mid-level digital calipers?

[redline9k]

I saw some of the other threads praising the Mitutoyo and Starlett calipers but Im wondering if there is another brand I can look to for a solid set of good calipers without spending $100+

Ive never shopped them before, so i guess the question is, to get a set of calipers that I will never have to replace, with 3-4 times /mos use, do I need to spend $100+?

If not, my only requirements are I do want metal construction and I think 0.02mm tolerance is reasonable(?) I usually use them working on my sport bikes/cars and general around the house stuff, nothing super technical high-precision.

Any suggestions?

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

For what you want to do the $20 6" Digital China calipers will work just fine, you just need to remember that the batteries won't last nearly as long as in a Mitutoyo Digimatic and the hand feel isn't nearly as nice.

The accuracy is more in the technique than the tool and I've found my China calipers are just as accurate (checking with gauge blocks) as my Mitutoyo's are.

It's like comparing a HF toolbox to a Snap-On KRL, they'll both do the job, but one will be much nicer to use.

 

[redline9k]

Is the middle of the road Fowler (~$60) a waste of money over the Chineese $19 model unless I am going to upgrade to the $100+ level?

 

[stopdroplol]

I've used my HF China calipers probably twice a week on average since i got them 6 months ago and they work fine. I've actually seen my dad go for them over his Starrett calipers he's had for 40+ years (though that may just be digital vs dial). Whatever you get just be sure it's digital, it's annoying counting how many times that needle goes around and if they get to be as old as my dad's you can barley read the numbers.

If you're concerned with getting American then maybe look into Fowler or Brown & Sharpe (not sure if they're cheaper). Scherr Tumico supplies a lot of the military stuff too.

I personally wouldn't buy Mitutoyo if i had other options due to their bad business practices which came to light a few years ago.

 

[mrholeshot]

The HF calipers work great. They are dead on on my standards

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

Is the middle of the road Fowler (~$60) a waste of money over the Chineese $19 model unless I am going to upgrade to the $100+ level?

I've never used the Fowler digital calipers but given my experience with their other tools I wouldn't expect them to be any better than the cheap generic China calipers.

And you needn't spend over $100 on the Mitutoyo's. Watch prices, lookout for sales and you can probably pick up a new pair for around $80.

Also if you're looking at Starrett make sure you don't buy from the "International" line, those are China tools at Starrett US pricing.

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

Whatever you get just be sure it's digital, it's annoying counting how many times that needle goes around and if they get to be as old as my dad's you can barley read the numbers.

If you're concerned with getting American then maybe look into Fowler or Brown & Sharpe (not sure if they're cheaper). Scherr Tumico supplies a lot of the military stuff too.

Just to clear up some misinformation.

You do not need to count the revolutions on a dial caliper to get your reading, you first look at the scale and then add the value on the dial to get your measurement. Well explained in this video.

Secondly if you are concerned with buying US than Brown & Sharpe is not the place to look, their digital calipers are made by TESA is Switzerland.

 

[jstroede]

For what you want to do the $20 6" Digital China calipers will work just fine, you just need to remember that the batteries won't last nearly as long as in a Mitutoyo Digimatic and the hand feel isn't nearly as nice.

The accuracy is more in the technique than the tool and I've found my China calipers are just as accurate (checking with gauge blocks) as my Mitutoyo's are.

It's like comparing a HF toolbox to a Snap-On KRL, they'll both do the job, but one will be much nicer to use.

I will agree 100% with this. I have checked many sets on my gauge blocks, and they are dead on. It doesn't hurt nearly as much when the $20 sets get dropped!!

John

 

[carap]

.02 mm = .00078 in. I would never trust any pair of calipers to measure to this level of accuracy. You need a micrometer for that. Very few people need this kind of accuracy. I am a toolmaker and make my living with these tools. I have a pair of Starrett's but I don't use them very often. I use the $20 ones from MSC and when they get worn give them away or use them for general garage use. The Starrett's and Mitutoyo's wear just as fast as the cheapos. There are different levels of cheapos also. I hate electronic calipers. Use only dials.

 

[brimorga]

6" ones are on sale at HF for $10. Hard to go wrong.

 

[doug.j]

It is tough to beat the HF calipers. If you are doing metal layout you can use the caliper to measure then mark the steel using the caliper tip as a scribe.

 

[stopdroplol]

Just to clear up some misinformation.

You do not need to count the revolutions on a dial caliper to get your reading, you first look at the scale and then add the value on the dial to get your measurement. Well explained in this video.

Secondly if you are concerned with buying US than Brown & Sharpe is not the place to look, their digital calipers are made by TESA is Switzerland.

Not all calipers complete a revolution every tenths of an inch though. Sometimes the dials are split into 2 or 4 sections so one "complete revolution" would be either .200 or .400 inches. Other's I've seen do the opposite. They complete 1 revolution every .050 or .025 of an inch. So you either have to interpolate between the 10th markings or count off 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4 in your head.

 

[stopdroplol]

...I hate electronic calipers. Use only dials.

Mind if I ask why you prefer dial calipers to digital?

Batteries are the only drawback I can see but it's a fair trade for several advantages I can see. Biggest being the ability to switch between inch/mm readings. You also get a much clearer understanding (think digital clock vs analog) which is huge if speed or time is a factor (quality assurance). And you get the ability to set any point as 0. Not sure what use that is but it will probably come in handy to someone somewhere.

And I just looked at my HF calipers, the lcd is accurate to within .001" just like all the others.

 

[Zebu Fellenz]

Not all calipers complete a revolution every tenths of an inch though. Sometimes the dials are split into 2 or 4 sections so one "complete revolution" would be either .200 or .400 inches. Other's I've seen do the opposite. They complete 1 revolution every .050 or .025 of an inch. So you either have to interpolate between the 10th markings or count off 1,2,3,4,1,2,3,4 in your head.

Can you post an example? I have a Mitutoyo that's .200 on the dial but it still reads the same way.

I've seen plenty of indicators with different scales and travel per revolution but I've only seen .100 or .200 on calipers and with .200 on the dial being two .100 scales it doesn't make a difference?

 

[Davefr]

6" ones are on sale at HF for $10. Hard to go wrong.

Try and get the older black ones if possible.

The new gray ones from HF are real crappy. They're accurate enough but feel very rough, the graduation marks are a cheap piece of aluminum foil, the LCD display is smaller and harder to read and they no longer have instant on. Quality has real gone in the *******.

 

[stopdroplol]

Can you post an example? I have a Mitutoyo that's .200 on the dial but it still reads the same way.

I've seen plenty of indicators with different scales and travel per revolution but I've only seen .100 or .200 on calipers and with .200 on the dial being two .100 scales it doesn't make a difference?

Google is failing me now... I don't own any but I've seen them from time to time at liquidation auctions. They may have been custom built to help people on the line identify measurements quickly in the days before digital. I don't know.

 

[supertooljunkie]

I own Mitutoyo and HF digital calipers. I usually grab the HF in the garage, or for use in an engine bay. The HF are just as good for a quick reading as the Mitutoyo's and like others have said, I had much rather drop those.
If I want true accuracy, I reach for micrometers.

 

[Ign]

Batteries are the only drawback I can see but it's a fair trade for several advantages I can see. Biggest being the ability to switch between inch/mm readings. You also get a much clearer understanding (think digital clock vs analog) which is huge if speed or time is a factor (quality assurance). And you get the ability to set any point as 0. Not sure what use that is but it will probably come in handy to someone somewhere.

Not only that but digitals hardly care about chips or even abrasive dust. Get one thing in the rack and pinion of dial calipers and it can be all over.

I like dial calipers too but got tired of trashing rack/pinions. Scale embedded in epoxy so much more practical for most of the shops out there not running fully enclosed machining centers.

 

[MattT]

And I just looked at my HF calipers, the lcd is accurate to within .001" just like all the others.

You're confusing resolution with accuracy. You can't check accuracy visually. Also FWIW my Mitu has .0005" resolution.

To the OP I wouldn't buy anything in between the ~$20 imports and the $100 brand names. I suspect everything between is $20 import tech. And unless you're machining the good stuff is probably overkill. I use a dropped too many times Mitu for general shop use and only use my good one when needed. If/when the old one dies I'll probably replace it with a cheap one.

 

[madjack]

I have Mitutoyo, Starlett in addition to several very high end digitals. I bought 10 HF digitals for the monkeys in the shop. I compaired those to my good ones and at full extention there is maybe a half a thou difference at 6". "Close enough for goverment work" as the saying goes.