper are probably higher than the tolerances of whatever fastener head I’m measuring to find the right socket!

I will be honest and say I like to have expensive tools because I like to have expensive tools. I will see how the rest of the advise shakes up but you’ve made a great even if I do spend $$$ on a mitotoyo caliper, I should buy a cheap beater one that’s good enough for most things.

 

[macgee]

Buy a NEW 6" digital Mitutoyo from a registered Mitutoyo dealer (not amazon) and it will serve you well for a very long time if you take care of it. You'll have plenty left in the budget to spend on other things.

I would go with a 6" and decide later if you really need the 12". I suggest also buying a good gage block from either Starrett Webber or Mitutoyo to occasionally check accuracy of the caliper and to keep it honest.
Also use the caliper for while to see if you need a micrometer, I think you could go without one for your described purposes unless you need & work in tolerances under .0005".

When used correctly, you'll be amazed how accurate a good digital caliper can be.

There's cheaper ones you can get on Amazon that could work but you have the budget to not mess around with those maybe's

 

[oldschoolcraft]

Original poster with an added thought:

I responded to another poster asking for lock help and realized that I enjoy locksmithing but never had the time to get into it. So this might be another use case for high end calipers since those tolerances are tight. That and gunsmithing I want to get more into, and would rather buy now and have for the future. Because I am afraid of inflation and declining quality so spending $500 on a caliper today that’s overkill for my current uses is worth it to me to avoid having to spend $1k in a few years after all of the money printing.

Maybe digital calipers don’t fall into this category but I really wish I overbought US-made vise grips back in the day when I rarely had a need because buying them at inflated eBay prices is rough! I find many tools get worse over time as cost of labor increases.

And also, when I was researching these a while ago I didn’t know if I wanted solar or regular batteries. I assume regular batteries since it’s something I’ll use very rarely. Ideally whatever I buy will last for 30+ years which might be asking a lot for a digital anything.

 

[Vahispd]

You may consider a caliper that reads fractional inches, as well as decimal and metric. Works great for your intended use on bolts etc.

I picked up an Accumaster by Calculated Industries last year and have used it more than I thought I would. The usual stuff like measuring bolts, depth of holes, and thicknesses of metal. But I've used it to accurately measure my throat plates to make zero-clearance inserts for my table and miter saws, verify plywood thickness for accurate joinery, and check headspace on a .22 bolt just to name a few other projects.

I have a couple other cheap dial and digital calipers that have worked just fine for years, but the ability to press a button and switch between readings has been really nice.

 

[king nero]

I got a 6" digital and an 8" vernier (0.02 mm scale) Mitutoyo, which I use most often when I need some kind of precision.

I have many vernier and digital cheapos laying around in my shop, and I tend to use the vernier ones most often. If you only use them few times a year, I don't think a digital will be the best choice, if only because of the batteries (they will be dead when you need 'em).

 

[matt_i]

My experience is this: the dial indicated (mechanical) calipers don't have a dead battery when you need them. The two digital versions Ive worked with both died as in the electronics wouldn't function. Things probably have improved over the next 15 years, I see versions with IP67 ratings are common now.

The digital are nice to convert inches to mm without a calculator or estimating in .040" increments.

I have a 6" and a 9" and while the 9" seems better balanced to me, the 6" has become the go-to tool because of the lack of the long tail. With a 12" caliper I think there are going to be certain places you will find the tail limiting when the parts don't fit in your hand and you aren't working off the bench.

 

[Davefr]

Buy Mitutoyo and don't look back. They're a quality instrument and battery life is excellent. (unlike the no name calipers that have a large quiescence current draw and are often dead when you need them).

I like the 4" version for everyday use but it's personal preference.

Yes, make sure you buy from an industrial supplier like MSC/Zoro because Ebay is has counterfeits.

 

[slowtwitch73]

Mitutoyo 6". Just used mine last night making up some chuck keys. Awesome carbide jaws for scribing, depth mic, etc etc. Instant conversions. The case is beat to hell, but the calipers are cherry.

 

[vavet]

I have several cheap Chinese calipers, both 6 and 12 inch. Locksmithing and gunsmithing might require the accuracy of Starrett and Mitutoyo, but for most of us, I believe the $20 HF specials will be more than adequate. There's also a longevity issue with the cheap ones, but unless you're using them constantly, I don't think you're going to wear them out.

The battery draw is a real thing on the cheap ones. I can buy a $20 caliper and $5 worth of batteries and I'll be fine for a few years. Or I can buy a $150 (???) Mitutoyo and $1 worth of batteries to get through the same time.

I don't discount the pleasure one derives from handling and using a high quality tool. It's a great feeling whether that tool is a ratchet, a nice writing utensil, a computer keyboard, a kitchen gadget, a surgeon's scalpel, or a caliper. For my money, the high end calipers are not needed. You'll have to decide if it's right for you based on your uses.

 

[Rustypigeon]

Buy Mitutoyo and don't look back.

This.

I use calipers often so I have a couple of good ones to keep from wandering from the garage to the basement every time I need calipers.

I have a Starrett dial and a Mitutoyo digital. The digital style is my favorite since I can easily go from mm to inches and zero it anywhere on the scale to compare sizes.

I did buy 3 Harbor Freight digitals. One has been great for years, but 2 of them have been junk from the beginning and don't hold their reading. I would pass on the Harbor Freight.

I bought my Mitutoyos from MSC. There are a lot of complaints of fakes on Amazon.

 

[slodat]

I’ve stopped buying cheap import measuring tools. I like Mitutoyo digital calipers and micrometers. They will last a lifetime. My 6” caliper is loose in the top drawer and doesn’t get beat up. It’s nice in the hand, dead accurate and battery life is great. Watch out for cheap fakes.

I tend toward new for the digitals. I recently bought a used Starrett digital thread mic and I’ve been very happy with it.

 

[larry_g]

I would suggest that you get a good basic 6" caliper for daily use and then keep an eye on craigslist or your favorite used market and get a 12 or 18" vernier caliper. Most any caliper that you purchase from MSC https://www.mscdirect.com/browse/Me...alipers-Caliper-Gages/Calipers?navid=12107936 Is going to serve your purpose.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[slowtwitch73]

If there's one place to splurge, this is it. Don't think anyone is sorry they bought Mit calipers. You can always get money back out of them if need be.

The display is great.. easy to read. I have some chicom calipers that I put on mill and they are a ***** to read and I have good eyesight. The batteries also **** the bed incessantly.. so much so I take the batteries out now between uses.

I use them constantly.. I could get rid of a number of measuring instruments I have because honestly, I grab the Mit calipers 95% of the time.. bad practice by conventional standards, but after comparing through the years, once you get the feel for them, they are easy, fast and very accurate.

 

[Toold_up]

Mitutoyo digital calipers are very nice. If you are doing small work get small calipers. Bigger calipers require more room to get a measurement. Old school spring calipers are also great tools and can be had cheap.

Calipers are +-5-10 thou. If you want precision you need a micrometer.

If you just need a digital caliper for quick and dirty Shars are good.

 

[4xdog]

Depending on the precision one needs, here's a slightly different take on the subject.

I have one of these 6-in/150-mm calipers (not from General -- the same thing is available with a number of other brands, and mine is mostly white). Swiss-made, and the engineering thermoplastic has proven to be surprising durable for about 15 years of use. The dial is easy-reading, and the "soft" material doesn't scratch whatever I'm measuring. It's especially good with polished plastics (like my fountain pen collection), but I use it all the time where I don't need high precision. It's pretty good to about 0.1mm, but no more than that. There are versions with dual-reading inch and mm scales, which might be useful for some applications.

My battery operated or vernier steel stuff mostly stays in the drawer now.

https://www.generaltools.com/hand-tools/precision-measuring-marking/calipers-micrometers/150mm-plastic-dial-caliper-with-metric-readout

 

[whateg01]

Not related directly to op question, but I read awhile back that the batteries you choose make a huge difference in battery life. The SR44 and LR44 are physically the same but the SR is supposed to last longer. I've found that to be true since I started buying them.

One thing related to op question is I don't like calipers that I have to turn on before use. Yes batteries last longer in general but I hate when I'm turning a part and need to see if I'm getting close, measure it then look at the display to find us tinted off.

 

[bob15]

Depending on the precision one needs, here's a slightly different take on the subject.

I have one of these 6-in/150-mm calipers (not from General -- the same thing is available with a number of other brands, and mine is mostly white). Swiss-made, and the engineering thermoplastic has proven to be surprising durable for about 15 years of use. The dial is easy-reading, and the "soft" material doesn't scratch whatever I'm measuring. It's especially good with polished plastics (like my fountain pen collection), but I use it all the time where I don't need high precision. It's pretty good to about 0.1mm, but no more than that. There are versions with dual-reading inch and mm scales, which might be useful for some applications.

My battery operated or vernier steel stuff mostly stays in the drawer now.

https://www.generaltools.com/hand-tools/precision-measuring-marking/calipers-micrometers/150mm-plastic-dial-caliper-with-metric-readout

I have a plastic dial caliper that I've had since the mid-80's that look similar to those. They to were Swiss-made and sold through Lyman Reloading (yes they are also Lyman orange) and are in inches and not metric. I have had zero issues with them, though they have been mainly retired since I bought the my 1st of three Starrrett 120-6 dial calipers.

 

[ChefRex]

I have a 6" and 8" Mitutoyo digitalis and a couple of dials, General and Central if my memory serves me correct, my 6" is over 25 YO and still serves me well.

 

[cherrybomb]

I have a Fowler brand 6 inch.Model is Euro-Cal iv.It is Metric, inches and fractions.On the back,it has a chart,tells what fractions are to a decimal equivalent. This caliper does everything you want out of a caliper,and does it exceptionally well.You won't be disappointed.

 

[johninct]

I have a digital Starrett that I have not used in years because I bought a Harbor Freight Digital for knock around work that is more than accurate for me. I checked the HF against certified gauge blocks and the few thousands off was probably to operator error.

 

[Mgdoug3]

I have a couple Mitutoyo dial calipers and they're what I use if I need to be halfway accurate. If I'm working on something dirty, I have a few digital calipers to pick from. The nicest one is an SPI because the screen is better. I also have a Performance Tool one I've had for at least two years and it's still on the original battery.

If I need to be precise then I break out the micrometers. I'm partial to Brown and Sharpe but Starrett and Mitutoyo are great too.

 

[Indexmill]

I use my B&S or Starrett 6" dial caliper every day that I am in the shop. Every day, to measure something. Not only just when using the lathe or the mill; but everyday. Once you have a pair, you will too.

I have lots of calipers. The digital are awesome if you must work in mm; otherwise I love my B&S 579s and my Starrett 120s alot.

 

[uart]

Just bumping this to ask a question. I've got some vernier calipers, and also a digital one, but I don't own a dial caliper.

I used to always have a cheap vernier on top of my drill press to grab for quick nasty measurements like drill size or bolt size etc, but these days my eyesight is not really up to reading a vernier without the aid of a magnifying glass (which I keep next to the calipers, but it's still a pain).

So for the past few years I've relied more on the digital ones, but batteries are a bit of a nuisance so I was thinking about getting a dial caliper. Verniers are so simple and rugged that even low cost ones work forever (if you're not looking at supreme accuracy), but just wondering about the dial ones. Can you get a low cost dial caliper that will last ok for knock about workshop use?

 

[larry_g]

Just bumping this to ask a question. I've got some vernier calipers, and also a digital one, but I don't own a dial caliper.

I used to always have a cheap vernier on top of my drill press to grab for quick nasty measurements like drill size or bolt size etc, but these days my eyesight is not really up to reading a vernier without the aid of a magnifying glass (which I keep next to the calipers, but it's still a pain).

So for the past few years I've relied more on the digital ones, but batteries are a bit of a nuisance so I was thinking about getting a dial caliper. Verniers are so simple and rugged that even low cost ones work forever (if you're not looking at supreme accuracy), but just wondering about the dial ones. Can you get a low cost dial caliper that will last ok for knock about workshop use?

It sounds to me that you are a bit hard on your tools. Dial calipers have a fine rack and pinion set that will soon foul with dirt or chips if you have them out of the case in a dirty environment. I say this from personal experience of ruining a couple of pairs.

lg
no neat sig line

 

[gte718p]

Buy Mitutoyo and don't look back. They're a quality instrument and battery life is excellent. (unlike the no name calipers that have a large quiescence current draw and are often dead when you need them).

I like the 4" version for everyday use but it's personal preference.

Yes, make sure you buy from an industrial supplier like MSC/Zoro because Ebay is has counterfeits.

I picked up mine 23 years ago at a pawn shop. Never looked back. I think I have changed the battery twice in that time frame. These are truely one of those buy once cry once tools that will last a lifetime or two.

I also have a couple of cheap HF equivalents ones. Honestly accuracy is pretty good. I wouldn't build the space shuttle with them, but more then good enough for the 3d printer and the woodshop. However, they are not as nice to use, and they keep breaking. At $10 a pop, I consider them a consumable.

 

[Davefr]

So for the past few years I've relied more on the digital ones, but batteries are a bit of a nuisance so I was thinking about getting a dial caliper. Verniers are so simple and rugged that even low cost ones work forever (if you're not looking at supreme accuracy), but just wondering about the dial ones. Can you get a low cost dial caliper that will last ok for knock about workshop use?

Dial calipers are more delicate then digital IMHO. If you have battery hassles with digital calipers then you probably have cheapies.

I'd get a quality digital caliper like Mitutoyo and your battery hassles will be a thing of the past. If you're worried, just keep a spare battery in the case along with a 1" reference standard.

One of the huge benefits of digital is instant toggling between SAE and Metric. (ie Buy once, cry once)

 

[uart]

It sounds to me that you are a bit hard on your tools.

Yeah I didn't mean to imply that I'm all that hard on tools. Ive got good verniers and micrometers that I keep in a drawer as a well as a cheap one that I keep out on the bench or on top of the drill press. Was just interested in how rugged dial calipers would be for the type of workshop use that I currently do with cheap verniers.

Thanks for the info. Your (and Davefr's) post confirm what I was thinking, dial calipers need to be put away in a drawer and kept clean.