Looking for a good Digital caliper

[dr_clyde]

The op asked about digital calipers, so my Digimatic recommendation stands. However, I have 3 or 4 pair of Mitutoyo dial calipers that get far more use.

I keep the digitals for reverse engineering and part checking on my desk. Out in the shop I use the dials. If I need precision, I switch to a micrometer.

 

[Citation]

Try Igaging's digital. About $39.00 US and almost as good as Mitutoyo.
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B00INL0BTS/?tag=atomicindus08-20

Check out youtube for a review:

This.

I have used both igaging and Mitutoyo calipers (and TESSA and others). Cost no object I like the Mitutoyos. When it's my money and I don't have to keep calling certs for my own used I would rather spend my money on Igaging. Some of the HF type $10 stuff is ok but most are actually junky.

 

[davethorik]

Aside from the 6" Starrett digis I mentioned earlier, all the rest of my calipers are dial or verniers.

-3" Stanley USA boxwood & brass slide caliper
-6" Brown & Sharpe Switzerland dials (Etalon, smooth)
-6" Craftsman Japan verniers (Mitutoyo)
-6" Lufkin Switzerland verniers (Etalon, smooth)
-12" Mitutoyo .200" face dial calipers (Japan)
-12" Mitutoyo .200" face dial depth gage (Japan)
-24" Scherr-Tumico USA verniers

 

[slip knot]

I prefer the dial myself. no dead batts to deal with.

For my home usage I recently bought a Fowler 6in. Checked it with the certs at work and its right on the mark. @$50ish IIRC

 

[kctyphoon]

Since it was mentioned - harbor freight has a couple different models they are selling now. The most expensive is $20. There's also a coupon in the newest flyer for $5 off any digital caliper they sell.

 

[Professional Tool User]

Mitutoyo and Starrett are excellent, but are overkill for a mechanic. A cheap one will do.

 

[firebox40dash5]

I broke down and got a used Mitutoyo off ebay. Do your homework and look at the signs of a fake if you go that route (or a new one from almost anywhere for that matter)... I did, and got a real one in great shape fpr like $60. I dunno if it's off calibration, but 0 is 0 and 1" is 1", and I get repeatable results, so it works for me.

I've used a few cheap Neiko/copycats with good enough success, but the Mit is the first one I've not had to wonder if it 'skipped' on the rail like those can.

 

[johninct]

I bought a good Starrett and did not want to use it for more beater jobs so I bought a HF one. I borrowed a set of precision gauge blocks to see how good the HF one was and it was so close on the blocks for general shop work, I have not used the Starrett in 10 years.

 

[Renegade1LI]

I bought a few Husky's they work great & the repeatability is spot on, they check out to my gauge blocks, very handy to have.

 

[GeoBruin]

Grab a beater set from amazon, HF, etc. They work very well. Wait for an Amazon warehouse or other deal on a set of mitutoyo's. Then, you'll have your machinist set and your general shop use set. My beater set do a lot of "scribing".

 

[torqueman2002]

This one has fractional readout, too.
~$49 on Amazon
iGaging ABSOLUTE ORIGIN 0-6" Digital Electronic Caliper Inch/Metric/Fraction IP54 Protection Bonus: Depth Gauge Base

 

[Renegade1LI]

I don't think you can get a better deal than the Husky at HD for 30$ with lifetime no receipt warranty.

Husky 6 in. 3-Mode Digital Fractional Caliper 1467H - The Home Depot

General Tools - Fraction+ 6 in. 3-Mode Digital Caliper - High-contrast digital display switches easily between inches, millimeters and fractions. Accuracy to 1/1000 in. Provides inside, outside, depth

www.homedepot.com

 

[JradM]

This one has fractional readout, too.
~$49 on Amazon
iGaging ABSOLUTE ORIGIN 0-6" Digital Electronic Caliper Inch/Metric/Fraction IP54 Protection Bonus: Depth Gauge Base

I have the iGaging. I bought it after some research trying to figure out if there was something between the budget options and the likes of Mitutoyo and Starett.

Lots of reviews and Youtube tests left me somewhat jaded and with the strong impression that it is easy to spend more without necessarily getting something better (at least until you get into the couple-hundred dollar and up range).

iGaging is pretty well-reviewed however, for the price point anyway. I'm not suggesting its a Mitutoyo competitor, but it seems like a genuine mid-grade tool at a mid-grade price-point.

 

[bwringer]

Also in the iGaging camp.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001AQEZ2W/?tag=atomicindus08-20

It's fantastic quality, a large slice above the HF calipers (which are great for the money) and it does fractions, inches, and MM.

If you need to measure valve shims and such (which usually come in .05mm increments) then have a look at Harbor Freight's digital micrometer.

Digital Micrometer

Amazing deals on this Digital Micrometer at Harbor Freight. Quality tools & low prices.

www.harborfreight.com

You can measure shims pretty well with calipers, and certainly tell 2.70mm from 2.75mm, but that's kind of at the edge of their reliable resolution. The micrometer will tell you for sure at a tenth the cost of the mainstream brand.

 

[LMS]

I bought a good Starrett and did not want to use it for more beater jobs so I bought a HF one. I borrowed a set of precision gauge blocks to see how good the HF one was and it was so close on the blocks for general shop work, I have not used the Starrett in 10 years.

But why? That's like buying a Kia and a Cadillac and only driving the Kia. I have a Mitutoyo and and cheaper one and use the Mit *every* time. It's just so nice....

 

[cannuck]

I have all Mitu calipers and micrometers in my machine shop tool box. I buy $30 or so junk for mechanical box. The Mitutoya stuff NEVER leaves the shop. If find I spend more than the value of cheap calipers on batteries and replacement tools since neither the batteries nor the calipers last worth a damn.

 

[BigLeagueSmoes]

Harbor freight

I use the HF digital for bicycle, motorcycle, and automotive purposes and so far it has served me well and still remains accurate.

 

[corn chip]

the HF calipers eat batteries like nobodys business. if you open the box in the store , alot of them are dead on the shelf.
had one for a couple years and finally got fed up changing batteries all the time. replaced it with a mitu and never looked back

 

[278horn]

I'm a machinist by trade. Fowler Ultra-Cal IV is reliable and can be zeroed with the same thumb you adjust with. Digital calipers that have the zero button on top by the display are of no use to me when I'm holding the part in one hand and measuring with the other.

https://www.fowlerprecision.com/Pro...tra-Cal-IV-Electronic-Caliper-54-100-412.html

 

[Professional Tool User]

My vote goes to Mitutoyo. The main downside with the cheap ones is that they drain the battery really fast when left in storage.

 

[bwringer]

My vote goes to Mitutoyo. The main downside with the cheap ones is that they drain the battery really fast when left in storage.

The $10 calipers do this, but the mid-grade iGaging calipers (around $30-ish) do not.

Even with the $10 calipers, you might need a new battery once or twice a year; it's an issue, like you need to remember to keep a spare battery around, but it's not a HUGE issue. The battery doesn't go flat overnight.

The same goes for the digital micrometer from HF; it slowly drains the battery when not in use, so if it's going to be a while, I pop the battery out. It's not an everyday tool in my world, so I find this perfectly acceptable since it's a tenth the price of the name brand.

 

[Citation]

My experience with the $10 calipers is they typically do go through batteries faster but part of that is because they often include low grade alkaline batteries instead of the sliver oxide batteries Mitutoyo includes. That said, the Mitutoyo current draw is much lower so they will always do better for a given battery. My iGaging calipers use much larger lithium coin cells. I'm not sure if they are more power efficient but the battery lasts a lot longer. Note that my TESA calipers also use lithium cells and last a long time.

 

[tool_scrounge]

I really like:

Mitutoyo digital calipers due to long battery life, great feel and a good value on the used market.

Brown & Sharpe (aka Etalon or Tesa) dial calipers from Switzerland due to great feel and construction. Mitutoyo is a close second.

Scherr-Tumico verneer calipers due to complete indestructibility and ease of reading. The wide spacing of the verneer is greatly appreciated as it is easier to read. Great to leave in your vehicle since there are no batteries to fail due to high temperatures. Made in Minnesota. Scherr-Tumico is a bit of an unknown brand so can sometimes be found for cheap on the used market. It is also a great value for large size calipers that are not used often.